From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Grimsley,TN

I am trying to get some watermelon seeds earlier this time. This year I grew a Bright 268 and a Bright 248 X 268. I am needing some genetic variety for next year so if you have(or will have) some seeds that you are willing please let me know. Thanks a bunch
John

8/1/2008 4:11:25 PM

formerly RGG

You would be welcome to some of mine but I do not think you'd want them. I grew a single plant from catalog ordered seed and it turned out defective. All melons on this plant would look normal until a day or 2 after pollination and then swell on the blossom end and become bottlenecked on the stem end. I tried my best with the single fruit I have let grow to maturity.It got to 32" long but never got any girth to speak of - only about 40" around.And this was a very babied plant.I even used grow lights on it at night for several weeks in the spring.It will be a stretch for it to reach 100 pounds.Is there any way I could get a few seed from one of your Bright melons? I am going to make sure I have better genetics next year.

8/7/2008 9:45:35 PM

Bowdon, GA

Hey Tennesse get back with me in a few weeks i grew bright melons this year. Should have a decent one barring any disasters. Probablly no monsters but some decent melons. So far the bright melons have been my favorite seeds. My father in law and I had some seeds that we save from year to year. Not much girth on them but ussually very long. I crossed these seed with the bright melons this year. I figure I'll either get short skinny melons or long fat melons.Who knows.

8/7/2008 10:31:52 PM

formerly RGG

Thanks Holloway, I'll do that.It sounds like you are doing pretty good this year.It'll be interesting to hear the weights you get.Good luck.

8/8/2008 7:08:07 AM

Grimsley,TN

I will give you some of what I have too Knoxville. By the way I am only about 45 minutes away in Grimsley, Tn. Other side of Oliver springs. Many of mine got up to football size and the bloom end started turning black. Oh well there's always next year. Send me your email and we'll try to get some good seed for next year. John
Clublamb@twlakes.net

8/10/2008 9:32:43 AM

formerly RGG

Thanks for the reply Sparkey.Sounds like you had a bad problem with blossom end rot.That is often caused by a calcium deficiency and is aggrevated by the need for more water.I did a OTT on mine yesterday and checked it on a different chart than I had been useing.It was 155" OTT and the corresponding weigth would be about 111 pounds.So it is a bit better than I thought.Look for it at the Tennessee Valley Fair in Knoxville if you happen to attend. I am still hoping to win the $100.00 prize for the biggest long watermelon.Yes thanks, I would like to try some of your seeds but only if your plants come from seed from jumbo melons.My email is: coolvol@comcast.net.My address is:
Dennis Masterson
1225 Woodberry Dr.
Knoxville, Tn.
37912-3059

8/10/2008 8:04:44 PM

formerly RGG

Sorry Sparkey, it's been a long day. I do see your seed were from championship Bright melons.

8/10/2008 9:01:44 PM

Grimsley,TN

Dennis,
One of mine did pretty good. They were from a Bright 262.2 X 268. I think that there may have been some calcium problems but I think there could have been some blooms that were partially pollinated too. Go vols!!
John

8/10/2008 9:42:47 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I don't live anywhere near you guys, but I do give out seeds to anyone that asks. I have some decent strains that I have been maintaining, and have eight really nice melons on the plants at this point. I haven't measured lately, but one looks in the 160 to 170s at this point with 3 to 4 more good weeks of growth in front of it. Of course you can't count your eggs until they are in the pudding.

I generally send seeds to anyone that asks.

8/11/2008 10:45:40 AM

Grimsley,TN

Melon Man,
I would be extremely interested. I am wanting some genetics outside of the Bright seeds I already have. If you can contact me via email I will send you a stamped envelope or what whatever you need so that I can get the seed. Sounds like you have some really good stuff. Thanks for your time.
John Gunter
Clublamb@twlakes.net

8/11/2008 2:47:42 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Sparkey, I just sent you an email with the information. Remember that it's just one mans opinion.

8/11/2008 3:53:03 PM

formerly RGG

James, please let me know when your seed are available and we will make arrangements.I hope I can return the favor sometime.I am hoping to move up to 3 plants next season.I'm glad you are having good success this year.I hope to see more pictures of your melons and another plaque for first prize.I think mine has done fair for what it is.Thanks again.

8/11/2008 3:55:03 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

TD: I think you are doing great. I am interested in that length you are achieving, and I may want seeds from it if it gets any longer. My 225 was 38" long, so you are in the right ball park. You are just having a girth problem right now, which indicates feeding to me. I recommend side dressing with manure tea, or with a 5-50-17 fertilizer dissolved in water.

As I have done in the past I will continue to do in the future by making seeds available to anyone that wants them. My current seeds are extremely tapped out, so it will be seeds from this year's melons. So come November or so, I will start filling SASBEs from whomever wants seeds.

8/11/2008 5:26:36 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Oops, I just noticed that it was another thread where the melon was 36" length, but small girth. Still, the hit still applies.

8/11/2008 5:29:47 PM

formerly RGG

I'll be happy to send you seeds Melon Man.

8/11/2008 10:13:13 PM

Sacramento, CA

Melon Man,

I would be greatly interested in some of your seeds.
For trade (or) puchase, please.

I had a problem with the last fella @ this website I contacted.
Earlier this year, I sent Wayne (Peace?) $5.00, along with some of my prized canteloupe (for eating/not weighing)seeds.

It's now August,
No pumpkin seeds,
No watermelon seeds.

Beware of him...

""Thanx" in advance
sacratamato.

Here's my email address:

prwilliams1744@aol.com

8/15/2008 9:10:51 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

Actually Wayne is a pretty decent guy, so I will stand up for him. I can understand what happens. First you may be able to blame the postal service. You might also look to how much postage was put on the SASBE, if one was even included.

Third, you have to remember that those of us that open ourselves to giving away our seed stock can receive hundreds of requests, and they sometimes get jumbled. The only way to be assured that I have replied is whether or not I still hold the SASBE.

I will provide seeds again this fall, but only from this year's melons. I was wiped out pretty good last year. And no, I don't want any money for it.

8/15/2008 9:48:41 AM

Sacramento, CA

Melon Man,

I respect you for standing up for Wayne,
But here's the facts.

First he admited to me in a follow-up private email that he "forget" about my request.

BTW Melon Man.
I had plenty of stamps on my huge bubble SASE.
So it's not a "Post Office thing".

Then he went off to Mexico in July.

Then...

You be the judge.

I too, purchased those outrageoulsy priced seeds from P/P earlier this season. Due to all the wild fires out here in NorCal last month, I got them planted very late.

Currently, I have approx a dozen or so golf ball sized melons. Hopefully (if/when) they mature, I too will be able to offer free GIANT canteloupe seeds on this forum.

"Thanx" for listening.
Hope this clears up any confusion.

sacratamato

8/16/2008 9:09:25 AM