Ruth from @colorfulworldacreage shares her experience with growing melons as well as her new adventure selling her home grown flowers, fruit and vegetables in her community.
 
Here are a few tips that we discuss during the episode:

Plant melons when the soil is at least 65 degrees, whether you direct sow your seeds or you are transplanting seedling.
Plant in an area that gets full sun throughout the day.
When plants are young, keep them well watered and provide them with a lot of nitrogen. One source of nitrogen to help your vines grow lush and green is fish emulsion.
You can amend the soil with bone meal to help prevent blossom end rot.
Hand pollinate or grow flowers nearby to attract pollinators.
When watering, avoiding wetting the leaves and water deep.
Once the melon has formed and you notice it has stopped getting bigger, stop watering to allow the sugars to concentrate so you get a sweeter fruit. Only water if you see the leaves wilting.

 
Ruth’s Top 5 muskmelon/cantaloupe

Charentais
Kazakh melon
Papaya Dew
Honey Melon (Rajasthan)
Petit gris de Rennes

 
Ruth’s Top 5 Watermelons

Orangeglo
Jubilee
Crimson Sweet
Strawberry
Moon & Stars

 
New varieties that Ruth will be trying in 2021

Leelanau Sweetglo
Kurobe
Orange Flesh Melon
Golden Honeydew
Royal Golden Watermelon

 
Winter Melons

Santa Claus Melon
Valencia
Navajo Winter Melon

 
If you are like me and have limited space for watermelons, here is a short list of a few varieties for “personal sized” watermelons:

Doll Babies
Rainbow Sherbet
Petite Yellow
Golden Midget

 
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