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South East

How do you take care of it when its set,,do you shade it from sun and rain like a pumpkin or do you leave it in the full sun? And what does a good melon gain, does it speed up like a pumkin does at one point?

7/9/2008 11:02:54 PM

formerly RGG

Shade is recommended to keep the melon from getting too hot and from sunburn.Obviously a just polinated melon can't gain 3 or 4 pounds a day.They gain faster as they get bigger. They start slowing in weight gain at about 2 months and then reaching full maturity at around 90 days.

7/10/2008 7:25:34 AM

formerly RGG

Of course weight gain depends on a number of factors.Vine size, health of the vine, proper nutrition, weather, rainfall, amount of sunshine, pest control and I am sure there are other factors.

So at the low end weight gain may be next to nothing and on the upper end weight gain of 5 or 6 pounds a day is possible.

Good luck with your future giants!

7/10/2008 8:31:19 AM

South East

thanks dreamer

7/10/2008 9:37:25 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I like to put pure sand under each pollinated melon to give it a smooth growth area. Once the fruit get's to about 3 to 5 pounds, I put wire hoops (ground to ground) over the melon and cover the fruit with a gunny sack pined on with clothes pins. When the fruit reaches 50 to 70 pounds, I will lift the fruit and put 2x4 or 2x6 boards perpendicular under the fruit. usually 3 boards per melon. This gets the fruit off the ground, allows air flow under the melon, which prevents rot. I used to have 2 of 7 rot on me each year. Since I have started putting them on boards, I haven't had a single melon rot. This covers about 20 melons since the last rotted fruit.

I hope this helps.

7/10/2008 10:52:28 AM

sevierville, Tn

Minnesota Melon Man, thanks for the 2x idea. I had someone tell me they made a tunnel under theirs for air flow. This sounds better.

7/10/2008 10:06:32 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Great idea Mellon Man, lost mine last year to rot. Just yesterday I place styrofoam under all my melons. But when they get bigger, I will put some boards, have lots of them. Good question Tina and Frank..Croley Bend

7/11/2008 8:31:48 AM

WNC Usa

I will have to try the sand or board idea.

Thanks

7/23/2008 11:27:20 PM