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Flowery Branch, Georgia

Hello:

I am trying Watermelons after a few years of not growing them.

Question, Whether to cover the melon with shade or not?

Thanks in advance for any advice:

Bob Attaway

8/20/2008 4:07:56 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

When you are at a competition you can easily see shaded fruit as opposed to non shaded. Non-shaded get rough and somewhat netted with micro cracking.

I shade mine to keep the fruit pliable and growing evenly. I shade them as soon as they get around 25 pounds. And I do this using metal hoops and gunny sacks held on with clothes pins.

8/20/2008 5:47:28 PM

Bowdon, GA

Shading does make a big difference in the final product. Melon Man is right about it helping growth. I also think that it probablly allows you to grow the fruit for a longer period of time. It seems to me that they ripen earlier when not shaded.

8/20/2008 9:01:43 PM

Flowery Branch, Georgia

Thanks to you guys for the help. I built a sturdy leanto this am, it allows some morning sun but nothing past 11am.

Holloway, since you live in Bowdon do you know Ray Upchurch, last I heard he grew pumpkins and long gourds.

Thanks again:
Bob A.

8/21/2008 10:42:20 AM

Bowdon, GA

Hey Bob,
I don't Know Ray but I've heard Doug Adams Talk about him. Hows your melon doing? Do you grow long gourds?

8/22/2008 8:21:12 AM

Flowery Branch, Georgia

Hi Holloway

I am trying Watermelons after a 3 year lay off. I got seeds
from Gail Newsome of NC and one melon shows promise.

I devote most of my time to LG's and have some disease problems this year, I should wind up with an lg approx 100 inches. Not long enough for competion.
Bob A.

8/22/2008 11:25:44 AM

Bowdon, GA

Hey Mr. Attaway, I got some decent melons this year. Not monsters by alot of peoples standards. If your interested if you got some extra long gourd seeds, I'll trade you some melon seeds. I've never grown long gourds,but I think my wife would get a kick out of em. She likes growing gourds. Let me know if your interested. Good Luck

8/22/2008 8:56:13 PM

Flowery Branch, Georgia

Holloway, you got a deal, contact me just after Christmas, that's when all the seeds are dry and the real seed swapping starts.

Best of Luck:
Bob Attaway

8/23/2008 1:07:24 PM

Bowdon, GA

Sounds good thank you

8/23/2008 11:02:07 PM