Getting Ready for Melons

It was just last week when we moved our clocks up one hour for daylight savings time. For many of us, that is a sure sign that Spring has sprung.   For me, however, I know Spring is upon us when our first melon transplants are ready for planting.  We formulate all kinds of plans during the Winter months.  Nothing is on the line so you feel free to think in a stress free environment. But then the days start getting longer and the plants demand satisfaction.  You have no choice but to kick it into gear.  It would be easy enough if you could just prep the bed and plop the plants into place but it’s never that easy.  This year is a prime example.  We’d planned on planting this week but the ground was a bit too wet to work.  We want a nice fluffy bed and the moisture just wasn’t right to make that happen.  The transplants arrived from the nursery at the prescribed time so we had to find a safe place for them, a place where they can acclimate to their new growing environment and where we can conveniently keep them watered. By the time you read this, the beds will be ready to go and the transplants will hopefully be in good shape.  They’ve been in their tray cells for longer than the expected time so root bounding is always a concern.  Now, we just have to catch a moment between pending storm fronts to get the melons properly in the ground.  The expression, “timing is everything” never seemed more appropriate.   Yeah, things can get a bit hectic in Springtime but come Summer, the rewards will be sweet...literally.