#nicemelons

[justfacilitatinglife]

Harvesting My First Ambrosia Melons: A Journey in Outdoor Hydroponics

This week marked a significant milestone in my gardening journey—I harvested my very first Ambrosia melons. Growing melons has always been something I’ve wanted to try, and seeing these beauties come to life has been incredibly rewarding. I decided to grow them using an outdoor hydroponic setup, using Masterblend nutrients in a 35-gallon drum. Here’s a bit about the process and what I learned along the way.

I started with a melon seedling I bought from the nursery. One thing I’ve noticed when buying seedlings is that many times, multiple plants are crowded into a single pot. This can sometimes lead to poor growth when transplanted because the plants end up competing for nutrients. To avoid this, I carefully separated the seedlings into three different net pots, all within the same drum. This setup allowed each vine its own space to grow while sharing the nutrient reservoir.

In traditional melon farming, growers often prune the vines to concentrate the plant’s energy on a single fruit, resulting in larger, sweeter melons. However, I decided to let all three vines do their thing without much pruning. I knew I’d be refilling the drum with nutrients as needed, so I wasn’t too worried about spreading the plant’s energy thin. This approach resulted in about 10 melons forming on the vines. Watching them grow over the weeks was exciting, but figuring out when to harvest was a bit of a guessing game.

Today, I noticed one of the melons had fallen off the vine—a good indication it was ready to be picked. So, I decided to harvest the ones that looked and felt ripe. They had a sweet fragrance, and the skin had a slight give when pressed—signs that they were ready to be enjoyed.

A Bit About Ambrosia Melons

Ambrosia melons are a hybrid variety of cantaloupe known for their exceptionally sweet, aromatic flesh. These melons have a creamy texture and a flavor that’s often described as honey-like. Originating from Japan, Ambrosia melons are prized for their taste and have become a popular choice for home gardeners and specialty growers alike. They’re typically smaller than regular cantaloupes but pack a punch in terms of flavor and sweetness.

Unlike factory-farmed melons, which are often grown for uniformity, size, and durability for shipping, Ambrosia melons are grown for taste. Commercially grown melons are usually bred to withstand long-distance transportation and are often picked before they reach peak ripeness. This can sometimes result in less flavorful fruit by the time it reaches the consumer. Growing my own allowed me to harvest the melons at their absolute best—fully ripe and bursting with flavor.

Lessons Learned

Growing my own melons has been an amazing learning experience. The outdoor hydroponic setup worked beautifully, providing the plants with consistent nutrients and water. Splitting the seedlings into separate net pots helped them thrive without competing for resources, and while I didn’t prune the vines as recommended, I’m happy with the number of melons that developed.

I’m looking forward to cutting into these Ambrosia melons and sharing them with family and friends. There’s something incredibly satisfying about enjoying fruit that you’ve grown yourself. Plus, the flavor is unmatched compared to store-bought melons.

If you’ve ever considered growing your own melons, I highly recommend giving it a try. The process is rewarding, and the taste of a freshly harvested melon makes all the effort worth it.

[livingthatwhiskeylife]

#nicemelons sporting some undies from @moldiegoldies check her stuff out it's awesome. https://www.instagram.com/p/BmwX0d5ntQQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=yv4fn5j8wdwt

[tropsmoothielv]

I cut enough for both of us. 😉Want some? 🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉 ____________________________________ #tropicalsmoothieguy #watermelon #watermelons #melon #melons #nicemelons #fruit #organicfruit #organicfruits #wantsome #sharingiscaring #sharing #sharetime (at Las Vegas, Nevada)

[daily-burrito]

#niceMelons 

[poshgirlstl]

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[saospeaksvolumes]

Watermelons like that heat, so they hung on as long as they could up here round these parts🍉 And I am officially in love with these little mini organic babies, I must say♥️ #watermelons #minimelons #nicemelons #organic #harvest #shelbyslittlefarmgarden #theystillsweetasasoutherndrawl (at Porter, Maine) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2K1C5SBBEt/?igshid=7wi60jry9lkw

[ianscott360]

