Northern Melon Varieties

[mommagoose]

After a 5 year hiatus, I am going back into Market Gardening. Up here in Northern New York State I grow my melons in thermally opaic plastic to give them the heat they need and to plant them about 3 weeks earlier than everyone else. I have been really looking over Baker Seeds catalog and although I would love to try every single variety, I suppose I must limit myself to 5-6 new varieties along with the tried and true old varieties I have always planted. My problem is many of the interesting varieties do not have time to harvest listed. In my climate melons must take less than 90 days to harvest or I won't get anything. If you have tried any of the melons from the catalog and could tell me how many days they take to harvest, I would be very greatful. Thanks
Linda

[GreenZone]

Linda,
I could maybe look up days to maturity in Garden Seed Inventory, on specific varieties.
--Randel

[SelfSufficientOne]

I imagine it would be a lot easier if they were listed or if someone actually had the answer. Try emailing them, they are very happy to help if you email them.

[JereGettle]

mommagoose:

Yes, every one like's that info!

it is hard to state as there can be 2 weeks difference depending on where you live.

Some catalogs just state a time (usually on the early side). But that won't help you up north if the time they pick comes from California!

I am glad to help market growers by phone, as I have a pretty good idea on many varieties and can answer better by phone (as I will need to ask you questions as well) I am in and out a lot but will try to call back. (Ask for Jere)

Thanks!
Jere

[HilltopDaisy]

Linda, could you explain what thermally opaic plastic is? I'm assuming it's not just black plastic on the ground, but a tunnel of clear plastic? Where do you buy it? I tried a few melons last summer (NY) and nothing got ripe. Thank you.

[JereGettle]

Just a note to say I won't be in the office untill late Jan 2, 2006.

[Lamb Abbey Orchards]

I'm guessing Linda means thermally opaque plastic. You may find this article (http://www.vegetablegrowersnews.com/pages/2003/issue_03_02/03_02_in_melons.html) and this article (http://hortparadise.unl.edu/hortnews/May2005.htm) answer some of your questions. I found them both rather informative.

Happy Growing!

John

[mommagoose]

Hi!
Getting the proper plastic mulch has been getting more and more difficult. Originally, we used an imbossed green much then we switched to an IRT mulch. This fall I decided to buy my mulch early due to the oil crisis and the threat of shipping increases. I ordered from Silver Creek Supply in PA.
By the way thanks for the spelling correction as you no doubt noticed I am a creative speller :)
I start the melons 2 weeks before I plan on setting them out in the field. I put two seeds per JIffy 7. I keep the trays indoors until the seeds sprout then get them outside as soon as possible so they don't get leggy. They go into a very small green house made from metal tubing covered with clear plastic film . The green house is 8'x8'x4' . The melons usually have their first set of true leaves when I set them out in the plastic. I plant the Jiffy7's about 18 inches apart in the plastic. I water them in good with 1/2 strength Miracle Grow. We are not organic although we do not use insecticides or herbicides as a rule. I also use this same technique to grow watermelons and pickling cucumbers for wholesale.
I can't wait till spring to get started I almost have my seed orders finished.
Linda

[Johnny Apple Seed]

I live in the north also, I haven't tried melons for many years, since I hav elearned some good techniques the past few years I am curious to try them. I want to try small raised beds with some row cover, start them in the greenhouse at the AG center [I am a master gardener and have access], then put them under row cover until they take off real good. I had excellent results with row cover on several crops last season.
The varieties I have a hunch that may do good are [collective farm woman], a Russian variety and [Emerald Gem] it's a northern melon also. Don't know if they will make it or not but I am willing to try. Wyoming has a short season also, but I have seen some nice melons grown here. I am anxious to try.
Johnny appleseed

[walleye]

Even though this is Baker Creek's site (and I buy lots of their seeds), as a northern grower I have found I have my best luck buying some varieties from northern suppliers (not to mention any names, but there are some good ones located in Maine).

Their melons in particular do well in northern gardens. Many of their varieties (organic hybrids, but not heirlooms for the most part) are ready in 68 or 75 days (and those are northern days, not southern California days!).

[Lamb Abbey Orchards]

. . .as a northern grower I have found I have my best luck buying some varieties from northern suppliers (not to mention any names, but there are some good ones located in Maine).

I'm guessing the folks in Maine you're referring to are either Johnny's Selected Seeds (http://www.johnnysseeds.com), or Fedco Seeds (http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds.htm/). Being in Maine, I've bought from both for years. Fedco, like Baker Creek, is very conscious of only offering non-GMO seeds (organic where possible) and always has such an interesting selection and entertaining catalog (it's available in a downloadable PDF by clicking here (http://www.fedcoseeds.com/forms/sds28_cat.pdf) ), but know in advance that their skeleton staff isn't set up to offer much in the way of personal service. They don't have an onsite retail outlet, nor do they want to bother with phone calls unless they're strictly taking your order. It's how they keep their costs down. Just do your research elsewhere, and then take advantage of Fedco's bulk prices. You can now purchase through their website, as opposed to having to mail or fax in an order form as you've had to do with them in the past. They offer a nice complement to Baker Creek's heirloom varieties, but you buy from Fedco because of their great prices, not because of their exotic selection. For the exotics, stick with Baker Creek. BC has got that covered.

John

[winter_unfazed]

What you want in terms of northern melons is not just early maturity, but cool weather tolerance, since many "early" melons need heat to produce fruit. For cool weather the better ones include 'Kolkhoznitsa', 'Sweet Granite', and 'Boughem'.

[awildseedvt]

no offense, but this thread is from 3 years ago :p

but where might one find such melon varieties? i have never heard of them, but would love to try them :)