Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The most exciting stage of melon growth in my no dig polytunnel.
Melons need plenty of water to grow, and that's why I use my polytunnel for them. You can see the results as they grow up strings, thanks to pruning the laterals, leaving one melon on each lateral side shoot.
They were sown 28th March on a hotbed in my greenhouse. Then, planted here early May, in no dig soil mulched with old cow manure.
Now in midsummer, ripening begins – and there are potential dangers, I'll show you some of them. Mostly it's a blissful time of sweet fruit, plenty to eat as you can see.
In this clip, I noticed some leaves suddenly dying, possibly from the stems collapsing where they're tied to string. Fortunately, most plants still have healthy green leaves – which are key for ripening and flavour. One melon is cracking – a sign of full readiness – and the scent is just breathtaking.
These are Charentais melons with orange flesh. Ripening has to happen before mid‑September – after that, there's not enough light to produce sugar.
It’s worth trying melons undercover in the UK if you can. Just be sure to sow with warmth before the end of March.
See my New Energies book for easy ways to warm the soil. - shop.charlesdowding.co.uk/products/new-energies-for-gardening
🎥 Filmed 18th July by Carly Dutton-Edwards at Homeacres no dig garden, Somerset UK.
#NoDig #MelonGrowing #Polytunnel #CharlesDowding #Homeacres #GrowYourOwn
#SummerHarvest #FruitRipening #UKGardener
The most exciting stage of melon growth in my no dig polytunnel.
Melons need plenty of water to grow, and that's why I use my polytunnel for them. You can see the results as they grow up strings, thanks to pruning the laterals, leaving one melon on each lateral side shoot.
They were sown 28th March on a hotbed in my greenhouse. Then, planted here early May, in no dig soil mulched with old cow manure.
Now in midsummer, ripening begins – and there are potential dangers, I'll show you some of them. Mostly it's a blissful time of sweet fruit, plenty to eat as you can see.
In this clip, I noticed some leaves suddenly dying, possibly from the stems collapsing where they're tied to string. Fortunately, most plants still have healthy green leaves – which are key for ripening and flavour. One melon is cracking – a sign of full readiness – and the scent is just breathtaking.
These are Charentais melons with orange flesh. Ripening has to happen before mid‑September – after that, there's not enough light to produce sugar.
It’s worth trying melons undercover in the UK if you can. Just be sure to sow with warmth before the end of March.
See my New Energies book for easy ways to warm the soil. - shop.charlesdowding.co.uk/products/new-energies-for-gardening
🎥 Filmed 18th July by Carly Dutton-Edwards at Homeacres no dig garden, Somerset UK.
#NoDig #MelonGrowing #Polytunnel #CharlesDowding #Homeacres #GrowYourOwn
#SummerHarvest #FruitRipening #UKGardener
