From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Jamul

I am enjoying watching some of your giant watermelon growing and cringing at some of the setbacks taken.ight try it next year. We are not growing any big ones, but I am hoping someone could take the doubt out of a question.

I have regular watermelons about to ripen and the plant looks like new. Is it possible with several months of good weather ahead that a second crop will come on? I read in a chat forum that it could happen.There are currently very few new flowers. Could any crop be worth the time, effort and water(we get virtually zero rainfall from March to October).
Thanks.
Russell

7/13/2010 2:47:37 PM

Bowdon, GA

Could be possible I quess, I've never tried. Idon't know what the life expectancy for your variety is but if the fruit has a short enough growing time, maybe. I have done that with giant canteloupes. You just need to replace the nutrients taken up by the plant the first go around. If temps are above 90 setting fruit can be a challenge though.

7/13/2010 5:51:35 PM

Jamul

That 90F barrier to pollination is a pain. Average high here is 89F for July and August but with frequent several day heat waves to 100.
The package for the first ripening melons says 65 days. I think it is has taken more like 75. The others in the patch are 90 day types. I guess I'll just try for the heck of it and see if fruit come along. Seems like cutting off the water, to help the first batch ripen sweet, could be a negative to the possibilities of a second round of fruit?
Thanks

7/13/2010 9:25:37 PM

Jamul

Just for the record, the plants in question are putting out a second crop. It seems that there will be a fair number of small fruit if the plants don't get abandoned or pulled first.

8/12/2010 5:21:10 PM