| Botanical name | Cucumis melo; Cucumis citrullu |
|---|---|
| Plant Care |  Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually  Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.  Frost Hardy Frost Hardy – Can Handle frost without damage.  Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering.  Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned.  Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
| Categories | |
| Common name(s) | Melons |
| Origin | |
| Planting instructions | Prepare basins of well-manured soil, 300mm in diameter and 1.5m apart.Plant five to six seeds per basin, about 15mm deep. Thin out to three plants when 100mm tall. |
| Maintenance | Keep the basins free of weeds, and water the plants well in dry weather. Feed every two weeks with liquid fertilizer once the flowers appear. |
| Interesting planting ideas | Plant near garlic chives, mint, morning glory and pennyroyal. |
| Interesting info | Botanically, melons fall into the same family as cucumbers and require similar treatment in cultivation. Recommended varieties: Hales Best, an orange fleshed sweet melon; green-fleshed Honeydew.(Watermelons are not really suitable for home gardens as they occupy too much space for very little return). Most melons grow on vines along the ground, but some small-fruited varieties, such as Jenny Lind, will grow on trellises, This is a handy space-saver in a smaller garden. |
| Possible problems | Don't plant melons near potatoes, sweet potatoes or radishes or near citrus trees. They seem to dislike one another and each stunts the other's growth. |
| Common pests and diseases | Aphids, pumpkin flies (to control the latter, make a bait solution of Malathion plus 100g sugar per liter of water; spray onto the leaf surfaces when the first flowers appear, repeating as necessary). Mildew. |
| Harvest | Melons should be really ripe when picked, as they do not improve after picking.Ripe muskmelons develop a slightly yellower color and feel soft at the blossom end when pressed.The netting on the skin becomes more pronounced, the color changes from dark green to grey-green and finally to yellowish-green and the fruit smells delicious. |
| Yield | Five plants should yield enough sweet- or winter melons for a family of four. |
Cucumis melo; Cucumis citrullu (Melons)
- Botanical name: Cucumis melo; Cucumis citrullu
- Common name(s): Melons
- Categories: Fruits and Vegetables
Plant description:
There are two types of melon: the summer varieties, collectively known as muskmelons or netted melons after the appearance of their skin, and popularly called sweetmelon, spanspek, rock melon and cantaloupe; and the smooth-skinned winter melons, which include honeydew and watermelon. Botanically, melons fall into the same family as cucumbers and require similar treatment in cultivation.
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Botanical Pronunciation: KOO-koo-mis MEL-oh
Cucumis melo; Cucumis citrullu requirements and features
info on these icons
Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.
Prohibited Use Notice: No Data Scraping Allowed Except for Search Engine Indexing:
The content provided on PlantInfo.co.za is intended for personal, non-commercial use only. Unauthorized extraction, reproduction, or use of the data, including scraping, for any purpose other than search engine indexing is strictly prohibited. Violations of these terms may result in legal action. By accessing and using this website, you agree to comply with these conditions and acknowledge the legal restrictions on the use of our content.
Related plants
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables
