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Omaha, NE

I also planted these in the garden this year. So far they are just starting to take off and bloom (bloom are so tiny, only about 1/4 of an inch). Has anyone else grown these before? I choose the small varity because no one else in my household likes watermelon. I just hope that the bees don't cross pollinate my pumpkins adn the watermelon. :)

Karen

7/22/2001 4:57:31 PM

Florida

Karen,

i have grown them before with hit-and-miss success, seems like they either do really well or not at all depending on weather, rain, and disease (here in FL). you mentioned that they are blooming, how are the vines doing? this year, i (and my son) planted a strain of black diamond watermelon, supposed to get to 50# or more, but the vines never really grew (watermelon mosaic virus i think) and we got two softball size watermelons. i think the virus also got into my second crop of pumpkins, which are almost all stunted and hopeless. hope you have better luck than me.

jim

7/22/2001 9:53:11 PM

Omaha, NE

We just moved to NE from FL last year. I grew up about 10 miles from Daytona Beach. I tried to grow watermelons and pumpkins when I was a kid with no success. Almost everything grows up here. The watermelons vines are taking off and starting to invade the pumpkin patch, they are very small. There were a lot more flowers today, but I don't know if there are male and females like the pumpkins. I also don't know how to recognize the budding fruit.

7/24/2001 12:00:35 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Not to worry! Pumpkins won't cross with watermelons.

Glenn Peters

7/24/2001 1:09:10 PM

South Hill, Virginia

I planted sugar babies last year and they did okay. The small size worked out well because we aren't big watermelon eaters either. A little later in the season I started getting some strange crosses. "Gourds" about 2 to 3 feet long started growing on my cucumber vines which were next to my sugar babies. Also has yellow squash and zuchini on the other side of the patch but I'm not sure what crossed with what. Early in the season I was getting normal cukes from the same plant.

7/24/2001 1:59:03 PM

Ga.

first time pumpkin grower in nebraska,,,you will know the difference,,just like a pumpkins,,,got a male and female flower.....Good Luck!!



There were a lot more flowers today, but I don't know if there are male and females like the pumpkins. I also don't know how to recognize the budding fruit.

7/25/2001 3:58:14 PM

Omaha, NE

Thanks all, I did find the tiny little female buds today. But most of the male buds have closed, there are a few unopened ones left.

7/25/2001 7:52:39 PM

Omaha, NE

I have at least three little watermelons growing! Largest is about 3" around long wise.

7/28/2001 11:26:04 AM

chesterfield mi

i too planted watermelon first time this year, i have 1
and its about the size of a softball its so small its funny looking shouldn`t they be alot bigger by time im getting more and more flowers daily but i though id have more by now
and the vines are so small do they or are they suppose to get large like pumpkin vines?

8/3/2001 9:13:31 PM

Omaha, NE

I think the vines stay small, depending upon the varity. I have about five plants, the largest is about a racketball size. I sure hope they get bigger, had to cut into a tiny one like that....Karen

8/3/2001 9:33:51 PM

Nebraska

I grew sugar babies 1st time summer 2007 I got 2 13lbs one's and 1 10lbs and several smaller one's about 12 all together from 6 vines.

3/11/2008 5:28:53 AM