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Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

It appears that I have 6 successful pollinations, they are getting big fast! I put mill fabric under them, the big question is...do you cover watermelon like pumpkin growers cover pumpkins, to shade them and keep the rain off of them?
Thanks in advance,
Tom

7/5/2011 8:30:01 AM

Corryton, TN

Yep. But don't lay a sheet or anything on the melon.

7/5/2011 8:32:33 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

ok, so a small tarp over them to shade and keep rain from hitting them, while ensuring proper air flow?

7/5/2011 10:03:59 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I use wire hoops over the fruit with a cut open gunny sack clothes pinned on.

Under the fruit I put sand until the fruit is around 25 to 40 pounds and then I put it up on boards to prevent rot.

7/5/2011 10:31:43 AM

Bethlehem CT

Dave Why can't the sheet lay on the melon?

7/5/2011 10:53:58 AM

Corryton, TN

You'll have to ask Mr Superman Kent. Seems he almost lost one in 2010. I just follow orders!

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=30&p=351174

7/5/2011 12:09:34 PM

formerly RGG

Amen brotherdave.

7/5/2011 12:33:53 PM

Pataskala,OH

Can someone put a picture up of a shade structure? I have a watermelon growing but I do not know what to shade it with. It has a sheet on top of it now and I really do not want it to rot.

7/5/2011 1:00:21 PM

Muddy Waters

I stuck 4 metal rods for holding fiber glass insulation between joists and a plastic grocery bag tied to rods I will post pic on Diary for you

7/5/2011 2:29:59 PM

sevierville, Tn

Shade just like the pumpkins. They will get sunburn if you don't. They sweat also, so anything on them will hold moisture & cause problems, so you need air flow.

7/5/2011 2:45:24 PM

Garner, NC

Check out my diary, the shades I am using this year work well, and the design came from seeing henry pleasants set up.

7/5/2011 2:46:00 PM

sevierville, Tn

I have found hoops work real nice at shedding water.

7/5/2011 2:46:41 PM

sevierville, Tn

Todd, those are removable for measuring right ??

7/5/2011 2:47:25 PM

Garner, NC

10 4 chris, I pull 1 j hook and the sheild lifts up and to the side.

7/5/2011 5:57:08 PM

Bowdon, GA

Don't pumpkin grower use some kind of flat board or styrofoam under pumpkins(shows how much I have grown pumpkins) Definately no on melons, Thick bed of sand up to fifty pounds then 2X4s like MMM for me. This year I layed down some plastic before building up sand to maybe help keep the sand from wicking up moisture from the ground. I have had a lot less rot since using MMM's 2X4's. Shade however you like just leave room for airflow and measuring.

7/5/2011 9:59:20 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Styrofoam is usually not recommended as moisture will remain on it and rot the fruit, most pkn growers either use mill fabric, it allows the fruit to slide as it expands/grows, and water moves right through it, or sand, or a combination of both.
Right now I have mill fabric, and a small shade tarp over them, using 4 bamboo sticks and 4 binder clips.

7/6/2011 7:54:14 AM

Lexington,IN

Guess I been lucky then. I have always put my melons on blue Styrofoam sheeting with plywood underneath the styro. With tarps shading the melons very little water reaches the styro. But then again our summers are usually very dry here, might not work as well in moister climates. I want to try the sand under them though, someday. We gotta use what we have on hand this year, damn economy!...

7/6/2011 10:01:31 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I have always used 2x4's, since I like the air flow under the fruit, and it gives me a nice way to slide the tape under it for belly (girth) measurements. It's only a problem when a large snake decides to coil up under the melon, then I have to scoot him out of the way.

I use the same metal hoops that hold the remay blanket in the spring to hold the gunny sack over the fruit. Keep the sack off of the fruit to give it air flow to keep it dry.

I just unpin the gunny and fold it over to take measurements. Seems pretty easy.

I like wood over Styrofoam because even the wood will wick away the moisture.

7/6/2011 11:45:00 AM

Lexington, Ky

And I was just about to run out and cut some 2x4's...LOL

7/7/2011 3:09:03 PM