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  • #1

    My Melons

    I'm a little worried about my Melon plant. I got it in May from a local car boot sale (think it was only 30p) so I am not sure what variety it is.

    Anyway!!! I have lots of yellow flowers all over the plant but I have had no fruit. Do I have to pollinate the plant myself? I have kept it outside like all the rest of my veggies and have had no problems with my other plants being pollinated by insects.

    If I do need to self pollinate can you please tell me how to do this as I have no idea and its not in my growing books as they are all about veg and not fruit.
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  • #2
    Female flowers have little fruits or swellings behind them and the male flower just has a straight stalk.

    To self polinate grab a male flower and bend back or break the petals off, so you expose the middle bit which has the pollen, and rub this a few times on the middle bit of the female flower. Do this on a dry day and as as soon as possible after the flower has opened.
    One make flower will polinate quite a few female flowers.

    As yours are outside the bees should do this for you, but hey no prob in helping things along a bit.

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    • #3
      Catch a Bee in a drinking glass and release it in your greenhouse. Easy way to get pollination done. Then sit back with cool drink and enjoy the sun.

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      • #4
        I spent a very long time at the weekend looking at my melon plant. As far as I can make out I only have male flowers on my plant!!! Would this be right???? All the flowers look the same and I can not see any swelling behind any of them,(I'm guessing you mean swelling just like my courgette plant).

        Just in case I am getting it wrong would it be worth while picking a few at random and doing the dating game anyway?

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        • #5
          Reading my fruit book it says that the male flowers appear first. Then you must hand pollinate the female flowers when they open. So patience Silverfox!
          [

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          • #6
            I've managed to take a couple of piccies (my cameras macro facility isn't as good as Sue's) of Minnesota's flowers and melons.

            Click image for larger version Name: female flower.jpg Views: 2 Size: 66.2 KB ID: 2317946 - female

            Click image for larger version Name: male flower.jpg Views: 2 Size: 73.8 KB ID: 2317944 - male

            Click image for larger version Name: melon.jpg Views: 2 Size: 96.5 KB ID: 2317945
            Last edited by smallblueplanet; 31-07-2006, 09:04 AM.
            To see a world in a grain of sand
            And a heaven in a wild flower

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            • #7
              Thanks for the pic's. Yep I have only boys on my plant......... Maybe the girls will come along later.

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              • #8
                I am soooo tempted to post something but I don't really want to get banned
                ntg
                Never be afraid to try something new.
                Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
                A large group of professionals built the Titanic
                ==================================================

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                • #9
                  Can it! Nick!!!!!!!!!!!
                  To see a world in a grain of sand
                  And a heaven in a wild flower

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                  • #10
                    honestly! big belly laughs! dexterdog
                    am i thinking wot you're thinking?!!
                    Bernie aka DDL

                    Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

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                    • #11
                      That depends on how depraved your mind is Dexter Lol!!!
                      ntg
                      Never be afraid to try something new.
                      Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
                      A large group of professionals built the Titanic
                      ==================================================

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                      • #12
                        Oh boys, behave! Well.... Should i admit my thoughts were along those lines too?
                        Shortie

                        "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

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                        • #13
                          SilverFox/SBP, you will let us know how they go won't you? I'm tempted to grow them myself but am undecided if they are worth it
                          Shortie

                          "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

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                          • #14
                            Behave!!!! LOL I have just looked an thought maybe I could have worded it better.

                            Of course I'll keep you updated Shortie. Anything is worth a try, so give it a go. Although I have not got any fruit from the plant yet I must admit that it is very beautiful to look at with all the open yellow flowers.

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                            • #15
                              Shortie I'm thinking maybe the 1st one might be ready to try soon. However my melons are kept nice and warm (in the greenhouse!), whereas SF is growing them outdoors I believe?
                              To see a world in a grain of sand
                              And a heaven in a wild flower

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