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Muddy Waters

When you wake up at 5:30 am with your hoe,cause you were weeding till dark thirty & passed out in the patch....The weeds wont be getting me this year.I have weed barrier down everywhere outside of the caves(greenhouse's.I will be putting carpet pad The rebond kind over my field pumpkin area.The only weeding will be in the caves themselves.once the plants get big it should slow the weeds down.You might be a redneck if...your best carpet is in your garden.lol!

6/19/2012 6:10:50 AM

formerly RGG

You go Mark !

6/19/2012 8:19:00 AM

Jasper, Indiana

Same here, worked in the patch 5 1/2 hrs last night......never ending weeds.

While in the patch I checked the watermelon plants and found 2 females that should be ready in a few days. My largest plant will have at least 60' of vine by pollination time. Do you guys think the plant is big enough or should I wait for the female?

6/19/2012 11:34:56 AM

Muddy Waters

I went with them last year at about 60 feet of vine no problem.I just pinched a melon off the 228 with about 15 feet of vine.way to small only 5 feet down the main.Whens your weigh-off??

6/19/2012 11:52:07 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I will start pollinating now, since I have three of my plants with incredible structure so far. I have been pinching them off to encourage plant growth, but since I will be away to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in early July, I better get them pollinated now.

6/19/2012 12:15:30 PM

Jasper, Indiana

Indiana State Fair is August 11 so I probably won't have enough time to grow a contender.

6/20/2012 6:38:28 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I never compete in the state fairs. The timing is just wrong, and who wants to waste a melon by picking it early for $7 and a ribbon.

6/20/2012 11:07:36 AM

Muddy Waters

Indiana isn,t far from Harnicas weigh-off in Dundee Oct 6th

6/20/2012 11:13:55 AM

Jasper, Indiana

MM Man....What is your opinion on plant size prior to pollination? I seen where you posted in your diary that your plants were optimum size for pollination and was curious what that size is.

6/20/2012 11:41:56 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I think that is somewhat decided for you. I have found that the females produced by a small plant are also small, and never really take off. Some say 150 foot of vine, but I just eyeball it, and say "That looks about right". I have pictures, but always struggle with the whole diary thing.

When the plant is about 20 feet long end to end and around 6 feet wide. When the plant has a primary that is around 12 foot long. When all the main vines have secondary vines well started.

And finally, when the females start looking like the ones you normally cull in July wishing you had pollinated that one in June.

6/20/2012 3:41:52 PM