Melons! 🍉🍉 #melons #bigmelons #pairofmelons #juicymelons #lovelymelons #nicemelons #fruit #fruits #fruity #healthyeating #eathealthy #juicy #tesco #tescofood #organicfruit #tropicalfruit (at Aldershot) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByViBFrhLA9/?igshid=imgk6vduitcf

[kianalee-liquidmuse]

#tbt ( can I make it a take me back Tuesday? ) Well I’m gonna. I did it. It’s been done. It’s a thing now ok? It’s just because I’m excited ok?! Been waiting for this collection to launch for a minute and it’s so amazing to see your babies out there in the world... swimming, and sunning and, sigh... lol 👙👙👙😭🤣🙏🏼💕 From #conception to #realization #this is #productdesign and mr. @brunomars had me feelin some kind of way while I was work onnit!#nicemelons lmao get it? 🤣🍉#werkflow #fabricdesign #commercialart #watercolordesign #handpainted #vectorless #surfacedesign #bikini #patterndesign #swimwear #fashiondesign #designer #artist #resortwear #summatimefine https://www.instagram.com/p/BxdHo96jZAZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cm9kna4hle4

[differentpainterfan]

Omg looks what's coming!! I'm so excited!! Remember to Sign Up for Perks Right NOW so when it comes out, you earn 10% in PERKS Back! (I just ordered $30 worth of freebies!! Small HAUL coming soon!!) https://DSPerks #dayzsparkleposh #nicemelons🍉 #nicemelons #bigfatyummyhandcreme #bigfatyummy #softhands #selfcare #pampered #pamperme #lovemyself #selflove #metime https://www.instagram.com/p/BwTmENkhojB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ghzvnjcefk7c

[socialsf]

#nicemelons @county.line.harvest #knowyourfarmer #organic #cantelope #lookinside #inseasonnow #liveauthentic #cuesa25 #98daysofsummer (at Ferry Building Farmers Market)

[the-cupcake-is-a-lie]

Don't rind if I do! #pickles #watermelon #watermelonrind #watermelonrindpickles #nicemelons #nobodyknowsthesorrowiveseen

[ispellkonfusion]

Bidding adieu to an awesome weekend. Hoping to hold onto this feeling as long as possible. #rivertown #nicemelons

[toodrunks]

Nice Melons is back!!! #nicemelons #beer #brewery #rivertownbrewing #bar

[differentpainterfan]

#Repost @dayzsparkleposh.skincare (@get_repost) ・・・ <---------- Follow me at my Posh Instagram!! Fresh Squeezed Posh!! New Products! NEW and Old Favorite scents!! In honor of #coachellagoddess #@arianagrande bringin most of our NSYNC guys out!! #arianagrande #arianaandnsync #goddess🐆 The new BFYHC #ladylimonchello will obviously be kinda my new favorite!! Also #dewmeright? 🤩 Love it!! #nicemelons🍉 !! omg so cute!! ALSO NEW Cann I Be CBD Bathbombs!! #bathbombs #cbdbathbombs #tentionrelief #anxietyrelief #relaxation #stressedout #stressedoutskin #metime #pamperedtimeout Mothers Day Special #buzz #buzzpeel #beeyourself🐝 #beeautiful🐝 #showmethehoney🐝 #bfyhc #bigfatyummy #bigfatyummyhandcreme #hellosweetie #vanilla #vanillalovers #sensitiveskin #naturallybased https://www.instagram.com/p/BwaQAfTgnW4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hxnfxsd5hfrp

[tropsmoothielv]

Let me think about that... 🤔🍈🍈 ___________________________ #TropicalSmoothieGuy #YesDear #HoneyDew #HoneyDoList #HoneyDoThis #HoneyDoThat #HoneyDewMelon #HoneyDewMelons #OrganicMelons #NiceMelons #LoveFruits #FruitLove #Melon #Melons #MelonLove #LoveMelons #WholeFoods #DoMeAFavor (at Las Vegas, Nevada) https://www.instagram.com/p/1xBfxoQd6w/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nanog9omek49