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Garner, NC

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=141796
http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=141797

Here's two diary pages of the bottom of a melon I picked this afternoon. Appears to look like a insect or worm created small holes on the belly of the melon. All melons are on 2" foam insulation.

Any idea's of what it may be, or ways to prevent in the future. Oh yea, next year I'm blocking like MMM does.

8/4/2010 10:29:35 PM

Garner, NC

I also forgot to mention that I checked the bottoms of my others, good news is my biggest doesn't have any symptoms...bad news is I heard a loud crack on the inside when I rolled it over. Is that game over or will it continue to grow? Thanks Todd

8/4/2010 10:34:12 PM

Bowdon, GA

Todd, the big ones can makes noises when you move them. Should be OK. Blocking works very well gets the air flow going under them. So far I've had zero rot since I tried it. I have had a grub get in the bottom of one before. I just rub some insecticidal powder like dipel on the bottom when they are smaller. Will ussually last the season if they are high and dry.

8/4/2010 10:53:16 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Ice Man, not positive, but guessing it is not insect or worm, but moisture from sitting on foam!! Keeping air flow, or at least a dry bottom is necessary. Peace, Wayne

8/4/2010 11:53:30 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

It looks like rot to me. I am still not a fan of foam under the melons. I think you need air flow under the melon to get better drying to prevent rot like that. Would strips of foam be better?

8/5/2010 10:28:05 AM

Garner, NC

MMM, Don't know about the strips of foam, all I know is my heaviest is on 2x4's now and next year it will be all blocks for me. Might experiment with 4" pvc next year also. It was a hard lesson to learn, but now I know.

I took the melon to the weight in this morning, OTT was arourd 160lbs, real weight was 169.5lbs. I couldn't enter but wanting to get auctual weight.

Will be saving and drying seeds this week, if anyone is interested just mail me a bubble.

Todd Dawson
1832 Clifford Road
Garner, NC 27529

8/5/2010 10:41:02 AM

Western NY

Anyone putting them on sand like pumpkins? Now I'm thinking about trying t lift mine to check the bottoms.

8/5/2010 12:34:18 PM

Corryton, TN

I'm on foam with sand on top.

8/5/2010 1:26:53 PM

Trinity River Bottom

mine did the same exact thing on styrofoam.

8/5/2010 2:29:20 PM

sevierville, Tn

Todd, I forgot your on foam when we talked. Yes that looks like rot.

8/5/2010 2:56:41 PM

Lexington, Ky

I punch small drain holes in my foam and put a breathable nylon sack underneath the foam to keep small critters from entering.

8/5/2010 3:19:14 PM

Long Island,New York

Well, its probably not a tomato horn worm.

8/5/2010 5:19:55 PM

Pataskala,OH

lol

8/5/2010 7:41:15 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I have said this before, and I thoroughly believe you have to have them up in the air. Before the use of boards, I would have up to a quarter of my melons rot every single year. I figured it was just the cost of growing melons. Since I have started putting the melons on boards, I have never lost a melon to rot. That doesn't mean it can't or won't happen, but the odds are greatly decreased. I prefer non painted pine or cedar boards since not only do they allow air flow, but they also wick moisture away from the melons. Styrofoam will not do that.

8/6/2010 10:01:48 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I understand that pumpkin growers like to use foam because it's a nice big sheet that sits nicely under a huge growing fruit. Pumpkin growers also are really good at building elaborate shelters over their fruit that result in a very dry growing area for the fruit.

Watermelon are less likely to have these elaborate shelters, which means we have to deal with more moisture. This results in more need for air flow under the melon.

I have picked melons and seen the beginnings of little rot circles where the boards were; especially if I was using 2x6 boards instead of 2x4s. But in general there is enough air flow to slow that whole rot process down.

8/6/2010 10:05:45 AM

Deep South, USA

I'm interested in some seeds, Ice Man. How much return postage should I include with the bubble?

8/6/2010 6:06:06 PM

Navarre,OH

Termites?

8/6/2010 11:40:15 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Melonmites? Peace, Wayne

8/7/2010 12:00:12 AM

Garner, NC

Yoshi, not sure on how much postage, maybe someone here could let us know on a good rate.

8/7/2010 8:01:37 AM

sevierville, Tn

What ever it cost to mail, put that amount on the return bubble. Its usually around $1.00 for the small bubbles.

8/7/2010 8:24:28 AM

sevierville, Tn

I have elaborate shelters, luckly the DEA know what i do now so its no problem ;) I use to worry about drug dogs invading my patch !

8/7/2010 8:27:46 AM

Bowdon, GA

I try to use 2X4's, but sometimes I will use 2X4 Styrofoam blocks when size sneaks up on me. If a melon gets some size to it I use the foam blocks just because I'm afraid of damaging the bottom of the fruit. But if I do use foam blocks I slide them back or forward every once in a while so it don't sit on the same spot. Last year we had alot of rain in Sept. One melon at the bottom of the patch actually had water under it a few times didn't rot.

8/8/2010 12:23:18 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

I think the difference, at this point, is styrofoam blocks vs. a sheet of foam (of some kind)!!! PS...Chris, would like to hear the full DEA story!!! LOL Peace, Wayne
PS...IceMan...I put 2 stamps on the request, and 4 on the return bubblie!!! Just a lil insurance, I guess!!

8/11/2010 12:09:30 AM

Il

Nice watermelons Ice man, I would like some seeds to, never grew a watermelon, this is the first year for pumpkin got around a 200lber on, but your watermelons are insane, let me know if I can have some and the process for getting them to me

Thanks Tucker

8/11/2010 2:06:50 PM

Garner, NC

Hey Tuck, you are more than welcome to some seeds. Just send me some bubbles with return postage(around 4 stamps, as Wayne said) and I'll get you some when there dry. My address is listed above. Thanks Todd

8/11/2010 2:30:38 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Ice Man, sorry if this sounds like a hi-jack of yer post...not meant to be...but...Tuck, if you need advice on sending seed requests, email me @ wsmpeace@bellsouth.net and I will send you a short turorial!!! Peace, Wayne

8/11/2010 11:58:18 PM

Deep South, USA

Hi Ice Man, mailed out the bubble today. Placed extra stamps down in it, just in case.

8/13/2010 2:39:52 PM