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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