I live somewhere that ‘melons do not grow’.
So my goal for a couple of years has been cold summer temperature tolerance. See thread here
This year it warmed up enough to plant on May 25th (last year was June 5th).
I have plenty of seeds luckily, so I sowed densely. Especially if you’re short on space or have a challenging melon growing area, consider doing the same-- plant 5 seeds for every plant you want to keep eventually.
Many of these seeds are descended from work that Joseph Lofthouse did to adapt melons to his high desert climate. This made them very early compared to other varieties.
The ‘Polar Mix’ melons were then grown on the Northern CA coastal bluffs for two years, allowing selection for high tolerance to windy and foggy summers.
If you haven’t planted yet:
We encourage you to direct sow these half an inch deep in your garden, as cucurbits don’t always thrive after being transplanted, and grow quickly.
Choose a spot with full sun, in soil that has been worked, ideally a raised bed (warmer soil). If you plant them too early, they will fail to germinate in cold soil. Keep moist but don’t overwater, as waterlogged soil will be colder and reduce early seedling vigor. As soon as seeds have emerged, reduce water to allow soil to warm up.
I will write the next section about thinning next week-- I’m short on melon seedling photos to include in my melon email to everybody, so if you have some to share/use, very much appreciated.
