Melons have been cultivated for thousands of years for their sweet and juicy, thirst wrenching flesh. Nowadays numerous cultivars and hybrids are available. They mostly originate in wild forms of Cucurbita melo from Asia Minor (e.g. Bailan melon, Cantaloupe melon, Casaba melon, Galia melon, Hami melon, honeydew melon, Kolkhoznitsa melon, Muskmelon, Navajo Yellow melon, Ogen melon, Piel de Sapo, Sharlyn melon, Sprite melon, sugar melon, and tiger melon) and Cucurbita lanatus from South Africa (various cutlivars of watermelon). All melons are annual sprawling or climbing, fast growing vines which are easily grown in any rich, well drained soil with sufficient moisture during growth and in full sun. Sow flat preferably from end of March to mid April in any rich, well drained soil, three seeds per pot. Keep pots in a sunny and constantly warm spot inside, e.g. on a window sill, in a heated greenhouse or in the wintergarden at a minimum of some 20°C. Transplant seedlings to the open garden as soon as temperatures will stay above 10°C at night from late spring to early summer. 20 seeds per package, unless not stated differently. |