I have now struggled to grow melons for several years and as this year is not going that much better, I started to wonder other ways to improve speed. Before I have had some plant that make (usually) one melon right next to the plant. It’s not that common and maybe I just haven’t had the fastest plant to have that trait that I haven’t seen it as a huge advantage. This year I paid more attention it as the first to flower were those types and “normal” types still haven’t got flowers. Problem with that trait is that it seems mostly produce just one fruit fast and then maybe some week or 2 later. Then I remembered seeing bushy Italien cucumber melons. Maybe that could be the solution? Downside is that the taste would have to be selected again after crossing, same as cold hardiness, but otherwise it seems like sure way to make speedy melon to short season climates. I just don’t have any experience with cucumber melon. Do they start to produce so close to the plant as pictures would suggest? Sort of like summer squash, but smaller. Anyone made said crosses, possibly in Europe. Or any other experiences with cucumber melons. In the picture is one of my melons with the early female flowering. Now what I’m thinking is that all the vines would have first female flower at first leafnode or something similar. Just start making fruits after that size.
