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Anybody got any experience with these in the UK? I'm going to give them a go in my polytunnel this year. I know they have a reputation for being tricky but I have no idea why.

No experience whatsoever but I'm going to buy some baby plants and given them a go, outside. I adore Charentaise melons and they are so expensive it will be really brill if they fruit OK!

I can tell you how to get them to germinate - just chuck the innards of a ripe melon onto the compost heap. Had dozens of wonderful little melon plants... I doubt they would have survived, though!

I've got a heritage variety that one of the seed savers sent me because they felt bad that they couldn't send me a varity of something else I'd asked for. I was going to buy a different variety because it was described as "perfect for beginners", which makes me just a leeeetle bit nervy!

Well, I don't know how they decide what's easy to grow and what isn't... I've had no luck with some stuff where you were supposed to just chuck the seed on the ground, and it would take off like anything - it didn't for me - and other stuff that needed nurturing did much better... So I wouldn't let that put me off.

Thanks for that. Actually I think it might be to do with having to net the fruit, as some kinds have a weak "neck" - I'll post the results (if there are any)

Hi i am going to have a go at sowing water melon 'sugar baby' this year never grew them before but i shall sow them next month out in the ploy tunnel, i have grew cucumber, marrow, and aubergine every year and got great crops must have had every marrow type of dinner ever there was so many of them o yes and pumpkin, i would think that the melons are like the above to grow but i could be wrong
jessie

Wow, more courageous than me, then! Do keep us all posted as to how the watermelon turns out!