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Rochester, Minnesota

Hey watermelon growers. How's the fruit coming along? I have heard some people talking already, and some nice gains so far. Mine are planned for Minnesota weather, so I want the most growth in the July/August time frame, and then some additional growth in September. My worry is the fruit over ripens or rots before the GPC weigh-in on the first Saturday in October.

I had a really difficult time setting fruit this year, and I am only really happy with the shape of about 6 of the melons.

Here's the numbers from last night.
(designation, parent, est. weight, week to week growth, straight length, days since pollination)
#2 White 202 - 91.6 (+20.9) 25.5" L, 42 days
#6 White 202 - 84.9 (+14.2) 23" L, 41 days
#5 White 202 - 78.4 (+11.3) 24" L
#8 White 225 - 69.3 (+10.7) 22" L, 24 days
#7 White 202 - 67.8 (+30.5) 24" L, 25 days
#10 41.5 X Bright 246 - 64.9 (+13.2) 21" L
#9B Brinkley 207 - 62.8 (+10.5) 21" L, 36 days
#4 White 211 - 62.1 (+23.8) 24" L, 24 days
#3 Brinkley 207 - 59.4 (+10.1) 21" L, 39 days
#9A Brinkley 207 - 54.2 (+11.8) 20" L
#1 White 202 - 36.3 (New) 17" L

7/25/2007 5:23:33 PM

Williamsport, Pa.

hi melon man, havent measured yet but im bigger than a store bought one at this point and still growing. on your 225. is that good for this time of year?

7/26/2007 4:41:52 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I suppose it depends on your growing window, and your size goals. When you say your's is bigger than a store bought melon, I suspect it must be at least 30 pounds. My smallest (#1) is that way because it's two older brothers were picked apart by a wild turkey. Fences and guard dog (Jack, my black lab) only goes so far I guess.

I would look to when you started the plant in the spring. I start in early March, and I try to set fruit in Mid to late June. It sounds like your set in early July.

I wish you the best anyway.

7/26/2007 10:18:29 AM

southwest MO

Ive got 3 set, on 2 plants... All early july pollenations... Im guessing 40-50 or so lbs today. They are taking off know!! We usually have warm septembers here so I should grow all the way up to harvst... (Oct.6th) My personal best is 210.5 and hopeing to get that this year. They all have real nice round blossom ends just not as loooong as I would like. They are getting fish, sea grow, and nutri-cal every week just like the pumpkins. Luck to all.

7/26/2007 1:05:15 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

246 Bright day 48 is 180 ott est. 167 pounds.
#2 set on the 246 Bright day 19 is 128 ott est 67 pounds
#1 168 Schnicker day 26 is 130 ott est.70 pounds
#2 168 Schnicker day 19 is 136 ott est.78 pounds
#1 225 White day 18 is 120 ott est.57 pounds
#2 225 White day 18 is 128 ott es. 67 pounds

The other fair plant is in the weeds somewhere but the melon is around 110 pounds.

7/26/2007 10:02:03 PM

Mt Vernon Ky

156 ott on 225 white and 155 on the same plant . havent measured the 246 bright does anyone have a ott chart for watermelon

7/26/2007 11:43:46 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

We lost all our melons when the patch got taken over by moles. They dug through & destroyed the main roots of all three plants. The fruit quit growing as there's not enough roots to keep them going. We can't buy mole traps or Talpirid in Canada & we've tried just about every other thing including smoke bombs & moth balls to try to stop them, but no luck. Our biggest fruit had a Cir of 44" on June 29th, a way ahead of our previous PB of 207#. Anyone have any idea how I can get rid of these destructive little Bas#@*&#.

Phil

7/27/2007 8:12:37 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I am sorry to hear about that Phil. I use the Nash traps, usually setting two of them and have good success.

In the garden the Nash trap (loop traps) work great. They can work in the yard also, but not as well.

7/27/2007 10:54:12 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Vic, I have an OTT chart, but dont remember where I found it???? 156 OTT = 106.1# on my chart. Wish I could remember where I found the chart. Send me yer addy (wsmpeace@aol.com) and I will copy it and send ya a copy...best I can do. Peace, Wayne

7/30/2007 10:19:09 PM

Williamsburg,KY

My watermelons are the biggest Ive ever grown. The measurements are 58" circumfrence, dont have the exact with me now. Im very excited. I have three plants, one plants has two large one and the other plants have one each. The biggest Ive ever grown was 70 lbs and Im sure the ones I have now are bigger than that..The leaves near the base of the plant are drying up sorta but the rest of the plant looks good and green...Any advise is appreicated.

One question, raccons raided our corn two days ago, we picked the corn, now how do I make sure those nasty coons dont find my melons??? thanks all. Croley Bend

8/2/2007 7:43:20 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

Kill the raccoons or fence the watermelon patch.

8/6/2007 10:53:38 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

The watermelon chart is on our club's website at www.gvgo.ca Click into the articles & files pages & look for it listed there. It was put together by Marv Mitchell after many years of gathering melon measurements. Good luck all.

Phil

8/10/2007 8:46:22 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Thanks Melon Man. We are heading to the US in a couple weeks & will be picking up mole traps & baits for next season. I'm declaring war on the moles, so hopefully they won't destroy our plants again. Good luck to all that have some still going.

Phil

8/10/2007 8:50:47 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I just nabbed one in my Nash mole trap yesterday. Folded him up right in the middle. Gotta love those traps.

I just buy them at the local Fleet Farm, but they are listed all over the net. Look for: Nash Choker Loop Mole Trap

8/10/2007 10:32:53 AM