Watermelon Mini Love F1 Hybrid
Bred specifically for growing in the Northern Europe climate, you can enjoy a rewarding crop of fresh, sweet-tasting fruits from Watermelon ‘Mini Love’ fresh from your own garden or greenhouse. Each plant capable of producing between 5-6 fruits weighing up to 3-5kg (7-11lbs), this variety is early ripening and will start to crop from around August. A spreading plant which can be allowed to trail across the ground if you have room, but best trained to a wigwam to keep the fruit off the ground, save space and also to create an attractive feature. These melons have a fresh taste, juicy texture and high sugar content - refreshing and delicious on a hot day! Height: 30cm (12”). Spread: 4m (13’).
container in a polythene bag until after germination. After germination, maintain a minimum temperature of 15C (60F) and keep the compost moist but not wet. When melon plants are well grown, transplant them at a spacing of 2 plants per growbag or 1m (3’) apart under frost free glass, or into frames or cloches outdoors. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for a few days before planting out individually to grow up a wigwam structure, or 1.5m (5ft) apart each way in well-prepared soil after all risk of frost has passed.
For optimum performance, sow under glass, but seeds can also be sown directly outdoors once the soil has warmed.Do not sow in cold soils. Direct sow 2 seeds every 1.5m (5’) in late May. When germinated, thin out to the best seedling. Ideally grow under cloches until plants are established.
Melon plants can be trained upwards on strings or wires, or allowed to spread flat on the ground. Pinch out the growing point after 5 leaves have formed to encourage lateral shoots to develop. Select 4 vigorous laterals and train these to 6 leaf stage, before pinching out each growing tip. Remove any other laterals. Fruiting sub laterals will then form on each stem.
Water melons regularly, particularly as the flowers develop, and provide a liquid feed every 10-14 days. Shade plants from strong direct sunlight. As the flowers develop, select 4 or 5 female flowers on each plant and hand pollinate them by placing a male flower inside each female bloom. Female melon flowers are identified by a swollen part at the base of the bloom. Once fruit has set remove any further flowers to allow the fruits to develop. Harvest melons when they begin to produce their characteristic sweet smell and the fruits start to crack near to the stem.