It is planted in the hottest months of the year, the summer months, since it needs high temperatures throughout the growing process, so that it can be harvested later in the first months of autumn. It can be planted as a seed, which is the most recommended way, since it is when the plant best adapts to the ground, or as a seedling, recommended for grafting. The most favorable temperature in which it develops is between 18º C and 26º C. It requires plenty of sunlight and needs a good watering.
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When to plant melons?
You must choose an area that receives sun for much of the day, you can measure the temperature of the soil with a thermometer, which should not exceed 20ºC, so that the seeds can germinate correctly, or if they were seedlings, so that they develop properly.
You have to know what the pH of the soil in which you are going to plant the melons is, since it is recommended that it not be less than 6, nor that it exceed 7, that way the soil will have an optimal level of calcium , in the event that it does not have it, the soil should be fertilized by adding compost or natural fertilizers, which you can obtain either at a suitable plant store or a nursery. Well, melons have to grow in a soil rich in nutrients. The soil must first of all be loose.
With the help of a rake or shovel, remove the soil from the ground, to remove any large stones or sticks that prevent the plant from carrying out its development. The area in which the seeds or seedling are placed must not exceed 2 mm.
In the event that the person who wants to plant melons lives in a place where the winters are longer and the summers last less time, it is recommended that the germination of the melon seeds be carried out indoors, especially in times when it is colder, until it is a suitable temperature to be able to take it outside and move it to the orchard. To get the seeds to germinate, you must take a plastic container, which could be a glass or a small pot, and fill it with peat or compost.
The last days of May and the first days of June are the most recommended dates to start planting melons. If the earth is very cold and does not receive constant heat, the seeds will never germinate, so in times of frost you will never see this fruit born. It is essential that the soil does not drop below 20ºC so that any type of melon follows its normal development process.
How to plant melons?
When planting them you must make a kind of small mountains that measure about thirty centimeters high and that do not exceed ninety centimeters wide, leaving a separation of half a meter between mound and mound. The distance between each row should be 1 meter, so that the tangled branches of the melon can grow and spread out with enough space. Three to five seeds should be placed in each mound, at a depth of about ten or fifteen centimeters from the surface of each of the mounds. In the event that you do not use the seeds but seedlings that you have germinated in your house, you can put two or three for each mound. When finished, irrigate the area well with water.
Cover the seeds or seedlings with a black cloth cover or plastic mulch to protect them, in case the weather is a little cooler, another option is to use floating type covers, which keep the heat and can be carry out their growth, in addition to being a way of isolating them from possible plagues of numerous insects.
Irrigation
They should be watered every two days or at most three, in the middle of summer, they need a maximum of five centimeters of water a week, but in the event that the climate is drier and more arid, they will need to be watered a little more frequently, on everything to better cope with all the heat to which they are exposed. It should never be abused when it comes to watering them, because they could water down and rot easily, if the water accumulates above the ground, you should add more amount of mulch, in the surrounding area so that all that excess water standing water can absorb it.
As the melon grows and matures, the watered ones must be cut, since it is a special way that is used so that they better adopt their sweetness and their characteristic flavor. If this is not carried out, the flavor they have may not be adequate.
Fertilization.
The type of fertilizer is important, you should use one bought in a nursery or in specialized plant stores, if you want to make a homemade fertilizer and not spend money, you can create compost, which is made up of different organic animal waste or plants, earth and lime. The amount that is added can be a small handful with the hand that surrounds the entire plant. The frequency with which the fertilizer is thrown can be every three and four weeks.
Harvest
Normally it is usually in the last month of summer or the last days of this season, at the latest in early autumn, when the melons are fully ripe and can be harvested. One method to find out if the melon is done is to smell its skin. When the melon is cut and picked it may get softer but its sweetness will not increase. It is recommended that they be consumed in the days after being cut, if not, they can be kept in the refrigerator without opening for a maximum of fifteen days. After a fortnight they will start to get a little ugly and they won’t have the same texture.
Possible pests and diseases in the plant
When you see that small insects appear on the leaves that can damage the fruit, you are always in time to cover each row with a good cover, in order to prevent them from accessing the plant.
Mildew: If there are any white dots or spots , both on the leaves and in the stem area, it means that it is being invaded by powdery mildew. In the event that this disease has reached the plant, you should use a suitable fungicide in the form of a spray or diluted copper. You should not only spray it on the damaged plant but throughout the garden where it can spread.
Aphids: When you notice the presence of small black bugs throughout the plant, you should buy a type of insecticide that you have to apply especially in the morning, the sooner the better, and repeat the same procedure as many times as is convenient.
Cucumber beetles: If you see that this type of insect is damaging the melon leaves, you can use pyrethrins on the ground, or use traps to kill them.
