How to Grow Melons in a Pot
Gardeners with enough space for a large pot can grow melon vines. Dwarf varieties are the best choice, as the fruit produced is smaller than traditional melons but just as flavorful. A large container, sunny location and soil that retains water well are all that is needed for potted melons to thrive. They require a bit more attention than those grown in the garden but are not complicated to care for. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 5-gallon pot
- Soil-based potting mix
- Mulch
- 5-5-5 fertilizer
- Compost
- Trellis
- Pantyhose
Instructions
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Select a 5-gallon pot with holes in the bottom to prevent over-watering. Place it in an area that receives a minimum of six hours of sunshine each day.
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2
Fill the pot with soil-based potting mix.
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3
Plant the melon seeds at the depth and spacing recommended on package instructions. Wait until daytime temperatures are at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and there is no danger of spring frost before sowing the seeds.
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4
Water as necessary to keep the potting mix evenly moist.
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5
Layer 1-inch of mulch over the potting mix when the seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall. Keep the mulch from resting against the vines.
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6
Check the soil every day, watering when the top layer feels dry. Never add moisture without checking the growing mix first.
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Feed every two weeks with 5-5-5 fertilizer at the rate listed on package instructions.
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Set a trellis 2 to 3 inches behind the plants when they begin to vine.
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Apply 1 to 2 inches of compost to the top of the soil each month.
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10
Pinch off dead leaves and flowers as necessary.
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11
Create a support beneath each developing melon, using a piece of pantyhose. Attach each side of the pantyhose to the trellis and allow the melon to rest in its center.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
