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sevierville, Tn

I would like to know who is growing or planning on growing grafted plants. I know Dennis is since i saw his plants last weekend. Anyone else out there testing these freaks??

4/20/2012 10:20:34 PM

The North Coast

Personally I will give a grafted long gourd a shot, no melons in the plans.

4/21/2012 7:39:23 AM

Arden, NC

4 grafts here (when they are ready)

4/21/2012 10:56:38 AM

Piqua, Ohio

I have one

4/21/2012 11:47:45 AM

formerly RGG

My daughter's boyfriend's mom got 4 plants from Pam and I gave another person 4 plants. These are not GWG members and they have no previous experience growing giant watermelons.

4/21/2012 1:53:45 PM

The North Coast

Things are on schedule Rookiesmom1, surgery in 3 or 4 days.

4/21/2012 5:13:09 PM

Western NY

Turns out i'm not a good grafter. might give it a try next year under better conditions.

4/21/2012 8:19:04 PM

Bethlehem CT

I just did some today, hopefully one of them takes and I can give it a try. I want to do a side by side trial of a seed. One on a graft the other on it's own roots.

4/21/2012 8:38:49 PM

Muddy Waters

I will be trying a graft, seeds are on the way,if it takes I will be growing one.I thought it was time I should come out of the closet.lol

4/21/2012 8:57:46 PM

Pinesdale,mt

I have one that the graft took,my own 120 with field pumpkin. Looks good.

4/22/2012 12:10:03 AM

sevierville, Tn

thanks for letting me know. Dennis gave me 1 plant in a gallon pot & its growing great in that pot. I only have room for 1 plant & i am very tempted to use it.

4/22/2012 9:40:32 AM

formerly RGG

I have plenty of hybrid Shintosa Camelforce seeds left and I am happy to share them with anyone. The least I could order was 1000 and I still have several hundred of them.

4/22/2012 9:04:15 PM

Muddy Waters

The seeds came Dennis I will start them Asap.I watched a video on U tube.Will perform the surgery myself.Dr.Homegrown is now in practice.Come one come all Frontal lobotomy's $19.95.LOL If they take I will grow it, if not I will throw it.It's awl Good!

4/23/2012 4:04:06 PM

The North Coast

Things of note:
Start the rootstock and the melon at the same time and under the same conditions as needed for melon.

They will pop in two days or so.

At about 6 or 7 days they will be ready. The rootstock will have one leaf on a small stem and the melon will have the first leaf just starting.

Follow the technique presented by arizona state as far as cutting, poking, and sticking. Do not cut all the roots off during surgery but take this time to transplant from a starter cup to a 4". It is easiest to start the rootstock in the little mini cups, then transplant them into the 4" during the grafting procedure. Start your melon seeds in a bulk tray is also easiest, not cups.

The process is:

1 Take rootstock out of cup and straighten out the roots. After the roots are straight, feel free to cut off the longest roots (give it a hair cut). Yes, trim the roots about in half. This is beneficial in more than one way.
2 Put the rootstock into the 4" cup and top off with soil(rather dry soil, about the same as germination).
3 With the rootstock now transplanted, do the surgery.
4. After surgery mist the plant and place into the tray and cover with a dome. Put the dome under florescence lights with a towel over the dome. The towel will reduce the light but keep the heat. Do this for 2 days then start acclimating them to normal light and humidity conditions. (Dont obsess over the heat in the hospital...just not cold or blazing hot is fine)

On day 13 to 14 they will be ready to harden off to the outdoors. Should be ready for normal outdoor conditions in a few more days.

Good luck, let me know if you have any questions.

4/23/2012 8:21:32 PM

Muddy Waters

Sounds Great Batman!I hope I'm not the Boy Blunder when it comes to grafting.Headed to garage to get smaller seed trays.

4/24/2012 4:15:49 PM

Piqua, Ohio

Mark,
I tried 8 and only got 1 to take, keep em in a humid grow chamber. Good Luck

4/24/2012 7:37:40 PM

Muddy Waters

Thanks for the input Josh!I'm trying 6 plants hoping for 1 good one to put in melon cave.

4/24/2012 8:17:48 PM

Piqua, Ohio

my graft is out pacing my others it's unbelievable! It seems to not mind the cool weather!

4/24/2012 8:46:25 PM

Muddy Waters

I watched the video,I dont understand why they cut off both root systems seems like the squash stock would stay.

4/24/2012 8:52:51 PM

The North Coast

Believe it or not, it is common to cut the roots off of the rootstock during the process. This reduces the water pressure on the graft union, makes for easy transplanting, and the rootstocks are very easy to re-root. It is too hard core for my tastes, I like to keep some roots.

4/24/2012 9:24:37 PM

Muddy Waters

Why not plant melons in cups?

4/24/2012 9:41:48 PM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

If you watch the video you will see that on the rootstock they prune the roots a little bit. I believe the comment was that it reduced the pressure on the graft. Pruning roots has been proven to results in larger and more plentiful fibrous roots. I'm assuming the tap root would simply regenerate but not certain.

4/25/2012 8:41:03 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Handy, I thought you told us awl that you did plant melons in cups? Peace, Wayne (or small peat pots)

4/25/2012 8:40:50 PM