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Forest Hill,md.

Hi all,My patch had most of its melons set on 1st week of july.I feel they have done well so far.Question is do they last (grow)as long as plant lives,or do they mature x # of days after pollination occurs?Most average 22 inch straight measure x 36 inch circumference.Just trying to gauge their growth.Thanks,Thinking Big.

8/1/2010 8:21:53 AM

formerly RGG

Carolina Cross melons will grow and keep on the vine for as long as 90 days if the plant is healthy. 90 days will yield a melon that is somewhat overripe and the seed from these "full term" melons are usually more difficult to germinate.One way to judge ripeness and or future potential for growth is actual growth of the melon. If a Carolina Cross melon has completely stopped growing then it should be ready to harvest.If you are growing for size then there is no reason to harvest as long as the melon is still gaining weight unless it is time to cut it to enter it into a contest.

8/1/2010 8:49:08 AM

Forest Hill,md.

Thanks,I do not have this "ott" chart that has been mentioned.Any idea of what a melon that is 22" longx 36" around would weigh?Also this ott measured process is it accurate?How to measure?Thinking Big.

8/1/2010 9:07:39 AM

formerly RGG

Watermelon: Over-the-Top Inches With Estimated Weight (get MS Excel version)
Note: Can Go 7% Under Or 19% Over Estimate
Inches     Lbs.     Inches     Lbs.     Inches     Lbs.     Inches     Lbs.
91     28.3     124     62.0     157     115.0     190     193.8
92     29.0     125     63.4     158     117.5     191     196.3
93     29.8     126     64.6     159     118.8     192     200.0
94     30.6     127     66.0     160     121.3     193     202.5
95     31.5     128     67.4     161     123.8     194     205.0
96     32.3     129     68.8     162     125.0     195     208.8
97     33.1     130     70.1     163     127.5     196     211.3
98     34.0     131     71.5     164     130.0     197     215.0
99     34.9     132     72.9     165     131.3     198     217.5
100     35.9     133     74.4     166     133.8     199     220.0
101     36.8     134     75.9     167     136.3     200     223.8
102     37.6     135     77.4     168     138.8     201     226.3
103     38.6     136     78.9     169     141.3     202     230.0
104     39.6     137     80.4     170     142.5     203     233.8
105     40.5     138     81.9     171     145.0     204     236.3
106     41.5     139     83.5     172     147.5     205     240.0
107     42.5     140     85.1     173     150.0     206     242.5
108     43.5     141     86.6     174     152.5     207     246.3
109     44.6     142     88.3     175     155.0     208     250.0
110     45.6     143     90.0     176     157.5     209     252.5
111     46.8     144     91.6     177     160.0     210     256.3
112     47.8     145     93.4     178     162.5     211     260.0
113     48.9     146     95.0     179     165.0     212     263.8
114     50.0     147     96.8     180     167.5     213     267.5
115     51.1     148     98.5     181     170.0     214     270.0
116     52.3     149     100.3     182     172.5     215     273.8
117     53.4     150     102.1     183     175.0     216     277.5
118     54.6     151     103.8     184     177.5     217     281.3
119     55.8     152     106.3     185     180.0     218     285.0
120     57.0     153     107.5     186     182.5     219     288.8
121     58.3     154     110.0     187     186.3     220     292.5
122     59.5     155     111.3     188     188.8     221     296.3
123     60.8     156     113.8     189     191.3     222     300.0

8/1/2010 9:19:56 AM

formerly RGG

I'm not sure if the previous post is the most current chart but it is one that has been used a lot.OTT charts are for gross estimates and may be dead on or way off in accuracy. A lot depends on the shape and density of the melon. Small melons usually go light and 200 pound plus melons usually go a bit heavy. The shape of melons has a lot to do with how they fit into chart weight also. I have found that longer melons with less girth tend to go light on the charts and short melons with lots of girth tend to go heavy.And a melon that is hollow inside of course will mostly go a bit light as compared to it's OTT reading.

8/1/2010 9:29:05 AM

Forest Hill,md.

This is great!So i should measure around total circumference of melon around sides and the same way over the top continuing under melon?Then add total inches?

8/1/2010 9:40:59 AM

Corryton, TN

Read post about thirty down from this one titled "weight comparison" it should help

8/1/2010 12:50:17 PM

Forest Hill,md.

Thanks,tennessee and brother dave.

8/1/2010 1:11:39 PM

sevierville, Tn

The gpc has a video on their site that shows how to measure pumpkins, same way applys to melons.

8/2/2010 2:55:34 PM