Gardening is just around the corner and was wondering if anyone has grown these melons. I have a friend that has recommended them but wanted to see if there are any comments on them and if so, do you plant the seeds directly in the ground or do you start them indoors and transplant? A 60 to 70 day mature date and how do they produce in quantity per plant?

Tried them one year. Didn't pass muster for a second year.

But it was not the best of years for melons that year, too wet. But the few I did get were good but nothing to write home about.

My measure of a melon is the old hoodoo aka Hearts of Gold or it's football shaped twin Sierra Gold.

The small size was good if you want a single serving melon. That really was my goal as the missus really doesn't care for cantaloupe.

I would not expect a melon or any other plant developed for the climate in Minnesota to do well in the climate in Georgia. The Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe was developed by the University of Minnesota to perform well in a short growing season.

Keith

That is interesting and the area grown in may make a difference. I do know some years aren't good for melons and other years they excel. Being in middle and northern Montanna growing season is short most years.

I don't think they are too bad. There are better tasting melons, but most don't ripen in a short season. They are the only one that I can get to ripen consistently.

That very well may have been the case. However I have had great success with many northern developed cultivars.

Gilfeather Turnip rutabega, Vermont
Blacktail Mountain watermelon, Idaho
Brandywine tomato, Pennsylvania

Those are top lot in their category.

You never know until you trial them in your garden. Maybe I'd have gotten better results in a drier year, who knows.

BTW, blacktail mountain was developed as a short season melon and it thrives here. Far better than the detestable sugar baby which is a plant looking for a place to die.

Blacktail is an early icebox type with flavor equal to my preferred Charleston Grey main season melon.

Or maybe it's my taste preference. I like my cantaloupe to be very sweet, fragrant and melting texture. You don't get that in any of the shipping types.

I have a ranch neighbor that says the same thing. As far as taste goes you can't have it all in a short season climate. I'm excited about growing them. One question if you would, do you plant the seeds directly in the ground or do you start indoors and transplant them??

If short season were an issue for me I definitely would start indoors and set out. Just one caution with melons in general cantaloupe specifically, they are particularly prone to mildew and wilts in high humidity so keep them dry as sprouts.

That's the main reason I don't try to jump start the season here with early starts as we can have wet springs. I usually don't direct seed melons much before the first of May.

Thanks great advice!! No humidity issues here high desert climate.

Most commercial melons are grown in the southwest for a reason.

We actually struggle year to year depending on how much rain we get. I have best luck planting them in hills so the base of the plant drains well and keeping them totally weed free so air flow can get to the vines. Some go so far as to put the growing fruit on elevated platforms. Flower pot saucers upside down work well for that.

I've done both. Doesn't seem to make much difference.

Thanks Woodsloafer72.

I think the ground temperature plays into it a lot. If you can heat the ground up with a hot house or green house I bet they will take off a lot better. I am putting up a 18 x20 green house. I think it will make a lot of difference. I am guessing you have much the same climate as I do. Anything that says over 90 days is about a waste of time.

MJM, I'm sure growing season is very similar to your area. Here it all depends on a lot if we get those Indian summers to extend the warm days and nights for 3 to 4 weeks longer makes a world of difference for things to mature. If it's late to warm up and early to cool down fall, then it is a tossup with odds not so good.

If I lived at ranch year around, I would have a hoop/hot house. I spend a lot of time there but not there full time so would make it not possible. I'm going to plant inside an old corral I have and high fence around it to keep big game out. I got water right there and the ground is bottom ground very good new fresh dirt. Deer and moose I can keep out, elk aren't here in the growing season.

Could you cover the corral? We froze hard enough to burn the tomatoes off at ground level on 3 June. They we have an early freeze or three around Sept first. It will warm back up after it kills everything. We get enough hail I have never picked an apple with out a ding. That prunes the garden pretty well too.

I could trap stuff up if frost is predicted but then again that would be by luck also. Frost can come early and at any time like you said. I might be peeing in the wind but going to givah a try. I'll win or I'll lose.