Pollinating Melons

[Colin Miles]

I am growing Melons in my greenhouse for the first time. The variety is Minnesota Midget and it says to hand-pollinate by placing the male flowers inside the female ones - the latter being the ones with the bulge at the bottom. No doubt I am being very stupid, but I find it difficult to know which flower is which and how to do as described - have tried various ways and used a paint brush. Can anyone help?

[John]

Hello Colin
An artist's paintbrush is the best thing to use if you are finding it difficult to sex the flowers. Just go round all the flowers with your brush. The flowers are only receptive for a day so its important to make sure that you do all the freshly opened flowers.

John

[Colin Miles]

Thanks John. This is what I have tried, but one of the flowers is so small that it is impossible to get the brush in and doesn't seem to open. I don't seem to have any melons developing either!