Melon Season Begins

I'm growing six varieties of mixed melons and one variety of watermelon in 2013. Some varieties I started from seed and transplanted, others I direct seeded. I transplanted 14 melons starts on June 23, an overcast but warm day. It rained that night and showered for the next three days, so the plants were cool and well-established when the heatwave hit yesterday. Temperatures for the next two or three days are expected in the low 90s. The plants will lap up the hot weather and be well on their vining way within two weeks of planting.

Two views of a tray of melon starts ready for planting June 23.
They were seeded  May 9 and seedlings were transplanted to
individual pots June 2-3. The two right-side columns are Lambkin.
The two left-side columns are Uzbek Sweetness.

A Lambkin start planted June 23. Lambkin
was an All-America Selections winner in 2009.

2013 melons

• Lambkin (hybrid of Spanish Piel de Sapo, grown before)
• Uzbek Sweetness (heirloom, first time, supposedly grown in Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan)
• Charentais (French heirloom, grown before)
• Vert Grimpant (French heirloom, first time)
• Golden Crispy (heirloom, first time, grew similar variety in 2012)
• Ananas D'Amerique a Chair Verte (heirloom, first time, supposedly grown by Thomas Jefferson in the late 18th century)
• Cream of Saskatchewan (heirloom watermelon with white flesh, crop failure in 2012)