Cucumis melo 'Emir'

RHS Plant Profile

melon 'Emir'

Annual Biennial Fruit Edible

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A cold tolerant cantaloupe melon cultivar well suited for duller UK summer weather. Best grown in a greenhouse, but may be planted under cloches or even in the open under fleece. It produces yellow-green netter fruit with aromatic, sweet orange flesh

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing, Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: Pets: Bitter fruit can be TOXIC if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Cucumis is a genus of twining plants with tendrils which includes cucumber, melons and gerkins. Around 30 species are native to Africa and 25 to India, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

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

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Edible fruit

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

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, slugs and snails and red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, fusarium wilt and cucumber mosaic virus