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The melon, whose scientific name is Cucumis melo, it has been cultivated for more than 5000 years. This is because, although it is a fruit consumed throughout the world today, the melon is originally from Ancient Egypt, where it was already enjoyed in the 3rd millennium BC.
As you well know, it is a very popular fruit for its sweet taste and its incredible properties and benefits, since melons are rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium. If you want to learn how to plant your own melons to enjoy an organic harvest, do not miss the following article by Ecologist Verde, where you will discover everything about plant melons: when and how to do it.
When and how to plant melons
To begin with, from Ecologist Verde we want to tell you that it is totally possible to sow melon directly outside. However, there are many who advise starting with a seedbed indoors, especially in colder climates to ensure a good development of the plant in its early stages.
In addition, starting with seedlings will allow you to start sowing earlier, so you can plant your melon seeds between late winter and early spring.
Is better use seedbeds generous in size, about that of a regular supermarket yogurt. Use a substrate enriched with compost and peat, and keep the seedbed in an area where the temperature is around 15ºC. Bury the seeds completely in the substrate and water them abundantly but without waterlogging.
It is also important that it receives an adequate supply of sunlight, especially once the seedlings begin to appear. If they do not get enough light, the sprouts could stray, something that is always best avoided.
When and how to plant melons
One month after planting, your melons should be ready to be transplanted to their final location. To do this, we show you this guide on how to plant melons step by step:
- The first thing you should do is prepare a soil that is rich in humus.
- You will also need to make sure that the soil is not acidic. To keep the PH above 7, which is desired, you can add some lime to the soil.
- Now, you can proceed to choose a location that receives a great contribution of light, especially during the afternoon.
- When transplanting, you can sow in line, with a separation of something more than 1 meter between each melonera. If you make more than one line, respect at least 150 cm of separation between them (unless you use deep beds, in which case you can reduce these centimeters).
- Bury the plant along with the soil from the seedbed.
- Make sure the roots are not damaged throughout the process.
- Once you have finished the transplant, water the plant.
Growing and caring for melons
Now that we have seen when and how to sow and plant melons, let's proceed to see the necessary care to take into account so that they develop properly. Follow these directions if you want to know how to grow melons successfully:
Temperature
One of the most important points to take into account for the correct development of the melonera is the temperature, as it has to be warm enough. This plant is very sensitive to low temperatures, and if you want your melonera to develop well and bear good fruit, you must keep it between 23 and 30ºC. For this reason, it is important to dedicate a location with good lighting. Additionally, on cold days you can cover the plant with some type of plastic or canvas that does not crush it and helps it maintain a stable temperature.
Irrigation
Melons have a huge water content. Taking this into account, it is not difficult to imagine that the plant needs a good supply of it to grow healthy and bear large fruits. In the warm months, water your meloneras daily, ensuring that the soil is always moist and that it does not dry out completely. In the cold months, you can space out the waterings a little to prevent the soil temperature from dropping excessively.
Pass
Meloneras are very demanding when it comes to soil nutrients. They need a soil rich in organic matter, fertilized with compost or humus twice a month in the warm months, and once a month or every two months in the cold ones. If you do not know how to follow this step correctly, do not miss this other article on How to nourish plants with compost and fertilizers.
Earth
Although we have already said that this plant requires a lot of water, it is important that the earth does not get flooded at any time. That is why, from Ecologist Verde, we recommend that you ensure good drainage to the area where you plant the melonera.
Pests
Melons are also quite susceptible to attack by pests and insects that tend to get into the plant or its fruit. To prevent this from happening, you can use hydrogen-rich fertilizer before the rainy season, or use some type of natural insecticide.
This article on How to make natural insecticides for plants can be of great help to you.
When to harvest melons
And when is the best time to pick melons? Now that you know all the steps necessary for your melons to develop properly, from Ecologist Verde we want to tell you about the best time of year to pick melons and be able to enjoy this sweet and delicious fruit.
The ideal time to pick melons is between late summer and early fall. The characteristic smell of the fruit will tell you if the time has really come to pick it up or not, because if you can smell the melon even through the peel, it will mean that everything has gone well and that you can safely pick your melons.
If you want to read more articles similar to Planting melons: when and how to do it, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
