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Frankfort Oh

If so what was the girth and how long was it?I`m not looking for ott ,just length and girth,this would help me alot-thanks in advance-Rob- my biggest is 30 1/2 long and 51 -1/4 girth still gaining a 1/4 inch a day

8/15/2010 10:44:08 AM

Frankfort Oh

correction my girth is 52 1/4

8/15/2010 11:36:38 AM

Pataskala,OH

Wow an inch an hour. LOL

8/15/2010 3:02:01 PM

Frankfort Oh

wouldn`t any watermelon grower wish that,Nic

8/15/2010 4:51:03 PM

Forest Hill,md.

Hi,How many do you have that are good size?Also when were they pollinated?1/4 inch daily not bad.Thanks,Thinking Big.

8/15/2010 10:23:16 PM

formerly RGG

You'll find there are several people on this message board who have grown a 200 pound plus melon and also their dimensions if you read posts from previous years. MMM (James White) keeps track of the big ones and could give you several growers & dimensions if you ask. If I remember correctly my 207 from last year was 39.5" in length and I think the girth was about 54".Other that Lloyd Bright, I think SMP (Chris Kent)has probably had the most over 200 pounds.I mean out of the good folks who participate in this message board.

8/15/2010 10:40:27 PM

Frankfort Oh

well thanks, for the help, the 228 ,-pleasant-32 days old ,already 31 in length-is growing 1/4inch a day and hasn`t slowed down,another one gaining the same is my 150 hampp from 06-the bigger melons have slowed way down ,only getting somewhere around 1/6 to an 1/8 a day,-every now and then will gain 1/4 inch on warm night-the biggest two are both at 44 and 45 days old,

8/16/2010 4:58:30 AM

Garner, NC

Hey Rob, when you say 1/4" are you saying a 1/4' lenght, or girth or total Ott inch's?

8/16/2010 11:30:24 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

Hopefully this shows well, but you never know. Here's the 200 pounders that I know about. I do have a few in that list, and I am hoping for a few more this year.

Date    Grower    Weight (pounds)    Girth (inches)    End to End (TB)    Side to Side    Circumference (inches)    Straight Length
9/1/05    Bright    268.8    62.50                37.00
10/3/09    H. Pleasant    267.0        66.50    46.50    103.50    
9/1/05    Bright    262.6    61.00                39.00
10/1/90    Carson    262.0    64.00                42.00
9/1/85    Bright    260.0                    
10/3/09    C. Kent    259.2    65.00    62.50    46.00    104.50    38.00
8/1/06    Sistruck    252.4    61.00                38.00
10/1/02    A. Collier    252.3                    
9/8/08    F. Mudd    251.0    61.50    64.00    45.00    99.00    38.50
10/5/05    D. Miller    249.0                    
9/1/05    Bright    248.0    57.50                38.00
9/1/05    Bright    246.0    63.00                36.00
10/1/02    K. Collier    245.0                    
9/20/09    C. Kent    243.5    66.00    62.00    48.00    101.00    37.00
9/1/05    Bright    243.0    59.50                38.25
9/7/00    Dwyer    241.8    61.60                40.50
9/10/09    C. Kent    239.0    65.50    59.50    48.50    101.00    37.00
10/5/05    G. Bunn    238.0                    
10/5/05    L. Bright    237.5                    
9/1/05    Bright    229.0    55.50                40.50
10/3/09    H. Pleasant    228.9        60.50    46.50    97.50    
10/1/02    Dwyer    228.0    58.30                38.50
9/1/05    Bright    228.0    59.50                35.00
9/1/05    Bright    227.0    59.00                37.25
9/1/05    Bright    226.0    58.00                34.00
10/7/06    White    225.0                    
9/1/05    Bright    223.5    61.00                33.50
9/1/03    Bright    219.0    64.00                32.50
9/5/05    J. White    218.0    61.50    58.50    46.50    95.00    35.00
10/1/05    M. Mitchell    217.6                    
10/1/05    P. Mitru    216.4                    
10/1/02    Dwyer    215.0    56.30                36.50
10/8/08    C. Kent    213.0    60.00    58.00    46.00    96.00    38.00
10/1/02    Lane    211.0    55.50                39.00
10/5/05    J. White    211.0    64.00    59.50    45.00    97.50    36.00
9/5/05    J. Hunt    207.6        57.50    45.00    92.00    
10/1/09    Masterson    207.0    56.75    60.50    43.00    99.00    39.50
9/4/05    B. Brinkley    207.0                    
10/7/06    White    202.0                    
9/1/79    Bright    200.0                    

8/16/2010 12:08:45 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Well, that didn't show well. You will just have to guess what value is what.

