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South East

With the season about done, its time to look ahead to next year. What have you learned and what are you going to do diffrently?

We are gonna keep our plant a little bit smaller. 300sqf
Feed a little bit more agressive early on.
graft.
If possible a set on the main vine only,,6/7 feet out.

How bout everyone else?

10/16/2012 8:58:33 AM

Muddy Waters

Will use weed barrier!Will make sure all compost is at least 2 1/2 years old.

10/16/2012 10:05:21 AM

The North Coast

Well I have found out sterile growing mediums and clean tools are a big deal when producing grafted plants. The general consensus is that gummy stem blight hurt many of my grafts. The thing about GSB is that it first starts as small black spots on the tips of the watermelons cotyledons but then it will go almost dormant for a period only to later show up again. It comes back affecting primarily the crown and results in the brown/reddish ooze and a cankerous stump. I have learned that the high humidity conditions needed for healing is also extremely conducive for GSB...so, somewhere either in the soil or in the seed the disease existed and was allowed to flourish during the grafting process. I didn't think much when I saw a few black tips on the leaves. They were removed and never came back.

This next year I will be using soil-less mediums like rockwool and rapid root plugs. These mediums and all tools will be thoroughly sterilized. In addition I will have a keen eye for the tell tail black spotting of GSB.

Dont let the fear of GSB stop you from grafting, to a certain extent the disease being manifested by the grafting process is rare. We just need to know that it is out there and how it can be avoided.

10/16/2012 10:20:58 AM

The North Coast

Warning!!! weed barrier = vole sanctuary (in some cases)

10/16/2012 10:22:23 AM

Muddy Waters

Yes I trap moles all season to keep there #s down same with all critters I trap all season long.I try to keep issues during the growing season to a minimum .Never seen a vole around here.Thx Bat cave.

10/16/2012 12:19:49 PM

The North Coast

You are right Handy mole and vole eradication has no off season!

10/16/2012 3:24:50 PM

The North Coast

I may of posted it before but this is the trapping technique that I use for the allusive vole.

Visually the difference between a mouse and a vole is that voles have smaller ears, shorter snout, and a much shorter tail. Mice are an annoyance but voles can be catastrophic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9cFspBjb-U

10/16/2012 3:28:29 PM

Muddy Waters

I once knew a Hungarian women who I asked.Is it Hawaii or Havaii. She replied Havaii. I said thank you she replied your Velcome.LOL! I thought a vole was a Hungarian mole all these years.LOL! I have never seen one.

10/16/2012 4:53:19 PM

Bowdon, GA

Not sure but I think they are field rats as I callem. Maybe different,but one thing all those have in common is they hate castor oil. You can get mixtures for your garden at most local stores. It will flat run them off. Reapply as needed.

10/16/2012 6:56:19 PM

Bowdon, GA

The last several weeks my 238 grew on half a vine. One of the little rodents kept chewing on it even though it was covered in captan and sulfer. I had no luck catching him, but I never seen him again after the castor pellets where spread.

10/16/2012 6:59:27 PM

Bowdon, GA

Oh, Sorry Frank, one thing I learned is that you should fertilize more before the melon slows down LOL

10/16/2012 7:01:34 PM

formerly RGG

I learned that burning grow lights over a melon at night does not help to grow a larger melon. I learned that grafted plants can grow really fast and to not start them too early. And I learned there is good promise in using grafted rootstock to grow giant watermelons.

10/16/2012 10:56:54 PM

Brittnau , Switzerland

need a better Watering system in my Greenhouse

10/17/2012 7:30:46 AM

Bethlehem CT

I agree keeping voles under control is paramount. They really ruined my season this year. I think they really love to get their water from chewing melon roots. I think the dry hot weather really amped up the problem here. I believe meadow mice is another name for them. If you live near hayfields that are overgrown (like I do) Their numbers can get really high. They live under the tall grass and are not in danger of predation. We have cats here and they don't do much to help the situation. I think that voles are just about at the bottom of the list. They must not be very good to eat.

10/28/2012 10:53:57 AM

Indiana

2013 will be my first giant watermelon so all this is very helpful, any more tips that you want to throw out to help a rookie will be appreciated.

10/30/2012 6:35:47 PM

formerly RGG

Chill, you may find this link to an article by James White helpful:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Attachments/How_To_Grow_Giant_Watermelon.pdf

11/8/2012 7:10:13 PM

formerly RGG

Also, former world record holder and GWG committee member Lloyd Bright has written an excellent book on growing giant watermelons. Here is a link:

http://www.giantwatermelons.com/order.php

11/8/2012 7:14:14 PM

formerly RGG

Beyond that, you may want to read some of the past post on this forum. They go back several years and many of them can be very helpful. If you want seeds I have plenty from my 228 Masterson 2012 and I am will freely share them with anyone who is interested. :o)

11/8/2012 7:27:27 PM