When melon plants are in flower, make sure pollinating insects can get access – open up tunnel cloches, cold frames and greenhouse doors and vents during the day.
The first fruit to set can prevent further fruit formation. To avoid this, keep the plants covered with fleece, cloches or frames until multiple flowers are produced and then remove covers to allow for insect pollination. In the greenhouse watch out for the first flower and remove it.
Melons produce separate male and female flowers. Plants grown in a greenhouse usually need ‘hand’ pollination to transfer the pollen from male to female flower for the fruit to set. Male flowers do not have a fruitlet at the base of flower. Pick off a fully open male flower and then carefully remove the flower petals to expose the pollen-bearing anthers. Gently press the male flower into the centre of open female flowers. One male flower will pollinate several female flowers. Alternatively you can use a small paint brush to transfer the pollen. Gently dab the pollen from the centre of a male flower into the centre of up to four female flower
Limiting the number of melons per plant helps to ensure the fruits grow to a reasonable size and ripen well. When the young fruit are gooseberry size, select the best one or two on each side-shoot and remove all other flowers and fruit. Then pinch out the tip of each side-shoot two or three leaves beyond the fruits. Remove any new growth that forms beyond this point, so all the plant’s energy goes into the fruit.
Aim for four to six fruits on a greenhouse plant and up to four on an outdoor plant, which is usually the maximum number that will ripen by the end of the season.
If the stems are trailing on the ground, place a tile or piece of wood under developing fruits to prevent discoloration or rotting.
If the stems are climbing, you may need to provide extra supports for the fruits as they swell and get heavier. Netting suspended from the supports, like a hammock, usually works well.
Put cloches or fleece over outdoor plants by late summer, to keep them going as long as possible, so their fruits can ripen. Otherwise the plants will start to die as soon as night temperatures drop.
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