Vegetable Fruit

• Crops in : 86 Days

Description

(Greenhouse/Garden)

Specially bred to produce large melons out of doors. The fruits of Melon Castella can average 3-3.5lb and are tender, juicy and sweet, in fact liberally loaded with luscious flavour. Store in the fridge for at least 1 week longer than standard varieties and they freeze well too. Melon Castella is ideally suited to a warm, sheltered, sunny spot of the garden or greenhouse, frame or polytunnel. Resistant to powdery mildew and Fusarium races 0 to 2.

Sowing Instructions

Sow the seeds approx. 3-4 weeks before you intend to plant out 1cm (½in) deep in a good seed compost. Germination usually takes 6-10 days at 24C (75F).

Growing Instructions

Transplant when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots. They need a warm, fertile soil with a soil temperature of 22-25C (70-75F) to flourish. Cover the soil 3-4 weeks before planting with a plastic mulch. Plant in single rows after all risk of frost has passed and the soil is warm 50-90cm (20-36in) apart and 2-2.5m (6-8ft) between rows, pulling a little soil around the plant to keep it from touching the plastic mulch. Water well after planting until established and dig a shallow water trench either side of the row for watering purposes.

Aftercare

When the plant has made 4 true leaves, cut off the growing point just above the 3rd true leaf. With vigorous plants a second pruning at the 8th leaf stage can be made, train the laterals along the row, they should run along the ground and need no support. When the flowers appear, hand pollination will prevent misshapen fruits. Water regularly once the fruits have set and feed at 10-14 day intervals. Harvest with 1cm (½in) of stalk attached when fully mature, when a small crack will appear near the stalk and it will have a rich fruity fragrance.

Nutritional Information

Melons are rich in Vitamin A and C and are high in potassium.