by Jennifer Poindexter
Are you on the search for a dissimilar annual yield to introduce to your garden ? Have you considered grow something that is n’t popular in your area ?
Many people like to enjoy foods and cuisine from other cultures . Why not contain these item into your garden to produce fresh meals ?
If you ’re exploring foods unadulterated for Asiatic recipe , consider get winter melon . It ’s also jazz as white gourd , Chinese watermelon , white pumpkin , and even gourd melon .
This is a popular fruit in this culture and may become a new favorite of yours as well . If you ’re interested in determine more about the wintertime melon vine , here ’s what you must make out to grow it :
What You’ll Learn
Growing Conditions for Winter Melon
Winter melon is n’t a particular plant life . This crop only want to be planted in an country with full sunlight and well - draining land to be happy .
In some areas , it ’s unspoilt to pick out a growing location with full dayspring sunshine and fond afternoon sunshine to protect the plant from rough temperature .
However , this is n’t your typical melon vine plant life by a recollective dead reckoning . It ’s a member of the cucurbit kinsperson and is considered a variety ofmuskmelon .
This is one of the largest varieties grown as the yield can become as long as a foot , ½ fundament thick , and weigh up to 40 pound !
plain , you ’ll need some place to turn this plant which makes it a challenge for some gardeners . However , if you have the elbow room , consider growing this plant around your home or garden .
How to Plant Winter Melon
Winter melon is also straightforward when it come to implant . You may start the seeds indoors eight weeks prior to the last frost or sow in the seeds directly into the soil after all threat of rime is over .
If you wish tostart the seed indoors , begin by filling a grow tray with well - draining soil . produce a small-scale kettle of fish in the soil in each jail cell of the tray .
Place two seed in each hole to ensure if one does n’t germinate that you have a back - up . If both seeds shoot , select the stronger of the two plants .
Then curve the other plant off at soil point . The seed should evolve in one- to two - weeks . render water to your seeds by either spritzing the soil with water or placing the grow tray inside another container .
Pour some water system into the second tray and allow the plants to sop up the water from beneath . When the top of the soil is damp , stream off the excess water .
It ’s also a good musical theme to roll your grow tray in moldable wrapping to provide a greenhouse gist . When the seeds sprout , move them to an area with lustrous , collateral Christ Within ensuring they have plenty of warmth as well .
go on to supply water to the plants . Harden them off when they have six straight leave , and frost is over .
At this point , find an idealistic growing placement , dig a hole that can support the plants ’ root systems , and place the plants in the hole .
From there backfill the hollow with grunge and irrigate the plant deeply .
The other method to planting winter melon is to sow the seed directly into the grunge . see the soil temperature is 60 - degrees Fahrenheit or nifty . Create small mounds of soil with at least two feet of blank space between each .
Plant three seeds per cumulation and irrigate them . Once the seeds sprout , peck the strongest plant life and dilute the ease off at soil storey .
go along to furnish your plants with urine and fair to middling lighting to encourage strong tooth root system and growth .
Figure out which develop method works best for your planting zona . From there , make a programme to practice the chosen method acting to add these fruit to your garden .
Caring for Winter Melon
Winter melon is n’t to a fault complicated to care for . Supply the plant life with water and fertiliser , and it should do well .
When watering your wintertime melon vine be certain to do so deeply . employ more water system to the plants for longer periods of sentence .
This permit the industrial plant to dig into the filth to find water . In the process , it boost recondite root organization and healthier flora .
Plus , it helps avoid overwatering your plants . You ’ll know it ’s fourth dimension to irrigate again by inserting your digit into the background next to the plant .
When the soil is dry to your first metacarpophalangeal joint , it ’s time to water again . If the soil is still damp , wait a day or two before testing it again .
It ’s also a expert idea to mulch around your winter melon as this should help keep moisture in around the plants and keep the sess down as well .
Next , provide a balanced fertilizer to your winter melon at the first foretoken of yellow leaves . This could be a sign of nutrient lack .
It ’s impertinent to side coiffe the plants at adequate increase throughout the growing season . in conclusion , you wo n’t require to trellis these plant life like you do other vining harvest .
These fruit are so expectant , it ’s hard to happen something stiff enough to support them . or else , you’re able to place a piece of cardboard beneath the yield to protect it from draw moisture from the ground which can lead to rot .
If you ’re considering growing winter melons , take the metre to learn what they need from you to encourage respectable growth .
Garden Pests and Diseases Which Impact Winter Melon
You ’ll be heavily pressed to get many plants that do n’t confront terror in the garden . There are a few out there , but for the most part , almost every plant has an foe in its growing location .
Winter melon does n’t have many , but there are a few pests and disease you should be aware of when uprise this yield .
The most mutual pests to bear upon wintertime melons arespider mites , roundworm , andaphids . These issues can be treated with an insect powder . You may also spray the plants with soapy water to remove aphids or wanderer mites .
The most coarse disease to touch on wintertime melons are fungal free-base . These crops are specially susceptible topowdery mildewanddowny mold .
Should you spot these problems , address them by applying a fungicide and removing impacted foliage .
When develop a harvest you know is easily bear on by fungal effect , it ’s best to plant in domain with tidy sum of sunlight , well - draining soil , and to water your plants earlier in the day .
Fungal disease expand in areas of cold and moistness . sun and adequately enfeeble soil nullify these conditions .
By watering earlier in the day , you ’re giving the foliage of the plants fourth dimension to dry out before the cool night strain moves in . you may also prune some of the parting if you postulate to increase airflow around the plant .
These are the few things you should be aware of when produce wintertime melon to ensure they ’re given every chance to prosper .
How to Harvest Winter Melon
The last thing to discuss about growing winter melon is how to harvest them . These fruit have a taste similar to azucchini , and they can be stored up to one year in a cool , teetotal location .
However , they have a recollective maturate season and ca n’t usually be harvest until the fall . It take around 110 days to reach harvest time .
Once the fruits are full - size , and the root word turns brown , utilise a penetrating knife to trim back the melon vine away from the plant .
impart enough stem on the fruit to admonish rot from organise while in storage . Once reap , store the melons in a coolheaded , juiceless location until you ’re ready to enjoy .
Check the yield regularly to ensure no rot is form as this can spread out quickly to other nearby crop .
You now know how to glean homegrown wintertime melon . Look for the sign of ripe fruit . Then glean and store them properly to savour long after the gardening time of year has ended .
These are things you should cognise if you decide to add wintertime melon to your garden . This information may help you grow healthy flora and an abundant harvest home .
use these pointers to help you along in this gardening experience . Then begin growing wintertime melon vine to see if they deserve a permanent spot in both your garden and kitchen .
Key Takeaways
Winter Melon Quick Reference Growing Chart
Learn More About Winter Melon
https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/honeydew-and-other-melons-in-the-garden
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/winter_melons_a_new_crop_for_michigan_growers
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1195&context=mwvtr
