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Bowdon, GA

Marty How was your 50 pounder shaped. Do you remember the measurements. I've only had one to set we have had alot of rain and most of the females rot of before pollination. I do have one set on your 50 pounder that is in a raised bed. It is really long and thin. Most of the North Carolina Giants I have grown were nearly round. It is shaped more like the Colossal Canteloupes the Brights grow.

7/19/2009 10:27:39 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Long and thin is good. They will fill out like watermelon do. the more they fill out the heavier they will get so length is the key. My 49 pounder was 127 ott and the 50.2 pounder was 123 ott. The walls on the 50.2 pounder were thicker. The pumpkin chart works great with cantaloupe. Keep me posted how it does.

7/20/2009 7:28:56 AM

Bowdon, GA

Marty how is your cantelopes doing? Mine is growing good but the bloosom end seems to be thin it is kind of soft to the touch. Last year all of mine split at the bloosom end before they got ripe. I'm afraid this one will do the same. I looked at that 251 in your diary. I would like to know the girth on it when you pick it. It seems that most fat melons go heavy on the chart. All of my Mudd melons have good girth except the 178s they have good length on them. Good Luck

7/30/2009 10:49:13 AM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

The biggest cantaloupe is only 91 0tt est.20 pounds if lucky. the plant there is in trouble but will have several 15-20 pounders before it goes I think. the ends can be a problem because they are so thin.You need a really good shaped melon. I have another one in the garden that is just setting melons on.The 251 stem was red and sapping some so I have the fan on it for now. It has 15-19 days to go for fair and is 175 ott est 155 pounds now the other 251 is 153 ott 107 pounds. The 267 melons stem is doing the same thing and I sprayed it and captan on the stem but may be too late because it has not gained much the last 2 days at 154 ott est 110 pounds.

7/30/2009 8:24:31 PM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks my cantelope is 89 OTT but not sure how old it is. I'm having watermelon troubles to. I've got the best melon I've ever had but I'm struggling to keep the plants healthy we have had rain wind clouds and cooler temps the last few weeks so I've been fighting fungus. My 255 Mitchell is measuring 152 OTT or 106 pounds by my chart at 24 days, but the plant looks pretty rough. I hope it can hold on. Good Luck

7/30/2009 11:11:41 PM

Bowdon, GA

Hey Marty, My cantelope is taking off despite constant rain and clouds. I'm still afraid it will split though the walls are growing over the bloosom end like you see on some giant pumpkins. The plant looks alot healthier that my watermelons. I have had alot of fungal problems in my patch due to the rain. I think if it will hang in there I'll at least get a personal best.

8/4/2009 7:04:29 PM