I am growing Crenshaw Melons.
I started them late winter in a greenhouse because winter madness was setting in and I had to plant something as Spring wasn't arriving fast enough to direct sow them outside!

I intend to grow them up and around the cattle panel arch ...or whatever happens I have plans.
From online I read that they are ideally grown in dry and hot regions but I am trying to defy those rules here in steamy and hot Georgia!

PROBLEM:
I cannot find visual aids to answer a few questions.
I cannot find enough information on what's going on under that cattle panel !

1. Male and Female Flowers:
I don't know which is which. I have the large gold/orange flowers on the large spreading plants that drop and produce fruit afterward. Then there are the spindly vines with tiny yellow flowers. The tiny yellow flowers on the vines were more prolific in the greenhouse in late winter.

2. Spindly Vines -vs- Wide Leaf Plants:
Are the vines supposed to coexist?

You can also see that I am battling something eating at the leaves but I have ladybugs that have set up camp and trying their best to stop whatever it is.

Answer #1 · Maple Tree's Answer · Hi Blumschen-The smaller leaved vining plant looks as though it is Crenshaw melon with the smaller yellow flowers. Melons have both male and female flowers or perfect flowers that have both male and female parts (stamens and pistils) on the same plant. The female flowers will have a bulge where the flower attaches to the stem and the male with no bulge attaches directly to the stem. I'm not really sure of the bushier plants identification. The larger rounded leaf and its serrations look more like a variety of cucumber but i'm not sure. Its larger more gold looking flower coloring doesn't seem to match the Crenshaw's flower. Hopefully another member will be able to indentify this plant. Did both plant seeds come in the same package labeled as the crenshaw melon?

As far as the two plants growing or coexisting together, care will have to be taken that they don't grow into each other. When planting melons you always want to plant so as to separate plants far enough from each other so that good circulation keeps any moisture on plants drying quickly. You want plenty of room between plants so they do not shade each other allowing sunlight to reach all sides of the plant. Too much shade and moisture on leaves can cause fungal and other problems.

It doesn't look as though there is much of a pest problem as of yet. If problem gets worse and leaves are being continually damaged you can use insecticidal soaps or products containing Neem oil. Besides being a control for fungal diseases they act also as an insecticide that is organic and won't kill beneficial pollinators. Melon plants can be bothered by several leaf damaging pests such as beetles. leaf minors, spider mites, aphids and others. Your ladybugs can definitely help with these pests but if need be you can help control them with these products.

You are correct in assuming the picture of your very cool guest is a Dragonfly. This is the Common Whitetail or Long-Tailed Skimmer. Its a common dragonfly found all over North America. The males have a white body as their name indicates but the females have the brown body as your picture shows with a little different black wing spots than the male. Great to have around the garden also as they will munch on harmful pests.

Hope this has helped. Let me know if you have any other questions.

John)