Arlene Wright-Correll

The Year I Grew Heirloom Melons©



Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2008

by
http://www.learn-america.com

In 2005 I decided I was going to seek out heirloom melon seeds and grow a whole bunch of different melons. What made me think of them was yesterday I found the seeds I had saved from my grand harvests and put them in jars in the dark back corner of my pantry for the 2006 planting and for some reason or other never got around to it again. I suppose they are still o.k. to plant and I may put some in the ground next spring to see what happens.

However, in 2005 I was diligent and I planted a variety of them starting all the seeds in our greenhouse about mid February. I started them in moist sterile potting mix in biodegradable pots that I could later put directly into the ground. I kept them in a dark area until they geminated and once they did I made sure they got about 12 to 16 hours of light daily in the green house as Carl had put some lights in some boxes for me.

Once the last frost was gone I was able to put the pots into the ground. However, one can plant them directly into the ground making sure they are put into fertile soil and get abundant heat. One needs to plant four or five seeds per hill about 1 inch deep and keep your hills about five feet apart.

One can grow melons on trellises. However, you will need to make slings for the larger ones.

I planted some Minnesota Midget which is a small (3 to 4 inch melon) with sweet orange flesh which was very tasty.

Pear melons are a pear shaped melon with lovely fragrant, orange flesh and are really good producers.

Ananas D' Amerique A Chair Verte (Green Fleshed Pineapple) was grown by Thomas Jefferson so I decided to grow some also and I trained them to grow up a trellis. The melon is firm and sweet and very fragrant. The melon has netted skin and light green flesh.

I grew watermelons called "Moon and Stars" which are small deliciously sweet watermelon that has dark green rind with yellow spots on it. Very tasty and it takes about 95 days to mature. I discover that one can now find "Moon and Stars" that has yellow flesh.

Melons are not really hard to grow they just need a lot of weeding and watering.

"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,



Author's note: This article was originally written for GreenThumbArticles.com

About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

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