Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Can You Grow Four Melon Varieties In One 4'X8' Bed?

The answer: Yes you can

I planted the following four varieties in a 4'x8' raised bed. They are spaced about 20 inches apart in two rows. Two seed to each mound. Not all the plants made it but I do have at least one plant of each variety. I started the seeds in the bed in mid May. Next year I will start in April, weather permitting.

Varieties (all organic)
  • Sun Jewel
  • Crimson Sweet Watermelon
  • Cantaloupe Hale's Best
  • Muskmelon Honey Dew
So far the Sun Jewel is doing the best with about 8 melons.
2 Watermelons
2 Cantaloupe
1 Honey Dew

I don't have any honey bees in my area for some reason. It's very sad. But I do have lots of carpenter bees and wasps. They worked hard in the melon patch for me.

Melon bed on the left.


As of today July 5,2017





Watermelon July 5, 2017

Sun Jewel July 5, 2017


Two watermelons and a cantaloupe July 5, 2017

Cantaloupe July 5, 2017

Honey Dew July 5, 2017

Cantaloupe July 5, 2017





Corn

This is my first year trying to grow corn. I only planted a 4x4 bed. I have been met with some challenges. I did not get full pollination on the ears that are ripe. This I'm sure is due to the small planting. I seem to have a pest problem but not on all of the crop. I will need to find an organic way to treat this issue. The rewards, now I know I can grow corn and I was able to harvested three ears of corn this morning and they were delish!