Growing melons in the UK

By James Middleton - Added 11th of June 2008

The Victorians were real pioneers of growing exotic flowers, vegetables and fruit in their gardens as new varieties of seed were transported from warm, tropical climates. One such seed belonged to the melon - a fruit that we often take for granted as it is readily available off the supermarket shelf. Many people shy away from growing melons because they either don't have the luxury of a greenhouse or are worried about the space these large creeping plants will require.

This article will introduce you to a single method for growing large, sweet melons, without the use of a greenhouse and shouldn't cost to much to setup. I should point out that there are many varieties of melon to choose from, so for the sake of this article, I will focus on just one common variety - 'Honeydew'.

Cold frame

Growing melons in a coldframe When many of us think of cold frames, images of tender plants hanging on to life is a frosted garden spring to mind. But the humble cold frame can easily be adapted for growing melons in the UK. It is believed that the Honeydew melon originated in Asia, so a warm, humid growing environment is essential. If you are looking for a good cold frame, there is an excellent buy on GoneGardening.

Instructions:

Ideal dimensions for cold frame: 70cm high, 200cm long and 70cm of wide. You can buy a cold frame from Natural Collection for about £98.
If you already have a cold frame, then raise the general height with bricks or wooden sleepers so that from ground level to lid the cold frame should be around about 70cm high. This is to increase the overall depth of the soil in which you plant the melons.
Fill the cold frame with a even mixture of good quality top soil and well rotted manure or compost, up to a depth of about a foot and a half, so once settled, there should be a gap between the compost earth and the lid of about 20-25cm.
After all risk of frost has past, introduce 2 young melon plants, evenly spaced into the earth.

Aftercare for melon plants

Now that your melon plants have settled into their new home, ensure that they are watered regularly, not letting them dry out. Like many plants, melons require good drainage, so don't over water as this may result in the plants and fruit rotting and even tasteless fruit. Feed your plants with Phosphates; you can use fish blood and bone, or if you prefer the vegetarian approach, soft-rock phosphate. During warmer days, prop open the lid of your cold frame, to allow air circulation.

Melon variety suggestions

Credits & Links

Article written by James Middleton - www.theallotmentgarden.co.uk.

Information for Publishers

This article is copyrighted and you do not have consent to copy or redistribute it without written consent from the author.

Readers Comments

"I don't think you can obtain soft rock phosphate in the UK in small amounts (under a ton). Do you have a source and if so, could you let me know?"
- Teresa Seed -

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