Anyone interested in growing winter melons? I have several seedlings needing a new home. I can do either postage or trade.

Hello, Fabaceae_native. You have provided some very valuable informtion and advice and I thank you for it. Our summers are very hot with temperatures well over 90 degrees F for the period mid-May to mid-July, with the warm period usually lasting from May to September. Our hot period arrives very suddenly with no appreciable spring season, and leaves just the same. But this year has been very unusual: it is still cool and we had snow last weekend. We are also having rain now, which is unusual, but we had very little snow this winter so perhaps nature is catching up. In a 'regular' summer I believe I would be fine with respect to warmth. I looked at my records for the last two years and I have successfully sown cucumbers (two sowings), butternut squash, zucchini, gourds, and Minnesoto Midget melon in late May with success. The melons were on the ground, not in the most favourable spot for sun, and the slugs got to the fruit, not the plants, and we got a few small sweet fruit. I also grow okra, tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers which are all heat-lovers. I wanted to be extra early this year, but the weather is not co-operating. My beds are in full sun all day and I believe that with clear plastic covering (which I have used for the cucumbers) they should be warm enough. I just hope we have enough sun in time. The melons I will try are all 'early' varieties and were grown here in Ontario, but I love a challenge and I'm trying the watermelon to see what happens. Thanks for your encouragement, I won't give up. I am not familiar with the clear plastic corrugated sheets of which you speak, but I will check them out at Home Depot where I'll be going tomorrow to check out the netting which I may use. They seem to be a very good idea, so I'll try to locate them in case I need them. This is going to be quite a little adventure for me, and I'll keep you posted. Much appreciated. N.

You could try starting them indoors about two weeks before your last average frost date, and plant them out about two weeks after your frost date. All of these have delicate roots and can be easily damaged by transplanting, which is why direct sowing is usually advised. But you can try it. Using quart-sized pots may help. When you're transplanting them, remember these rules: 1) Starting them indoors too early is not better; figure out your dates and write it on your calendar. 2) Don't leave them indoors any longer than you have to; as soon as they've got a few leaves and the weather is warm enough, put them out. Large plants transplant much worse than small ones. 3) Don't forget to slowly get them used to direct sunlight and wind. Google 'hardening off' for more info. 4) Transplant them very, VERY carefully, trying not to damage the roots. Don't fluff or spread the roots, leave them in the potting soil and try to keep the soil together. Don't use peat pots. I don't understand why those things were ever invented. They're horrible, and the plants hate them. They're even worse for plants with delicate roots, and the edge that sticks up wicks away water to the breezes and dries out the plants. Don't use peat pots. Give them to someone you hate. You could also try an experiment: Plant out your indoor-started melons and squashes, but save some seeds and direct-sow them when the weather and the soil has warmed up. See which method works best for you and your locale. Sue

Yes you can. That's exactly what I am doing now. I have bitter melon seeds which are a year old. They didn't germinate after trials such as filing the hard shell of the seed, pinching the tip, soaking in luke warm water overnight... So brought a ripe bitter melon (the lady at the grocery store gave it away), cleaned the seeds under running water and am drying them as of today. Probably I might sow them tomorrow in a peat pellet. A few of them I wrapped them in a wet paper towel to sprout. I'll see if it is successful. It's the third day today. Here is a link that might be useful: uj's vegetable garden