So there I was, shelling purple-hulled peas with my neighbors, and Dearest Neighbor in the World tells me the kid he bought the peas from is going to plant melons July 9. (This is a good planting day according to the almanac.) Anyway, the kid says if you plant melons late, the shortening of the days makes them hurry up and develop the sugar, and the melons will be sweeter than if you plant them early.
Thoughts? Comments? Laughter? I am going to plant some charentais melons on the 9th, so get the bets in now.
late for melons...?
I just planted cantaloupe and watermelon seeds yesterday for my fall garden
I think the only deterrent would be if you can provide enough moisture.
I have Charantais Savor blooming right now.
I'll be interested in following your experiment.
Please keep us posted even though I'm not a gambler.
You shouldn't have any problem getting a decent crop of melons if you plant now. I'm not sure of your friends theory about the "shortening days" causing the melons to form sugars, but I do know that the sweetning process is more related to moisture control over the last growing weeks of ripening.
I'm in Spring, about 1/2 zone up from Lumberton, and I've traditionally started my melons in late june- early july with good success! PODSTER is right, about maintaining correct moisture for them, Keeping enough water on them during the early growth, and holding back water as they ripen is the real secret to growing good sweet melons! I have a drip system in my entire garden, and it works very well! (even in drought conditions, but OH the water bill!)
Mulching the soil is very important too! Hope this helps
Jerry
Do you start your melons outdoors or inside? What else can be grown in a fall garden? I have never had one but would love too.
I direct sow them outside both spring and fall. You can grow pumpkins, broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, greens, cabbage, winter squash, brussel sprouts, spinach, along with all the stuff you grow in the spring during the fall. If you venture over to the vegetable forum, GymGirl has started a fall gardening thread. There are links to planting calendars and lots of discussion.
I start my melons, pumpkins and squash early in containers and plant out later. All are full of blooms now.
You can also do succession plantings of pole or bush beans and cucumbers all summer as well. I have removed the tomatoes that are no longer blooming or producing and have started tomatoes for the late summer garden.
If your space is limited, you can grow the Charantais melons (as well as cucumbers) on a trellis. I found mine have voluntarily climbed along with the tomato vines and those that are vertical are larger and healthier than the horizontal vines.
JerryTX ~ I'm trying to be conservative on water usage by trying different types of beds. Otherwise, I'd love the drip system. I do mulch well and that also helps conserve water and keep the roots cooler.
Brigidlily, it sounds like no one here is laughing at you, only rooting for you! Pardon the pun... 8 )
Podster: The nice thing about drip systems is that it is THE most resourceful way to water. I don't use the old "leaky hose" stuff, (too inaffective) I use drip PVC that has 1/2 GPH emitters built into the hose! (you can order it to have emitters of either 1/2-or 1 GPH, and spaced at 9" or 18" intervals. Probably more options, but I can't remember...) My veggie garden is ~ 700 sq. ft of plantable beds, and even while I have had to water almost daily this year, it hasn't hurt my water bill all that much. (I also have a yardfull of fruit trees that have to be watered too!) I mulch all of my beds with straw 4" deep OVER the drip lines, and this helps conserve even more.
ILOVE JESUS99: I am going to try to attach a vegetable planting chart the was devised by Texasagrilife for harris county, that I've found useful for planning my planting times. Hope it helps..
Jerry
Well crumbs! That was a bust, BUT here is the link to Harris county agrilife planting chart ILoveJesus99:
http://harris.agrilife.org/files/2011/05/VegPlantingChart.pdf
See if this helps you.
Jerry
Well, this is the best news I've had all day!
A couple of years ago, I planted Lambkin - a long-storing melon that is truly a little like honeydew heaven.
Just as the main batch was ripenening, we got hit with two solid weeks of hot, rainy overcast, which of course, means mildew. Every leaf curled up and turned white and died within ten days, leaving 30 or 40 pounds of Lambkin melons hanging from all the walls of my deck.
I bought seeds again this year but forgot to put them in - so that is tops on my list for tomorrow - planting Lambkin! Thank you, thank you, thank you! :)
Happy Independence Day!
Elizabeth, if you need a planting guide, there's one on the North Haven Gardens site along with some other really good resources like suggested varieties and tips for fall gardeners.
http://sites.google.com/site/nrhcommunitygarden/when-to-plant-what
Thanks so much! I'm such a part-time dabbling gardener, I never thought to look for a planting chart. :)
You're welcome!
Thank you, everybody, especially Jerry, for all the great info! I've been off-site a while as my son was the victim of an aggravated robbery last week (he will be fine, and we are busy gathering evidence that will hopefully get these thugs off our streets). But the almanac says to plant on the 9th, and I plan to get melons and peas in the ground this weekend. Yay for fall gardens!
Your more than welcome Brigidlily! I have my most fun in the fall garden....
brigidlily I am so sorry about your son. I am so happy he is ok. Hope they catch them and throw away the key!!! Let us know how it is going.
Just an update -- I planted the melon seeds and not all sprouted, which is fine. I have two that look like they will do something. Fingers crossed!
My son is healing well. No news or ID on the thugs, unfortunately.