Of Melons and Seed-Saving

[meadow]

What wisdom do you have on the subject of melons?

I have a melon that was planned for seed-saving this year, Ananas D'Amérique A Chair Verte Melon (aka Green Fleshed Pineapple) from 2017 Baker Creek.

I'm trying to decide if I should hold off until next year since I cannot guarantee that I'd be here to do the hand pollination (due to family stuff). It's just that the seed is a bit on the older side, which makes me nervous. This is one of the few melons that does not cause an allergic reaction for me.

Is it even possible to get a reasonably non-crossed melon without hand-pollination? Obviously I wouldn't grow any other melons... but what about cucumbers? DH loves Japanese cucumbers and picked out 4 varieties to trial this year. I only vaguely recall there being something about melons and cucumbers but cannot recall if it applies to only certain types of cucumbers.

I'd also planned to grow them against a southern wall because growing melons can be dicey here. However that puts them closer to a neighbor's garden (not terribly close, but all other gardens are at least 1/4 mile away). I could place them on the other side of our property but then they lose out on the reflected heat. hmmm. Unless I create some reflected heat!

On the other hand, I may not be going anywhere. Who knows? I could just plant some of the seeds and see how it all plays out.

 

[flowerbug]

What wisdom do you have on the subject of melons?

I have a melon that was planned for seed-saving this year, Ananas D'Amérique A Chair Verte Melon (aka Green Fleshed Pineapple) from 2017 Baker Creek.

I'm trying to decide if I should hold off until next year since I cannot guarantee that I'd be here to do the hand pollination (due to family stuff). It's just that the seed is a bit on the older side, which makes me nervous. This is one of the few melons that does not cause an allergic reaction for me.

oh, i'd be sad if melons were something i reacted with.

Is it even possible to get a reasonably non-crossed melon without hand-pollination? Obviously I wouldn't grow any other melons... but what about cucumbers? DH loves Japanese cucumbers and picked out 4 varieties to trial this year. I only vaguely recall there being something about melons and cucumbers but cannot recall if it applies to only certain types of cucumbers.

they might mingle, but you can still probably get enough viable seeds that are pure enough to keep going. a barrier crop may help or even just a row of dividers to keep the bees from having such a straight shot from the cukes to the melons.

I'd also planned to grow them against a southern wall because growing melons can be dicey here. However that puts them closer to a neighbor's garden (not terribly close, but all other gardens are at least 1/4 mile away). I could place them on the other side of our property but then they lose out on the reflected heat. hmmm. Unless I create some reflected heat!

i love a good fresh home-grown melon. when the weather cooperates they are so good.

On the other hand, I may not be going anywhere. Who knows? I could just plant some of the seeds and see how it all plays out.

that sounds like a worthy plan (or lack thereof ).

 

[heirloomgal]

I don't think you need to worry about your melons @meadow; if you aren't growing any other melons it will come 100% true from seed, and without hand pollination.

Melons don't cross with cucumbers, though there is one 'but' that comes with that. There is a type of 'cucumber' in circulation (though it doesn't seem very popular) called Armenian Cucumber, or Painted Serpent Cucumber, and it grows looking like a cucumber, and it has no sweetness - but it's actually a melon. That one would cause you problems with your seeds. Without that one around, your seeds will do fine.

Cucumis melo: the Armenian 'cucumber' (melon), same with regular sweet melons of any kind
Cucumus sativus: regular garden cucumbers, including the Japanese ones (I checked to be sure!)

 

[meadow]

Thank you so much, @heirloomgal !

 

[Branching Out]

Last year Dahlia recommended this lovely little French melon called Petit Gris de Rennes, and I decided to give it a try. But by the time I ordered seeds it was on the late side, so the melons did not have a chance to fully develop. This year I vowed that I would start earlier.

On April 7th I started the melon seeds under a piece of damp paper towel placed on a saucer. Another saucer was inverted over top, to keep the seeds from drying out. After a week (with a little heat applied after about 4 days) the seeds were germinating, so I poked them into huge 4" peat blocks on April 14th and kept them at room temperature. It's been another week now, and the cotyledon leaves are unfurling. They are in our 18C(64F) basement under lights. I'll try to bring them outside during the day whenever temperatures permit.

Reading the previous posts about seed saving make me curious to give that a try. Kind of makes me want to place a trellis along our neighbours tall stone retaining wall as well. The wall is over 8' tall, and radiates heat all evening during the summer months.

 

[flowerbug]

Last year Dahlia recommended this lovely little French melon called Petit Gris de Rennes, and I decided to give it a try. But by the time I ordered seeds it was on the late side, so the melons did not have a chance to fully develop. This year I vowed that I would start earlier.

my experiences with them (via @ninnymary where are you these days dear? )... is that they are really really good given the right conditions and timing, but you will have a learning curve with them. that in combination with the weather in your region it may be a challenge. the wall which absorbs heat may be perfect for temperature, but light... there may be the rub...

 

[Branching Out]

my experiences with them (via @ninnymary where are you these days dear? )... is that they are really really good given the right conditions and timing, but you will have a learning curve with them. that in combination with the weather in your region it may be a challenge. the wall which absorbs heat may be perfect for temperature, but light... there may be the rub...

I stand corrected-- it was indeed Ninny Mary that recommended this melon. Thanks for pointing that out flowerbug. Hopefully we'll hear from Ninny Mary again soon.

And I appreciate the tip regarding light. Our neighbours have a really hot spot, with containers placed on black lava rock near their white brick foundation wall. If the white wall reflects the light back on the vines that may just be the ideal location for this melon. I will likely try growing them in a couple of different spots, in the hopes that one method works well.