About
'Cucumis melo 'Emir'' is a cantaloupe variety that withstands cooler temperatures, making it ideal for the often overcast summers in the UK. While it thrives in greenhouse conditions, it can also be cultivated under cloches or in the open with protective fleece. This cultivar yields yellow-green netted melons featuring fragrant, sweet orange flesh.
About the genus
Cucumis is a genus of climbing plants characterized by their tendrils, encompassing cucumbers, melons, and gherkins. Approximately 30 species are indigenous to Africa, while 25 species are found in India, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial, Fruit Edible
- Habit
- Climbing, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Toxicity
- Pets: Bitter fruit can be TOXIC if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a glasshouse, polytunnel or under a cloche or cold frame in a sunny, warm spot. See How to grow: melons for further information
- Pruning
- In a greenhouse train on the support. In cold frame pinch out the growing point at the fifth leaf to encourage side shoots. Train the four shoots into an X shape. Under cloches, train one pair each way
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids, slugs and snails and red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews, fusarium wilt and cucumber mosaic virus