2uandtrilogy.com

Nothing like a good, perfectly ripe, freshly picked melon from the garden.

Round, pot-bellied, sun-kissed, refreshing, with melting and sweet flesh ... a real delight!

Nothing like those bland tasting melons you buy at the supermarket!

In addition, the melon is easy to grow. There is no secret, all it takes is lots of sun and a very humid soil.

here is 10 market gardening tips to grow beautiful melons :

Click here to easily print this guide in PDF.

10 tips for growing beautiful melons

1. Plant your melons out of the wind and in a very sunny location (at least 10 hours per day of direct exposure).

2. The ideal soil pH should be between 6.0 and 6.5.

3. Before planting, loosen the soil deeply, remove all stones and enrich the soil with 5 cm of compost.

4. The melon requires a lot of space: leave a space of 1 m between each plant (or 30 cm if you are climbing them on a stake or a trellis).

5. Melon plants require regular but moderate watering, in order to keep the soil moist but above all not flooded. Water more abundantly during hot periods.

6. When the stems start to grow, cover the soil with mulch. This will prevent the melons and leaves from coming into contact with the soil, a factor that promotes disease.

7. The stems of the melon are fragile and should be handled with care. To save space in your garden, try growing the plants in height, by climbing the stems on stakes or by training them on a trellis.

8. Aphids are the main pests of melon. In case of attack, remove the first aphids by hand or spray the plants with black soap diluted in water.

9. When a melon is ready to pick, its stem snaps effortlessly and its peduncle looks like it is peeling off. Its fragrance is also more pronounced.

10. The secret to making melons sweeter is taking care of the leaves. Protect them from fungus, drying out and mildew by spraying the leaves with Bordeaux mixture, or other copper-based fungicidal treatment.

Additional advice

- Aphid invasion? Ladybugs, earwigs and birds are your best allies in the fight against aphids without using pesticides. Check out the trick here.

- After a period of rain, you may have melons that are tasteless and less sweet. So, try to harvest the melon after a good period of sunshine, because that's when it will be the sweetest.

- Similarly, harvest the melon in the evening rather than in the morning, to have sweeter melons.

- In case of sunburn, use the rind of the melon to relieve the burning sensation. Check out the trick here.

How to choose a good melon?

The scent of melon is a good sign, but rather random!

A perfectly ripe melon is heavy in the hand, neither too soft nor too firm.

Its peduncle is easily removed and its stem snaps effortlessly.

Also watch out for cracked rinds, as this is a sign of damaged fruit.

To discover : 4 Tips For Choosing A Delicious Melon Every Time!

What are we eating ?

We tend to enjoy it plain or with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, but know that melon also lends itself to many recipes, both sweet and savory.

At aperitif time, prepare small melon and parma ham skewers - a super simple classic, but so effective!

Melon is also eaten as a dessert, in fruit salads and even in pies.

And why not cool off with a delicious melon smoothie ?

It is enough to pass half a melon in the blender with a few mint leaves. Add half of a plain yogurt for a smoother texture. Yum !

Finally, don't throw away the melon seeds: you can roast them and eat them as an aperitif. Check out the recipe here.

The best varieties of melons

The sowing of melon takes place from mid-March to mid-May. For seedlings purchased in pots, plant them in May, after the frosts.

Here are the 3 best melon varieties:

- Yellow Charentais: variety most consumed in France, with very sweet, juicy and fragrant orange flesh. Eat alone or with a drink, ideal for all recipes.

- Canary yellow from Spain: variety with oval and yellow fruits, with a white, sweet, very fragrant and particularly juicy flesh. Eat fresh with raw ham or as a dessert in a fruit salad. Canary yellow can be kept for several months in a cool cellar.

- Sucrin de Tours: variety with embroidered skin that produces very tasty and sweet fruits, with firm and thick flesh of an orange-red color. Abundant production and excellent quality.

Your turn...

Have you tried these 10 gardening tips for growing beautiful melons? Tell us in the comments if it worked for you. We can't wait to hear from you!

Do you like this trick ? Share it with your friends on Facebook.

Also to discover:

The Practical Guide For Combining Vegetables From Your Garden.

23 Market Gardening Tips For A Successful First Vegetable Garden.