North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Edward Self <txrarefruitgrowers@sbcglobal.net>]

I live West of Houston in Katy, Texas. I have been able to grow sweet melons in our clay soil. I always plant 4 or 5 seeds to the hill and keep the 2 most vigorous plants. I put a 3 to 4 inch layer of oak leaves and pine needle mix around all of the plants. This helps regulate the moisture around the plants. We get severe rains and then sometimes it is so dry we have cracks in the ground in areas that are not irrigated.

 

Good Luck!

Ed Self

Katy, Texas

"Robert C. Mullins" <mullins@gaelicmysts.com> wrote:

I think I might have the same problem here. This is the first year I am
growing melons. I am growing the standard heirloom 'Black Diamond', but
after talking with many of the locals, they say our dirt is to
'clay-ish' to grow decent melons. I am going to keep them alive and see
what happens but if anyone has any hints to working with melons in
clay-type soil, please send a life-line. ;)



Mark & Helen Angermayer wrote:
> Gordon wrote:
> "I do have a black gumbo tight clay soil which is not ideal for melons."
>
> Maybe that's my problem too. The soil is plenty fertile, but clay
> based. It grows good sized melons if I keep them watered, but flavor
> is problematic. With Steve up north and Gordon down south having the
> same trouble as I, it confirms it's not related to climate. Maybe
> good flavored melons can only be grown on sand?
>
> Mark
> KS
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Gordon
> *To:* nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
> *Sent:* Sunday, May 18, 2008 3:34 PM
> *Subject:* [NAFEX] Unsweet melons
>
> I am in zone7/8 in north Texas so I am not too far north for
> melons. I do have a black gumbo tight clay soil which is not
> ideal for melons. I have raised on one variety of melon which had
> a decent sweet flavor. That was the Christmas melon. I have been
> told to stop watering the vines after the melons are about half
> size but if I did that the vines would die in the summer heat from
> lack of water. They require lots of water to survive. I have
> tried various varieties over the last thirty or so years without
> success. I had a labor across the street from me who said he
> never had such a problem but the melons he gave me were just like
> the ones I grew; tasteless and not sweet.
>
> Gordon
> Hale
> Grand Prairie, Texas
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--
Robert C. Mullins M.S. IT
GaelicMysts, Owner
Clarksville, Ar
Zone 8a
http://wildcraft.gaelicmysts.com

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