Melon seeds - grow your own sweet melons and watermelons

Sweet melon and watermelon are botanically different

Sweet melons belong to the species Cucumis melo. They include Charentais, cantaloupe, netted, Galia and honeydew melons, among others. Watermelons, on the other hand, belong to the species Citrullus lanatus. Both are annual, trailing plants from the cucurbit family, but they differ clearly in origin, heat requirements, fruit development and cultivation.

It is therefore worth taking a close look when choosing varieties. Under Central European conditions, sweet melons are usually somewhat easier to cultivate, while watermelons need especially plenty of warmth and benefit greatly from a protected location.

Melons need warmth above all

For good development, melons need plenty of sun, warm soil and conditions that are as sheltered as possible. Success is not determined by the frost-free period alone, but by the total warmth of the summer. Warm days and mild nights promote growth, fruit development and sugar formation.

A sunny bed in front of a protected wall, a raised bed, a polytunnel or a greenhouse can therefore make a significant difference. Watermelons in particular usually develop more reliably under protection than in open ground.

Early varieties are especially interesting for Central Europe

For the home garden, early and rather small-fruited varieties are usually the best choice. They need less time to ripen and can make better use of the comparatively short warm season. Large, late-ripening varieties, by contrast, more often fall short of expectations in cool or rainy summers.

Among sweet melons, early Charentais and small-fruited types are especially interesting. Among watermelons, more compact varieties with smaller fruits offer better chances of fully ripe fruit.

Trailing heavy feeders with a large space requirement

Melons grow vigorously and form long shoots that spread across the ground or can be trained on climbing supports in protected cultivation. As heavy feeders, they need nutrient-rich, humus-rich and well-drained soil as well as an even water supply.

They dislike waterlogging just as much as cold, compacted soil. Especially in spring, the plants benefit from a location that warms up quickly and from good soil structure.

No melons without pollination

Melons form male and female flowers on the same plant. For fruit development, pollen must be transferred to the female flowers. Outdoors, bees and other insects usually take care of this.

In a closed greenhouse or polytunnel, it is therefore important to ensure that pollinators have access to the flowers. If necessary, pollination can also be carefully supported by hand.

Fully ripe melons taste especially aromatic

The right harvest time is crucial for flavour. When fully ripe, many sweet melons develop an intense fragrance and, depending on the variety, detach more easily from the stem. With watermelons, important indicators include the colour of the ground spot, a drying tendril near the fruit base and the variety’s typical development time.

Anyone who grows melons themselves can harvest the fruits exactly when they have reached their best ripeness. This is one of the greatest appeals of growing your own: fully developed fruits straight from the garden, greenhouse or polytunnel.