Ever grow melons in containers?

11 years ago

Ok, so my eyes were a lot bigger than my gardening space was this year, and I purchased a lot of seeds that I would like to use, that I don't really have the space for. The big one is melons, I am out of space, so I was thinking of annexing the side yard that is like 7' wide and runs the length of my house, I was thinking of using 15 gallon containers close to the house for small fruited melons like ha ogen and charentais running them up a trellis, and planting larger sized varieties in ground between the containers, I thought that it would maximize the space available, and the run off from watering the containers would water the melons in ground. Has anyone had luck here with melons in containers? The sun exposure on that side of the house is good the sun kind of swoops over that side of my house in spring and summer so it gets about 5 to 6 hours direct sunlight. I would mulch the heck out of the containers, and wrap in aluminum foil to reflect the sun and keep them cool. Any issues other than no where to walk in a couple months? I have to get going on it now if it sounds like a plan. Thanks.

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Comments (3)

rhony2
11 years ago
I am trying that myself this year, using 18" self-watering pots (about same size as 15 gallon containers I believe). I grew cucumbers in containers last year and the biggest problem I had were fungus and spider-mites. And due to the sun, the cucumbers were very bitter even after I watered them 3-4 times per day. As melons are also cucurbits, I am wondering if I am going to have the same problem with fungus and spider mites.
grant_in_arizona
11 years ago
Keep us posted on your melon containers, it sounds like a fun experiment. I did gourds a few years ago and didn't have great results in containers--water (under and over, hah) was a problem, as was overheating and soil disease. I'm sure you'll have better luck! Keep us posted though, happy gardening!
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rhony2
11 years ago
Well, I planted a variety of cucurbits (except cucumber) this year in containers that I grew from seed. I planted a light-skinned zucchini type summer squash, a yellow scallop squash, a kabocha squash and since I had doubts that even 18" containers would be able to grow large melons (and I limited myself to that size so I can move the containers if necessary). I decided to try a small melon so I planted Korean chamoe melons.

Right now the two summer squash (Sweet Gourmet zucchini and Summer Scallop Hybrid, both from Burpee) are doing real well and have already produced, although the zucchini that grows is shorter than what is described in the seed packet - but that is true of nearly everything that I grow in containers. The Sweet Gourmet is actually pretty sweet for a squash and can be eaten raw in salads. I am planning on picking my first Summer Scallop today.

The Kabocha squash are winter squashes and I wonder if they will survive the summer here in AZ but they are growing pretty well. Several female flowers have formed and I can see the proto-fruit forming but I know they take a while to mature so I hope it happens before it gets to the daily 110+ degree days. I used a mixture of 15, 16 and 18 inch pots for all the different cucurbits and since I didn't know how big the plants would grow I kind of guessed and put the melons in the biggest pots. These Korean melons have very small leaves and are the smallest of everything I have planted this year. Their vines are really small and narrow compared to the squashes and they have already formed female flowers but I really doubt these vines would be able to hold fully mature melons which are supposed to get up to about 1 pound each. But I could be surprised.

The real test will come in July to see which of these will survive the heat. I do have some space in my east-facing side that only gets morning sunlight so I plan on moving the winter squash (Kabocha) there in June, and maybe even the Korean melons are they are supposed to grow best when temperatures are in the 80's.