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Western PA

I have 2 melons that I started for competion. They are both 193 Whites and are very differently shaped.

I plan to take one to a party this weekend and leave the other for a weigh off.

The past 2 weeks I have been closely tracking the growth so I don't pick the wrong one.

Now, the one that was smaller 2 weeks ago has really caught up to the bigger one. It is only taping 2 pounds less and should over take the bigger one in a day or two. The smaller one is still putting on 2 #'s a day and the bigger one is only doing 1/2 pound a day.

The big problem is that this smaller one is extremely girthy .
So my question is should I let this girthy one keep growing since it is still putting on 2 lbs a day ?

Do the girthy ones generally go light (hollow cavities) ?

James, if you read this, did you 193 go light or heavy, and was it long or stocky?

8/31/2011 11:28:06 AM

formerly RGG

In my opinion there is no question. Fat shaped melons usually go heavy to the chart. Plus your girthy one is gaining 4 times as fast as the slimmer one. The 291 Kent was hollow inside but went very heavy to the chart anyway. And not every girthy melon is hollow inside.However,sometimes the girthy melons will go light if they are flat topped and wide shaped or extremely hollow inside.

8/31/2011 2:00:01 PM

sevierville, Tn

I would let the smaller fatter one stay. its growing faster, & will be bigger in a few days.

8/31/2011 2:56:19 PM

Corryton, TN

Ditto

8/31/2011 4:30:31 PM

Muddy Waters

word!!!

8/31/2011 5:01:26 PM

formerly RGG

Zappa,the slim melons are the ones that usually go light to the OTT chart. My 207 was 39.5" long but the girth was only about 53" and it went light of the chart by about 15 pounds.

8/31/2011 6:05:44 PM

Bowdon, GA

Ditto, shape is also a factor If the girth holds steady all the way from the front to back should be heavy. I would say the fatter with out seeing them

8/31/2011 7:26:31 PM

Western PA

OK, the short, fat one is going to stay for another month !
Jake, this melon is girthy the whole way through. I will post a pic tomorrow if I have the time.

Thanks everyone !!

8/31/2011 11:39:49 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Sorry, I just read this one. I couldn't get to the forum yesterday for some strange reason.

The 193 was a front end stocky but relatively long. It weighed right one depending on where you took the SS measurement.

9/1/2011 10:59:57 AM

Western PA

Thanks James.

9/1/2011 11:29:24 AM

Western PA

I am not sure what the girth is, but on Wed. the side to side was 41.5 inches. I could probably tack on around 16" or so for the girth I would think.

These are not big melons at all, but a personal best for me.They will get better care next year.

My brother is lending me his deer scale if I want to weigh them on the vine. I think I will tape them on Sat. and see what they are doing first.If the stockier one is still putting on 4 times more than the slimmer one, I will cut the slimmer one for the party and not risk weighing them.

Have a great weekend everyone ! and be safe !!!

9/1/2011 11:38:41 AM

Bowdon, GA

They fat one may suprise you what it ways. Looks like a nice melon. Hope you get a PB.

9/1/2011 12:43:31 PM

Western PA

Here is a pichttp://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=169010 of the fat one.

9/1/2011 1:01:07 PM

Western PA

And the longer one.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=169011

9/1/2011 1:02:37 PM

formerly RGG

Nice looking melons Zappa. I am glad you are having a good year.Think about some landscaping fabric or something similar to control weeds next year and you should have even better results.

9/1/2011 1:31:07 PM

Western PA

LOL TD, there is land scape fabric under the melons. I will by some 12 foot wide fabric next season and have my t tape under it, and expand a little more.

I have crab grass that poked up though the fabric in a few places along with some other crazy weed.

My melons were in buckets for nearly 2 months and probably suffered a little, and got them in very late this year because of the foul weather we had in May. Despite all that I am very pleased with what I have this season.

Thanks for the compliment.

Lee

9/2/2011 8:14:26 AM

formerly RGG

Sorry about that Lee. Makes me wonder how you would be doing if conditions had been better. What weighoff(s) are you planning to attend?

9/2/2011 8:29:30 AM

Western PA

No offense taken TD. The weeds did over take both of my gardens this season, to the point that it is embarrassing to show people.
I have a lot of respect for any grower that can keep a weed free garden ,like some of the heavy hitter pumpkin growers do.

I am planning on taking it to the ovgpg weigh off. I don't expect to win anything especially since the Neptunes go there.

9/2/2011 9:33:49 AM

Western PA

Well, of coarse this had to become a tougher decision for me, LOL !!
I taped both of them this morning and the opposite has happened. Now the longer one has picked up in weight gains and the fat one has slowed down. Our weather has went from cool to very warm the past three days when I taped them last.I am going to say that the fat one seems to do better in the cooler weather and maybe the longer one likes the heat better ?
I gave it some thought and decided to go with what all of you said to do.Keep the fat one going.

I gave it a final taping on a concrete pad.
ss = 39"
ee = 49"
circ = 79"
girth was 52.5 " length was 29"
167 " ott = 136.3 for the estimate
actual on a bathroom scale was 143 lbs.

Beat my pb by 52 pounds. Not bad for giving them very little care. I will see if I can get some pics in my diary soon.

9/3/2011 11:59:40 AM

Muddy Waters

What seed line is this??

9/3/2011 2:42:47 PM

Western PA

This is the 193 White from last season.

9/3/2011 4:46:12 PM

Western PA

Here is a pic of it.



http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=169216

9/3/2011 4:49:50 PM