North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Doreen Howard" <gardendiva@charter.net>]

Sandy soils are notoriously infertile. If melons like sandy soils so much,
how do they get the nutrition they need to grow so fast in one season?

Mulch--lots of organic mulch that rots and feeds the soil microbes.  After
the ground warms, pile on 3-5 inches of mulch, depending on how hot your
climate is in the summer.  The hotter it is, the more mulch you need to keep
water from evaporating from the soil rapidly.  If you use drip irrigation or
a soaker hose, put it UNDER the mulch.  The mulch also keeps developing
melons clean.
Doreen Howard