8/16/2010 12:09:17 PM

Frankfort Oh

Ice that is girth ,sorry

8/16/2010 3:46:28 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Nice info James, Thanks!

8/16/2010 7:46:24 PM

Frankfort Oh

Thanks Mr white for the chart!!

8/16/2010 9:50:20 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Is girth, all the way around the middle? Thanks, Scott

8/16/2010 10:51:22 PM

Bowdon, GA

Lets say I'm a watermelon. If I'm laying on my back girth is the distance around my waist. Circumference is around melon horizontal to the ground. Girth is around melon perpendicular to the ground.

8/17/2010 12:05:09 AM

Deep South, USA

If an area of the melon either above or below the "waist" is larger, is the girth still taken from the "waist"?

8/17/2010 12:40:32 AM

Frankfort Oh

yes wayne -I JUST KEEP THE TAPE UNDERNEITH,the melon at all times as it growsthere really keep at the local walmarts

8/17/2010 6:55:16 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

What's girth? Think of it as your belt if you are laying down it better matches the watermelon in the patch. On a finished melon, I generally measure the maximum girth I find. In the garden, I measure about in the middle, or around the average spot. I don't want to over guess too much.

8/17/2010 4:16:41 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Thanks, all!!! I sorta knew that girth was the "waist" type measurement, but wondered about how it was done, so thanks Rob...I do have a couple extra fabric tapes (yes,from wallyworld) around so I will try and get them under my late, but hopeful melons!!! Peace, Wayne

8/17/2010 11:39:06 PM

Bowdon, GA

I keep mine on blocks like James to prevent rot. Also makes measuring girth easy. Which brings up a point. For the data base if we grow on blocks the section sitting on the block is ussually less than the suspended section. Which girth would you rather have. I think I have been giving you the bigger of the two.

8/18/2010 12:14:14 AM

Frankfort Oh

Holloway I give what ever makes me feel better ,lol

8/18/2010 8:46:17 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Sorry to go off topic again, but need detailed photo of melon on blocks!!! Peace, Wayne

8/18/2010 11:58:23 PM

Garner, NC

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=142456
Hey wayne, here's a a picture of mine on blocks. Maybe they should be taller, I'm not sure, maybe MMM can help.

8/19/2010 9:09:27 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

Wow Ice Man, that's quite a contraption you have there. I would personally put more 2x2s in between. probably at least 4 or 5.

8/19/2010 9:18:29 AM

sevierville, Tn

I don't think taller is needed, definately need more then 2.
Get someone to help so you only have to lift it just a little.

8/19/2010 9:30:46 AM

Garner, NC

Hey guy's thanks for the advice. Just wondering why I would need to add 4 or 5 more. Seems if I add that many it would defeat the purpose of having them on blocks. I thought the main goal was to have better air flow. Seems that much melon to wood contact would not be much better than the foam. However I do think that maybe 1 or 2 in the middle might releive some stress, but I'm not sure I want to take a chance of lifting 200+lbs and have someone slide a board under it, I could just see the stem breaking or the board cutting into the belly. What if I bought some play sand and filled in under and around the melon?
At this stage would sand or another board or 2 be my best option. As always thanks for all the help. Todd

8/19/2010 1:13:14 PM

Trinity River Bottom

todd if you dont want to lift it put a smaller board under it a shim it up from the bottom until it contacts the melon

8/19/2010 1:39:13 PM

Trinity River Bottom

i don't think i would use the sand

8/19/2010 1:47:08 PM

sevierville, Tn

If the sand would get wet, i would NOT do that. You would only need an inch or 2 to get the board or whatever in there.

8/19/2010 2:44:26 PM

sevierville, Tn

A shim sounds like a good idea, you could even move it that way by removing the shim.

8/19/2010 2:45:25 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

The reason I would put more under is that what you have doesn't look like it will adequately support it. I am worried about too many pounds per square inch on a very small surface area. I could see the melon cracking. But they again, maybe not. I don't think extra 2x2s will affect the air flow enough to matter.

8/19/2010 4:48:37 PM

Garner, NC

Thanks Guy's. I got some shim's today and have 2 sets placed in the middle.

8/19/2010 8:12:54 PM