Out of season right now. The next sowing window opens in March.
Growing Calendar
This month: Oct
Plan ahead for this crop
- •Check growing conditions
- •Prepare for next stage
Watch Out For
Results vary a lot with the summer's heat
a genuinely hot year can ripen fruit well even outdoors, but cool, cloudy summers often fail to ripen fruit fully. A greenhouse or polytunnel gives far more reliable results regardless of the weather, since it takes the guesswork out of relying on a good summer
Powdery mildew is common from midsummer: improve airflow, avoid wetting leaves, and remove affected foliage promptly
Limit each plant to 4–5 fruits and support swelling melons in a net sling: the stem can't bear the weight alone
Common Questions
About growing Melon in the UK
Can melons be grown outdoors in the UK?
Yes, in a warm, sheltered, south-facing spot, especially with a good summer, but results are far less reliable than under glass. A greenhouse, polytunnel, or even a cold frame placed over the plant gives the extra heat melons need to ripen fully before autumn.
Why are my melon flowers falling off without fruiting?
This is usually poor pollination. Melons produce separate male and female flowers, and cool or wet weather keeps bees away. Hand-pollinate by picking a male flower (no swelling behind the petals) and pressing it into the centre of a female flower (small melon-shaped swelling behind the petals) each morning.
How do I know when a melon is ripe?
Check the end of the fruit opposite the stem: it should give slightly when pressed and smell sweetly fragrant. Many varieties also develop a network of fine cracks near the stem, which starts to separate slightly from the fruit when fully ripe.
How many melons should I let one plant grow?
Limit each plant to 4–5 fruits. Pinch off any flowers or small fruit beyond this so the plant channels its energy into ripening a smaller number of larger, sweeter melons before the UK growing season runs out.
Written from real growing experience, organic methods only. Our story · Our approach
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