From

Location

Message

Date Posted

formerly RGG

Is there anything you experienced giant growers do different after the first 50 or 60 days of a melons life & after it's growth has slowed and it is getting on toward maturity? The days are growing shorter and it will soon be getting a lot cooler at night. The sun is not as high in the sky and therefore light intensity is diminished. I don't expect to pick this melon until October 2 to take to a competition in Allardt, Tennessee. The vine is still healthy and from now until October 2 is 39 days. I think this melon mat have set on around the tenth of July.If I can keep it healthy & growing I will have a melon to be very proud of. Any suggestions will be appreciated and considered.

Thanks,

Dennis

8/24/2009 9:12:29 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

TD...have read several times that pkn growers cover their fruit w/blanket/s if temp at night is going to drop below 60F!! Prbly a good thing for a melon also!! Retains heat, to reduce major fluctuations, which we all know, causes stress!!! Hope this helps...Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...of course...blankets off in early am...and prbly not on if it's raining!!!

8/24/2009 9:34:51 PM

formerly RGG

Thanks Wayne. I hadn't thought of that.I will probably give that a try when the time comes. This is getting to be a serious melon & I believe there is going to be some serious coppetition out there this year. I will do about anything I can think of to get an edge up on mine.

8/24/2009 9:49:19 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I also increase the N part of my fertilizer to "wake up" the plants a bit. I typically just switch back to something like miracle grow for plant growth over fruit growth.

8/25/2009 9:16:27 AM

Smithville, Tn

Hope to see you in Allardt. We have a couple that are showing some promise. Growth is very slow now. Just trying to keep the vines happy.

8/25/2009 1:03:07 PM

formerly RGG

Thanks James, I have already started doing that a little. That is I have been mixing in a little high nitrogen with the low nitrogen fertilizer I have been useing.I have also been useing fish emulsion;I just hope some animal doesn't come along and dig my hill up.

8/25/2009 3:38:10 PM

formerly RGG

Mousey, it will be nice to meet some of the other growers in Allardt. I hope we all continue to have good luck. I think it is going to be a record year there so it's going to take a lot to win. One way or another I think it will be great fun.Good luck & I hope to see you there.

8/25/2009 3:41:27 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I am not a fan of anything with fish in, only because it's such a draw to animals. Dave B had a problem with the neighbors dog rolling on his vines because of the fish emulsion.

8/26/2009 12:06:03 PM

formerly RGG

Thanks James, I know you are right about that. This melon is important to me & I think I will stop useing the emulsion on this vine. There are plenty of things that can go wrong without adding to it.

8/26/2009 4:38:34 PM

Bowdon, GA

Tennesse how do you fertilize and water under the plastic? Foliar feeding? Do you poke some holes to let excess heat escape? Little boy is really growing fast for that size. Can't wait to see what it does.

8/26/2009 10:33:44 PM

formerly RGG

Jake,I can only water the main hill and wherever the water may run to under the plastic when it spills out of the hill.I do foliar feed sometimes. No,I don't poke any holes in the plastic. There's not been much heat this year but the melon plants don't seem to mind what there is.I think Little Boy is starting to slow down. That said,it already has great size & it will be interesting to see what the next few weeks bring.

Dennis

8/26/2009 10:55:56 PM