Melon Figaro F1 - Cucumis melo

Melons need nutrient-rich soil and plenty of warmth for successful fruiting. Choose a location that is both sunny and sheltered. Melon plants prefer cool and well-drained soil. Loosen the soil to a depth of about ten centimetres without turning it over. Apply well-decomposed organic fertiliser. If the soil is not well-drained, it is possible to create a small mound for each plant.

To start with, allow the plug plants to grow by transplanting them into trays or pots measuring 8 to 13 centimetres (3 to 5 inches) in diameter, filled with compost. Attention: When transplanting grafted plants, do not bury the graft point! Place the plants in a warm and bright location. Water regularly.

Planting in the ground should be done when the risk of frost has passed and the soil is sufficiently warm. Space the plants one metre apart in all directions. Dig a hole, place your plant with the graft point at ground level, and cover with fine soil. Firmly tamp down and water to keep the soil moist.

Melon cultivation requires regular watering (about twice a week in summer, depending on the climate). Be careful to water only the base of the plant and not the leaves to prevent the appearance of mildew and powdery mildew. Regularly weed and hoe.

With new hybrid melon varieties, it is no longer necessary to pinch the leaves. Only perform step 4 to have a more beautiful fruit. In other cases, especially with older varieties, follow these steps:

- When the plant has grown 4 leaves, pinch above the first two leaves to encourage branching. This will result in two main branches.

- Once these two branches have at least three leaves, they will be pinched again above the third leaf on both sides.

- Repeat this process on new branches above the third leaf using the same principles.

- The fourth pruning is done during the fruiting process by pinching one leaf above the fruit to direct the sap into the fruit rather than the production of new branches.

Keep a maximum of 5 to 7 fruits per plant.

As melons are quite 'demanding', you can follow them with peas or broad beans.