Topic: My Melons !!!!

[Mr Physio]

Been lurking on site for many a while and find you guys so supportive and inspirational I decided to join, got a large veg patch and greenhouse attached to the garden so not technically a lottie, hope I'm accepted.

I grew melons last year but only got two very small ones late on. This year I have 4 plants all flowering in the greenhouse but for the life of me I cannot differenciate between males and females to assist pollenation, can anyone help, I know the females suposed to have a tiny rudimentary melon behind the flower.

Incidently, the two melons I grew last year were only discovered when I was clearing the greenhouse at the end of the season! :o

[Deb P]

Welcom to the site MrPhysio.... ;D

I've had similar experiences with my melons over the past few years, but keep having a go!

I'm guessing you only have male flowers on your melons so far, when the plants are ready they will start producing female flowers with the little melon behind the flower as you describe. Have you pinched out the growing point on them yet to get them to produce side shoots?

[manicscousers]

hiya, mr physio, welcome to the site
you think you've got problems, I'm growing watermelons a friend from here sent me, don't know one end from the other  ;D
our 'normal melons, the 'girls' have baby melons behind the flower, the 'boys'don't , hope that helps  ;D

[realfood]

Have a look at the photo here  http://www.growyourown.info/page145aa.html
The female flower for a melon is similar

[Mr Physio]

Thanks guys,

Mr Realfood I have two watermelon plants each with a tiny melon on which I have tried to pollenate with male flowers, here's hoping. The four melon plants must only have males at the moment is this usual.

Physio

[saddad]

Welcome to the site Mr Physio... the Water Melon you gave the School's greenhouse has flowers DebP  ;D

[realfood]

It is quite common for the first few flowers to be male, but I am sure that a female one will be along shortly!

[peasmad]

I got one of those cheap last day buy melons from the shop. I washed and sowed a few seeds and didn't expect much, but got 75% germination. But they're only at the 2 leaf stage.  So yours are way ahead of mine, but not a crop i intended to grow to be honest.

[lorna]

Welcome to A4A. A few of us only have gardens but we are all welcome. Great site to be a member of. Have fun.

[antipodes]

Does this mean that you need to hand pollinate melons? I seem to have no trouble with squash, is it not the same??

[realfood]

It depends whether you are growing them outside where bees can pollinate them, or inside in a greenhouse.

[banshee]

Hi and welcome to the site.  ;D

[Mr Physio]

Diolch  ;D