It is planted in the hottest months of the year, the summer months, since it requires high temperatures throughout the cultivation process, in order to be harvested in the first months of autumn. It can be planted as a seed, which is the most recommended way, since it is when the plant best adapts to the terrain, or as a seedling, recommended for grafting. The most favorable temperature in which it develops is between 18º C to 26º C. It requires abundant sunlight and needs a good watering.
When to plant melons?
You must choose an area that receives sun for a large part of the day, you can measure the soil temperature with a thermometer, which should not exceed 20ºC, so that the seeds can germinate correctly, or if they were seedlings so that they can develop properly.
You have to know what is the pH of the land where you are going to plant the melons, since it is recommended that it not be less than 6, nor that it exceed 7, in this way the soil will have an optimal level of calcium, in in the event that it does not have it, the soil must be fertilized by adding compost or natural fertilizers, which you can obtain either in a suitable store for plants or a nursery. Well, melons have to grow in a soil rich in nutrients. The soil must first of all be loose.
With the help of a rake or shovel, remove the soil from the ground, to eliminate any large stone or stick that prevents the plant from carrying out its development. The area in which the seeds or seedling are inserted must not exceed 2 mm.
In the event that the person who wants to sow melons lives in a place where the winters are longer and the summers last less time, it is recommended that the germination of the melon seeds be carried out inside your home, especially in times when it is colder, until it is already a suitable temperature to be able to take it outside and move it to the garden. In order for the seeds to germinate, you must take a plastic container, which could be a glass or a small pot, and fill it with peat or compost.
The last days of May and the first days of June are the most recommended dates to start planting melons. If the earth is very cold and does not receive constant heat, the seeds will never germinate, so in times of frost you will never be able to see this fruit born. It is essential that the soil does not drop below 20ºC so that any type of melon can continue its normal development process.
How to plant melons?
When planting them you must make a kind of small mountains that measure about thirty centimeters high and that do not exceed ninety centimeters wide, leaving a separation of half a meter between mounds. The distance between each row should be 1 meter, so that the tangled branches of the melon can grow and spread with enough space. Three to five seeds should be placed in each mound, at a depth of about four or fifteen inches from the surface of each one of the mounds. In the event that you do not use the seeds but seedlings that you have germinated at home, you can put two or three for each mound. When finished, water the area well with water.
Cover the seeds or seedlings with a black cloth cover or plastic mulch, in order to protect them, in the event that the weather is somewhat cooler, another option is to use floating type covers, which store heat and can be carry out their growth, in addition to being a way to isolate them from possible pests of numerous insects.
Irrigation
They must be watered every two days or at most three, in the middle of summer, they need a maximum of five centimeters of water a week, but in the event that the climate is drier and more arid, they will need to be watered a little more frequently, on all to better cope with all the heat to which they are exposed. It should never be abused when watering them, because they could easily water down and rot. If the water accumulates above the ground, you should add more mulch in the surrounding area so that all that excess standing water can absorb it.
As the melon grows and acquires maturity, the irrigated ones must be cut, since it is a special way that is used so that they better adopt their sweetness and their characteristic flavor. If this is not carried out, the flavor they have may not be adequate.
Fertilization.
The type of fertilizer is important, you should use one bought in a nursery or in specialized plant stores, if you want to make a homemade fertilizer and not spend money, you can create compost, which is made up of different organic animal waste or plants, earth and lime. The amount that is added can be a small handful by hand that surrounds the entire plant. The frequency with which the fertilizer is applied can be every three and four weeks.
Harvest
Normally it is usually in the last month of summer or the last days of this season, at the latest in early autumn, where the melons are fully ripe and can be picked. One method to find out if the melon is ready is to smell its skin. When the melon is cut and picked it can get softer but its sweetness will not increase. It is recommended that they be consumed in the days after being cut, if not, they can be kept in the fridge without opening for a maximum of fifteen days. After a fortnight they will start to get ugly and will not have the same texture.
Possible pests and diseases in the plant
When you see that small insects appear on the leaves that can damage the fruit, you are always in time to cover each row with a good cover, in order to prevent their access to the plant.
Mildew: If there are any white spots or spots, both on the leaves and in the stem area, it means that it is being invaded by powdery mildew. If this disease has reached the plant, you must to use a suitable fungicide in the form of a spray or diluted copper. You should not only spray it for the damaged plant but for the entire garden through which it can spread.
Aphids: When you notice the presence of small black bugs throughout the plant, you should buy a type of insecticide that you have to apply especially in the morning, the sooner the better, and repeat the same procedure as many times as is convenient.
Cucumber beetles: If you see that this type of insect is damaging the melon leaves, you can use pyrethrins on the ground, or use traps to kill them.