Summer Melons

​Summer and gardening are inseparable whether you are enjoying your garden or produce from the garden is enhancing that day’s adventures. Summer memories are filled with sneaking grapes from the grape arbor, picking sugar snap peas or seeing who could fill their bucket full of berries first. One of the best memories is the anticipation of the melons. Each day searching for the melons under the big leaves, watching it grow and hoping that today is the day.

​When adding melons to the garden it is important to understand what they need to thrive. They require a lot of soil nutrients through each growing period to help the plants succeed providing you with a flavorful harvest. When first planting most melon plants need a high slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. This will provide the soil with the nitrogen needed to assist in the photosynthesis process.

Wild Valley Farms Wool Pellets have 9% Nitrogen and can hold up to 20% their weight in water increaseing porosity for optimal root growth.

 Also increasing the amino acids which are vital to protein synthesis and the producing of chlorophyll. Depending on your current soil nutrients once the flowers begin to form the plant will require higher levels of phosphorous and potassium. Phosphorous can help regulate the protein synthesis and energy transfer as the fruit matures. Potassium assists in the exchange of nutrients and water movement throughout the plant.  Even with great care and providing a nutrient rich soil melons will provide a greater yield and increase flavor profile when active pollinators are present. Create an environment that will entice pollinators by planting a variety of herbs and flowers in concentrated areas near by. This will provide nectar, pollen and areas for nesting and attracting the pollinators to your garden. 

​Many flowers and herbs will not only attract helpful pollinators but will shield the plants from pests. Using the companion planting approach our favorites to plant with melons to deter pests are Marigolds the strong aroma will deter whiteflies, cucumber beetles and aphids. Chives, onions, and garlic help to deter aphids, rodents, and deer. Herbs like basil, oregano and mint help to repel whiteflies. 

Healthy Gardening How To's & Tips for your garden: Companion Planting

As we provide the critical nutrients for our melons, they will soon become one of our favorite things to harvest in our gardens. The only difficult part will be deciding on which variety to choose.

 3 that we recommend!
Watermelons come in so many colors, shapes, and seed options that it can get overwhelming quickly. Sometimes starting with the old true and tested varieties is the way to begin. In the 1830s a variety nicknamed “Gypsy” made us all fall in love with watermelon. It has the traditional green and white stripes and is a long, large melon and can weigh up to 30 to 40lbs. This heirloom variety is called the Georgia Rattlesnake. This watermelon has a thicker rind and crisp sweet bright red flesh.
When to Plant: after last frost
Days to Maturity: 85-90
Fruit Weight: 30lb
Mature Spread: 72-96in
Cantaloupe is the perfect pairing to almost any summer event. The heirloom variety, Hearts of Gold provides beautiful 3lb round melons, with thin rinds and sweet orange flesh. This variety is not only known for its intense rich flavor but how early it ripens. Roland Morill out of Michigan created this new variety by crossing the Osage and Netted Gem melon varieties.
When to Plant: after last frost
Days to Maturity: 80-90
Fruit Weight: 3lb
Mature Spread: 36 - 72in
Armenian cucumbers are a melon and not a cucumber. They are also referred to as a snake melon or yard-long melon. They are slender with thin skin that can have color variations from dark to light green depending on the specific variety. The skin can be eaten, and the flesh is mild, crisp, and sweet. This melon is a versatile fruit as they are not only perfect for slicing fresh but can be added to both cold and hot recipes. These melons have been around a long time believed to come from the 15th century in Armenia.
When to Plant: after last frost
Days to Maturity: 70 
Fruit Size: 24in
Mature Spread: 48in