Wednesday 6 February 2013

Growing rockmelons and watermelons in a temperate zone

I’m obliged to give it one last go. Earlier attempts resulted in poor fruit set, and pallid, tasteless fruit. This time I’ve hunted down heirloom varieties which are early croppers and cope with the cool nights.  I’m giving four varieties both rockmelons and watermelons a go and I've planted them in four different areas and hope cross pollination will be avoided. I want to find a variety that can go the distance and save seed from the best of the crop and continue to develop its ability to thrive in our climate.

I helped things along by planting them in black plastic. I cut a cross in the plastic and fold the edges under and hold them back with paperclips. Later, when older and stronger the paperclips can be removed and the plastic rest up against the plants stem, keeping down weeds and reducing evaporation. 

This photo was taken about a month back and they’re now setting fruit. Even Caleb, dedicated non- gardener that he is, makes the occasional appearance to check out progress. 
 
They are, after all, grown with him in mind.  The photo is of Caleb at age 5.  He wouldn't eat meat at that age, it was all about fruit. I once found him submerged in a watermelon in the local supermarket. He emerged a pretty shade of pink. It was a bit embarrassing at the counter. Today he still eats a lot of fruit, but he's a dedicated meat eater these days too.

4 comments:

Jo said...

Hi Linda, I have grown French charentais canteloupes in Launceston, and they were just divine, Digger's variety. They matured just in time before the cold weather set in. Good luck with yours..

MikeS said...

Hi Linda

I couldn't tell from your map whether any part of it slopes to the North.... I reckon growing more tropical varieties in Tassie would benefit from as much sun as possible. Which is why when we end up buying land down there, it WILL BE North facing....

Mike

Linda Cockburn said...

Yep, it faces north and gently sloping. It slopes much more steeply to the rear of the block, which is not on the map. It's where the dam is and the animals roam. It works well to gravity feed water to the garden, and we have a second tank up there that gravity feeds the house.

When you planning on getting here Mike?

MikeS said...

Aah..... the 64 million dollar question!

We've got to sell this place first. It was never built "to sell', and we don't have a final on it, nor will I get one, complicated story. there are a few things I need to do to "finish it", not least reviving the food garden after that horrific drought we were never prepared for.

There is an as yet unplanned idea that our son, who should start work in the second half of the year making shedloads of dough (compared to US..!) could have a deposit by this time next year and eligible to borrow (I know...) enough to buy a block. We could then ALL [four of us] contribute to paying it off ASAP.......

I'm concerned about running out of time and TSHTF before we're ready..

Nuthin' we could do about that...

Mike