Melons are delicious and refreshing fruits that can be grown in Quebec with the right techniques and a bit of patience. Despite the region's cooler climate, it is entirely possible to achieve a good harvest by selecting suitable varieties and optimizing growing conditions.
Choosing the Right Melon Variety To maximize your chances of success, choose early and cold-resistant varieties such as:
Melon of Montréal : A heritage variety from Quebec, known for its sweet flesh and unique aroma.
Sugar Baby Watermelon : A small, sweet watermelon, ideal for short growing seasons.
Melon Oka : A traditional Quebec variety, highly fragrant and easy to grow.
Preparing the Soil and Choosing the Location Melons prefer rich, well-drained, and slightly sandy soil. Before planting, enrich your soil with well-decomposed compost or manure to provide essential nutrients.
Choose a location with full sun exposure, as melons need maximum sunlight to thrive. If possible, use black plastic mulch to increase soil temperature and promote better plant growth.
Sowing and Planting
Melons should be sown directly in the garden. Their roots do not like to be transplanted, so it is best to plant them directly. However, if you insist on starting early, sow indoors only four weeks before the last frost date.
Use biodegradable pots to minimize transplant stress (I told you, their roots don’t like being disturbed! But if you really want to…).
Once the risk of frost has passed and the soil has reached at least 18°C (64°F), transplant the young plants carefully into the ground, taking extra care with the roots.
Maintain a spacing of about 90 cm (3 feet) between each plant to ensure good airflow.
Care and Watering
Water regularly, especially during flowering and fruiting, but avoid wetting the leaves to prevent disease.
Mulch the soil to retain moisture and reduce weed growth.
Pinch the vines after the first fruits have formed to encourage them to grow larger, but otherwise, just let them be.
Pollination et Fruiting Melons rely on bees and other pollinators for proper fruiting. If natural pollination seems insufficient, you can hand-pollinate using a small brush. Usually, if there are other flowers nearby, this won’t be an issue.
Protection Against Diseases and Pests Melons are susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew and downy mildew. To reduce risks:
Avoid watering the foliage.
Rotate crops yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases.
Use netting to protect young plants from pests—but be sure to remove it as soon as the flowers bloom because pollinators are essential!
Harvesting and Storage Melons are ready to harvest when they emit a sweet fragrance—don’t hesitate to bend down and smell them. They’re also ripe if they detach easily when gently pulled. Another trick: tap the melon—if it sounds hollow, it’s ready!
Harvest carefully and store at room temperature for a maximum of one or two days before enjoying.