From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Greene County, Pa.

this is my 1st year at growing melons, i have noticed three and four lobers now.
Is four better then three?
Is there 5 lobers?

im really excited out melons now, i have one almost ready to be 91" OTT and on the chart.

7/20/2010 10:34:22 PM

sevierville, Tn

no idea, never counted them !

7/21/2010 2:38:30 PM

Deep South, USA

Are you growing Carolina Cross? I don't remember ever noticing lobes on mine, though I've never had one all that big.

Also, I'm using the generic #183 seed, so I can't speak for the other CC varieties.

7/21/2010 3:14:11 PM

Corryton, TN

I've noticed 3 divisions but not 4+. There again I haven't looked that hard. That's something I can look for in the culls yet this summer.

7/21/2010 3:31:23 PM

South East

Noticed only 3's here Buddy... :)

7/21/2010 4:39:17 PM

Deep South, USA

Do these divisions or lobes only show up once the melon reaches a certain weight, like over 50 lbs, or are they there from the start?

7/21/2010 5:12:59 PM

Corryton, TN

They are there from the start. Easily seen when melons are 2 in. in diameter. Just cross cut any cull.

7/21/2010 6:50:53 PM

southwest MO

I culled 6 baby watermelons yesterday that still had the flowers on... 5 were 3 lobe / 1 was 4 lobe. Never looked myself till yesterday.

7/22/2010 11:13:02 AM

Greene County, Pa.

i have been inspecting all females i cut off, most are 3 lobers, but some have 4, i wonder if 1 is better then the other.

7/23/2010 6:29:05 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Yes the inner fruit matches the number of lobs on the flower. I would like to be able to make choices based on the number of lobs, but I am typically lucky just to get some pollinated.

7/28/2010 1:38:58 PM

Deep South, USA

I was thinking about asking that about lobes on the flower matching inside lobes. I have a older melon that should be pure bred, between 3 and 4 weeks. I think it had five lobes on the flower.

I have a picture of another one when it was open, my very first female, it's not on the vine anymore, but I'll see if I can count the lobes in the picture.

7/28/2010 3:47:15 PM

Deep South, USA

I'm sorry, I wasn't looking at the lobe structure right. Looks like they were both 3 lobes, sorry about that.

7/28/2010 3:52:10 PM