Historisk melonodling i varmbänk - samt dess synlighet i historiska trädgårdar idag

Abstract

In this thesis, three historical gardening manuals written between 1754 and 1852 were studied to research how melons were historically cultivated in Sweden. The purpose is to evaluate if this is something that should be shown in public historical gardens today and if it is feasible from a time, work, and resource standpoint. A few selected modern books have also been studied to compare with and complement the historical manuals. The traditional method of growing melons in Sweden is by using hot beds made with fresh manure or another material that generates heat when composted. The heat-generating material is put in a frame with soil on top and is covered with a window which creates a heated environment suitable for melons or other plants that require a lot of heat. An interview was conducted with Vallby friluftsmuseum due to their experience with growing melons in hot beds. They have horses and other animals which made it easy for them to get the material needed to create the hot beds. Before they stopped, visitors to Vallby friluftsmuseum were interested in the hot beds and often approached the gardeners with questions about them. One of the reasons that they stopped making them is because they require a heavy workload. They need oversight every day, but the gardeners only work Monday to Friday, so they needed to ask employees with other work tasks to take care of them on the weekends. This thesis concludes that it is valuable for the visitors and Swedish cultural heritage to show how melons were grown historically before there was any access to electricity in Sweden. However, the lack of fresh manure and a heavy workload can be an obstacle for historical gardens interested in doing this.