First go at this method growing melons

[sprtsguy76]

I've planted 3 honey dew and 3 french melon (I cant pronounce or spell the name) in 20 gallon totes. I plan to grow/train these up vertically with a structure built of either 2x4 lumber or metal stud frame with some heavy duty rope or wire woven between the frame. I plan to tie up the fruit with some slings made of either cheese cloth or DW's old stockings.I had a bag of promix left over so I threw in about 20% bark fines, 15-9-19 time realease and some lime. Seems like the mix is nice and fluffy but also holds water well. Hope this goes well!

Damon

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[tlintx]

Good luck! This will be my first year growing melons as well -- Charentais -- and it will be interesting to see the results.

I think I will be envying your SWC for the next couple of months. Did you read anything about not watering/letting the reservoir run dry as the fruit starts to ripen, to prevent splitting? Or did I just get a finicky melon type?

[sprtsguy76]

Yes thats how you spell it!

Actually they are not swc's just traditional totes/containers.

But I have grown these same varieties in a swc and they did ok. And yes I let the tank run dry from time to time near harvest but not for splitting reasons more for flavor. I also hit em hard with some K near the end. Not the biggest fruits or yeilds but they were the tastiest melons I've had. Hopefully I can get the same results using this method. They will be on drip timer irrigation.

Thanks for checking it out!

Damon

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[tlintx]

Thanks for the info. From what I've read, this is an amazing melon, and I'm excited to see if I can get some for harvest.

[sprtsguy76]

It was amazing that year! Very fragrant and tasty. But I grew it in the ground the following year and it was fragrant but not very tasty. I can't figure it out. Just keeping my fingers crossed.

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