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Western PA

When growing cc melons, do you let the plant keep growing throughout the season or do you shut plant growth down like the pumpkin growers do at a certain time of the season ?
Thanks, Lee

11/15/2009 7:01:12 PM

formerly RGG

Opinions vary I think. Overall I think the tendency is not to terminate vines as muck as pumpkin growers do. I let mine run wild but I sometimes terminate toward the end of melon maturity.

11/17/2009 9:30:06 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I have tried a little of both by accidentally terminating vines, even ones that have the fruit on them. I can't seem to determine a difference, but it's an open question as far as I am concerned.

How about everyone choose one plant next year and terminate it grossly, like cut off all other vines and see how it does.

11/17/2009 2:24:27 PM

sevierville, Tn

Cut which vines ?? sides ? fingers ? length ? This could be interesting .

11/17/2009 3:41:49 PM

sevierville, Tn

Maybe we leave just the main & the strongest finger. Send them in different directions & train like the pumpkins.
Thoughts ????

11/17/2009 3:44:22 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

That's what I was thinking. There must be some converted pumpkin grower that has done this already, but I think I will indeed sacrifice one plant next year to try this out.

11/18/2009 10:19:33 AM

sevierville, Tn

Sounds like a plan, count me in ! I think the key will be to get the vines to the right size to suport the fruit growth. Not sure what that is though. The vines should get larger due to less competition. I think Mitchell/Edwards were trying different pruning methods

11/18/2009 2:11:59 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

I cut back the plants in my hoop for fair. I had 2 plants in a 18 x 20 space,each plant was 9 x 20 and trimmed. The 251 Mudd plant had 2 melons on it,one on the main and other was on a secondary but the same main vine. One melon the 179.7 gained 5 pounds a day and the other melon 132 on the main only put up 2 a day.The 267 Edwards(131 pounds) was set on a side vine 10 ft out but the stem got a blight of some kind (gummy) and slowed it down in growth. I will trim them up again next year and hopefully have better melon weather.

11/18/2009 4:56:03 PM