Melon : Orange Sherbert

Fruit

• Crops in : Early August onwards

Description

You can grow delicious ripe melons outside in a British summer! Melon Orange Sherbert produces ripe fruit successfully outdoors in our summers, best planted through black plastic/mulch, or under a cloche or in a frame. Netted skinned 'charentais type', more oval shaped than round and the one meal size fruits weigh about 500g (1lb) on compact, semi trailing vines.

Sowing Instructions

Sow early April to May under glass to transplant outside. Sow seeds 1cm (½in) deep in pots or trays of good seed compost at a minimum of 20C (68F) under glass or in a propagator. Protect emerging seedlings from direct sunlight to avoid scorching. Alternatively only in the warmest areas, sow direct outdoors, 1-2cm (½-¾in) deep from mid May.

Growing Instructions

Pot on individual seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots of compost and keep barely moist to avoid stem rot. Maintain a temperature of around 20C (68F). Harden off, and for earliest crop plant under cloches or in a frame once frost risk has passed, or outdoors through black plastic/mulch and cover with fleece until established. Allow 75cm each way between plants. Pinch out growing point after 4 'true' leaves. Laterals will form. Train 4 laterals to 6 leaf stage and then pinch out.