This well known melon absolutely oozes with sugary sweet juice and crisp succulent flesh. Galia melons are very vigorous plants with good mildew resistance. The delicious fruits with netted skins mature early and in rapid succession ensuring a plentiful crop of fresh Galia melons. Height and spread: 2m (6', 6").
Melons require high temperatures and humidity. In all but the very warmest areas cultivation is most successful in a greenhouse, or under cover of a cold frame or cloche when growing melons in the UK.
Melon plants can be trained upwards on strings or wires, or allowed to spread flat on the ground. Pinch out the growing point after 5 leaves have formed to encourage lateral shoots to develop. Select 4 vigorous laterals and train these to 6 leaf stage, before pinching out each growing tip. Remove any other laterals. Fruiting sub laterals will then form on each stem.
Water melons regularly, particularly as the flowers develop, and provide a liquid feed every 10-14 days. Shade plants from strong direct sunlight. As the flowers develop, select 4 or 5 female flowers on each plant and hand pollinate them by placing a male flower inside each female bloom. Female melon flowers are identified by a swollen part at the base of the bloom. Once fruit has set remove any further flowers to allow the fruits to develop. Harvest melons when they begin to produce their characteristic sweet smell and the fruits start to crack near to the stem.