Honeydew Melon

Why I grow it

There is something rather glorious about growing melons. They take up a frankly unreasonable amount of room for the number of fruit you eventually carry triumphantly into the kitchen, but cutting open a melon you’ve grown yourself makes the whole sprawling performance worthwhile.

Honeydew is the classic — sweet, juicy, beautifully refreshing and exactly what you want growing for hot summer days.

At a glance

Type: Melon
Fruit: Round, sweet and juicy with pale green flesh
Growth: Sprawling vine
Position: Full sun, warm and sheltered
Space: Give it room to roam
Best for: Fresh eating, fruit salads and summer dishes

In the kitchen

Honeydew is at its best properly ripe and chilled — sliced into wedges, added to fruit salads or eaten straight from the fridge.

It’s also gorgeous with salty and sharp flavours: feta, cucumber, mint, lime or a little chilli all work beautifully with its sweetness.

In the garden

Melons need warmth, sunshine and space. Let the vines sprawl through the garden, trail over the edge of a raised bed or carefully train them onto sturdy support.

The fruit develops along those wandering vines, so if they’re growing along the ground, slip something dry underneath developing melons to keep them away from damp soil.

Care

Plant into rich, fertile, well-drained soil in your warmest sunny position. Keep watering consistent while the plant establishes and the fruit develops, then avoid repeatedly soaking developing fruit and foliage.

Feed during flowering and fruit development and protect from frost.

What you’ll receive

One healthy, established plant grown here at A Garden Between. Plants naturally vary in size and shape and may be supplied in reused nursery pots or growing bags — perfectly useful plastic doesn’t need replacing simply because it doesn’t match.