I got given a melon plant

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had it about a week now, its still alive , ive potted it in some multipurpose compost for now

i dont really know anything about growing melons i assume theyre a bit like courgettes only more demanding, ive got a sunny position lined up for it, but i dunno wether i can keep it in a pot or i have to plant it directly into the ground, keeping it in the pot would be best as then i can keep it in the sunnyist position but how big a pot am i going to need?

Depends on what type it is. The hardiest vars such as sweetheart, will sometimes give a very small crop outdoors, if planted in a very sunny spot, but only in the the south of england, usually outdoors they are planted out last week in may. Much bigger crops can be got in a greenhouse.

Most varieties need glass and heat at night.

I've tried to grow melons in glass house a few times. Always in a pot, I never managed to get an eatable crop them though, usually one small fruit before the plants get powdery mildew. They are prone to die if they don't get enough water and boy do they need water, they also need a lot of food, well rotted manure/compost. If growing in a pot I would suggest 20 litres upwards, but I'm someone who's never grown an eatable melon so don't listen to me!

Try sweetheart, its tastes really good, deep orange flesh and a scent that is allmost overpowering when ripe. At their best when the stem parts easilly from the fruit, I like eating them sun warmed not cold. I have averaged 10 good fruit per plant under unheated glass, only one or two outdoors. Melons are best planted in soil with plenty of organic matter not in pots.

mmm sunwarmed like a giant peach
It might be a sweetheart they said it was sweetsomething, i think ive found somewhere i can plant it in the ground by a south west facing wall, i found the other melon thread , any idea when i might get to harvest one? if it survives

I will be growing 'sweetheart' under glass, in beds this year. Should make a nice challenge!

Twistin' me melon man!

Melon Update

as you can see the melon is still alive and even has its first tendril

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