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Williamsburg,KY

My watermelons look great, but no melons yet. We have been short on rain, but I have keep them watered by hand. When can I expect melons? Do they grow on the main vines or on the secondary vines? Thanks.

6/27/2008 8:53:54 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

It depends on when you started the plants, and when the plants went in the garden. I started mine indoors in early March, and put them in the garden mid May. and I have been pollinated females since around the 19th, with 7 sitting in the garden today that need pollinating.

6/27/2008 9:47:35 AM

Williamsburg,KY

I started my melons on May 12 and put out in the garden on May 23. Guess I'll have to wait. Im growing for end of September.

6/27/2008 10:10:56 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

You can start to see the immature females as the vines grows. That's all the vines. Primary, secondary, tertiary, etc. Every advancing vine will produce male and female flowers. Setting them on the primary seems to be beneficial. I have grown 200+ pounds on secondaries also.

If you are growing for September, I would start the plant much earlier. My problem is that here in Minnesota we can't expect much growth in September, so we get the most growth in August and ride out September hoping for the best we can.

6/27/2008 2:58:06 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Thanks Melon Man, Perhaps I should have started earlier, I was worried about being too mature. Last year, one grew huge and then rotted, live and learn. thanks will give more thought to next year.

6/28/2008 7:32:24 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Took a good look at my vines this morning, after my post and low and behold, I found baby melons. I covered them with the cheesecloth, just in case they were ready to open and will check later today. Happy here.

6/28/2008 9:56:12 AM