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Post by raymondo on Jan 27, 2012 17:41:35 GMT -5
Taking several pages out of Joseph's book, I sowed a bunch of green fleshed melons in an attempt to create a mix that might adapt to my climate and garden. All but one variety germinated so there is a good mix in the plot. I also planted one Melon de Lunéville in the middle and have tried to be vigilant about removing male flowers so it doesn't contribute any pollen.
Unfortunately, this being a year dominated by La Niña weather patterns, the summer has been cool with daytime temps rarely breeching 22°C (~72°F). It's also been very wet. Not good melon weather and the bees have been lolling around in their hives because of the humidity. End result? Only one melon set, on the Lunéville plant. Hopefully it is a cross but of course melons also produce perfect flowers so it may have selfed. It's a long wait till next melon season!
The weather experts are promising an end to La Niña soon so we may see a warmer summer next season. I'll be planting up another patch of greens then and hoping for the best.
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Post by rowan on Jan 27, 2012 18:51:29 GMT -5
I hear you. Last summer (in Southern Victoria) our weather was like that and I lost nearly all my melon plants because my place turned into a swamp for months.
This summer is unusally hot and dry and I am only getting 1/4 my predicted crop and those melons that set are mostly sunburnt and ruined. My melon patch looks funny with all the fruits covered with cardboard or frost fabric to keep the sun off them- I can't win, sigh.
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Post by castanea on Jan 28, 2012 0:33:38 GMT -5
Good luck, Ray. This last summer here in northern California we had possibly our coolest summer in the last 100 years. My melons, watermelons, sorghum and okra were mostly failures.
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Post by raymondo on Jan 28, 2012 2:15:26 GMT -5
I hear you. Last summer (in Southern Victoria) our weather was like that and I lost nearly all my melon plants because my place turned into a swamp for months. This summer is unusally hot and dry and I am only getting 1/4 my predicted crop and those melons that set are mostly sunburnt and ruined. My melon patch looks funny with all the fruits covered with cardboard or frost fabric to keep the sun off them- I can't win, sigh. If it's not one thing it's another! By the way Rowan, on the front page of your web site, what is the green melon 5th along on the top row of the first lot of pics? It's a beauty. Good luck, Ray. This last summer here in northern California we had possibly our coolest summer in the last 100 years. My melons, watermelons, sorghum and okra were mostly failures. The only one of the above I didn't sow was sorghum although I had intended to. Good thing I didn't! I'd have thought that northern California would be almost maritime in climate. Does it usually get hot enough for the likes of sorghum and okra? |
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Post by rowan on Jan 28, 2012 14:30:44 GMT -5
That is 'Green Bosnian'. The best tasting melon I have ever grown - the trouble is that it is impossible to tell when they are ripe. They don't change colour, soften or slip. Sometimes they get some netting when ripe.
This year I am haveing a really poor harvest of all my varieties and I have already wasted two of these melons by picking before ripe. I can't afford to lose any more so I will leave a couple on the vine until they are nearly bad before collecting seeds. I may not be able to eat them still but at least I will have seeds.
Luckily they keep well on the vine so I will just have to learn to be patient.
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Post by raymondo on Jan 28, 2012 15:39:58 GMT -5
Rowan, I haven't seen Bosnian Green around. Where did you source your seeds?
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Post by castanea on Jan 28, 2012 16:51:54 GMT -5
I hear you. Last summer (in Southern Victoria) our weather was like that and I lost nearly all my melon plants because my place turned into a swamp for months. This summer is unusally hot and dry and I am only getting 1/4 my predicted crop and those melons that set are mostly sunburnt and ruined. My melon patch looks funny with all the fruits covered with cardboard or frost fabric to keep the sun off them- I can't win, sigh. The only one of the above I didn't sow was sorghum although I had intended to. Good thing I didn't! I'd have thought that northern California would be almost maritime in climate. Does it usually get hot enough for the likes of sorghum and okra? On the coast it doesn't get very warm, but once you get past the coastal mountain ranges we have a huge central valley running almost the entire length of the state where it normally gets very hot in July and August. Here in Sacramento we do get some occasional cooling summer breezes from the coast coming up the Sacramento river delta but the further north or south you get from the delta breeze, the hotter it gets. At the far north end in Redding, the average July high temperature is almost 38 degrees C, with temperatures over 43 C being fairly common. Here in Sacramento we sometimes have a few days in a row over 42 C in July. So normally this is a good place for growing sorghum and okra. |
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Post by castanea on Jan 28, 2012 16:54:13 GMT -5
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Post by rowan on Jan 28, 2012 21:46:51 GMT -5
Yep, that is where I originally got them. I was lucky to get them through customs as they wern't packed properly even after I advised them on how to pack and label them. Subsequent orders were stopped by customs - naughty me, lol.
BTW, I'm a she
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Post by castanea on Jan 29, 2012 0:26:26 GMT -5
Sorry about the he/she
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Post by rowan on Jan 29, 2012 1:12:40 GMT -5
No probs ;D
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Post by raymondo on Feb 4, 2012 7:35:41 GMT -5
Well, my only melon was decimated by slugs. I've picked it and taken it inside but I doubt it will have any viable seeds. It was very small and very unripe. Oh well, spring is just around the corner, just got to wait till summer finishes and autumn and winter have passed, then I can start again!
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Post by templeton on Feb 6, 2012 6:21:16 GMT -5
...but pea breeding season is here - well almost....  pity about the melons, tho. Have you been getting all those cyclone tails, Ray? T |
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Post by 12540dumont on Feb 7, 2012 17:05:37 GMT -5
Raymundo, I'll save up any green melon seeds for you this year. I know I have a few in there! Sorry about the bugs. Sigh  Regards, Holly |
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Post by steev on Feb 7, 2012 21:20:33 GMT -5
Raymondo,
Following the rule that if one plants a tree, one will live long enough to taste the fruit, I'll promise to send you seeds of any green-fleshed melons in my Summer trial, thereby assuring that neither weather nor rodents will defeat my efforts. Wow, that's some cheap crop insurance! I'll remind you later for address and any mailing precautions.
Not to put all my eggs in one basket, I recall Johno expressed interest, too. There, now I've really hedged my bet.
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