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Rochester, Minnesota

I have had a poor year this year due to mother nature, so my melons are all between 100 and 150 pounds. I remember a time when I would have been thrilled to have melons that size, now they are just what I call eaters.

We had a seriously cold May and June, and July wasn't much better. I like to tell people around here that if they aren't running their air conditioner, I am not growing good melons. This was just one of those darn mild years here. We honestly didn't get any heat to write home about. I had some Calilillies that didn't even bloom this year.

The good news is that pumpkin growers seem to be doing great. The bad news is that I don't grow pumpkins.

I am glad to hear that many are setting person bests this year. That's encouraging to me that watermelon genetics will be advanced this year. I might have to come after some of that seed to build back my genetic choices.

High's and lows of the garden this year

* 25 pound crookneck squash - Largest ever grown for me.
* 60+ pound marrow squash - A great first year, with a Thank you to Mr. Thomas from England.
* Incredible cabbage, some 20+ pounders for saurkraut. I am up to 70 pounds this year.
* Tomatoes that didn't ripen until September for the most part - Luckily we didn't have an early frost or I would have lost most of them.
* Peppers - All pretty much green, since they didn't want to turn this year.
* Okra - Total waste of time this year since there was no heat.
* Onions - Gotta love Dixondale Farms for onion plants.
* Pears - Gave away the last five boxes on Sunday. I couldn't stand to see any more.
* Fruit - Wow! Definitely a berry year.
* Honey - Too cold, so the bees didn't want to come outside to play, and besides the pollen was so late for most things.

Well, that's the farm report. I hope next year to be a great one for me, but as you know, hope breathes eternal.

9/24/2009 7:46:55 AM

Bethlehem CT

Sorry to hear about your melon year. Thanks for all the advice and seeds you have given to me and others on this site. I love growing watermelons and can't wait for another shot next year.

9/24/2009 7:59:57 AM

sevierville, Tn

Thanks for all your help, couldn't have grow as well as i did without it !

9/24/2009 2:02:20 PM

formerly RGG

James, you have been very helpful to others on this forum, in the true spirit of what it is all about. I wish I had some bona fide good seed for you but you know you are welcome to any that I have. Good & bad years come & go & there is always next year to look forward to. Thanks for helping lots of growers do a better job & if karma has anything to do with it then you should have some very good growing years ahead.

9/24/2009 5:41:10 PM

Bowdon, GA

It is amazing how perspectives change. The first year I grew one 75 lbs that I was very proud of. Last year using your advice I doubled that with a 160. This year I have four way bigger. You have done alot to help us new growers and I'm sure anyone would be willing to give back. I realized that the world record watermelon really hasn't changed much in the last 80 years, probablly due to growers keeping to themselves. Then looking at what pumpkin growers have done over the last 10-15 years by helping each other, it has made me realize that helping each other will push the weights way up over the next few years. I also agree with Chris that controlling crosses is going to be a key.

9/24/2009 9:17:58 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I suppose if I do nothing else, I will have helped open up the flow of watermelon knowledge. When I first started, there was some sharing of how they were doing, but little of techniques. That used to bother me quite a bit.

My other major concern was the general availability of seed. People seemed to have to go to standard stops to buy seeds, and that slowed down the availability of genetics.

My biggest pet peeve is people who sell their seed on E-Bay, and even worse, people who sell my seed on E-Bay. They act like they got to that point all by themselves.

I realize that I am seriously swimming up stream by trying to grow watermelons in Minnesota, but it's where I live, and with a little luck and some global warming, I might be able to improve numbers in the future.

9/25/2009 8:30:54 AM

formerly RGG

Where is Al Gore when you need him? :)

9/25/2009 6:49:33 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Hey James,
I know how you feel about this year if it was not for my hoop house I would not of grown the 179.9 pounder. The fall stuff is a bust with disease and cold weather and late sets. I may get one around 135 for next week. I did get a could great crosses withe the 251 x267 and 267 x 251. I just lost 2 pumpkins the last 2 days but still happy with may fair stuff. I am already planning for better weather and a better patch next year. All you other growers here have been great to watch this year and have some great crosses also and this is the best way to get to the 300 pound barrier. I know James has been a great help to many growers in the past 2-3 years here on BP.com and know how he feels about this year. He is a great grower and just needs some good weather and look out for 2010. Thanks you James!

9/25/2009 7:29:23 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

James...please keep on swimmin upstream!!! I met Chris this past Saturday, and saw his 243.5 (doublewide) in person...he said YOU are a great part of his success!!!! Keep it up!!!! Peace, Wayne

9/25/2009 10:22:06 PM

Rochester, MN

James,
I'll be taking my 217 Vaughn to the Austin and my 255 Mitchell to Nekoosa along with a 225 White....I will have my personal low this year...unless they weigh heavy. LOL.
Stop by tomorrow night for some watermelon..hopefully one of the 2 is good.
See you in the morning.

9/26/2009 12:25:46 AM