Melon

Melon (Cucumis melo) is a heat lover that does best in a polytunnel or on a warm, sunny and sheltered bed. Start it indoors in April at around 25 °C and plant it out only after the last late frosts in mid-May. Pinch out the shoots so the plant sets fruit sooner. Water with warm water at the roots — a cold shower on the leaves encourages powdery mildew. You can tell ripeness by the fragrance and a fine crack next to the stalk. In a hot summer it will ripen outdoors as well.