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The North Coast

So what's it going to take to grow a 500 pound watermelon. I do not know any of the answers. Lets throw some ideas out there and talk about it. There is feel that there is no more dissension among the ranks. Just a desire to grow the next beautiful melon. I have some crazy ideas, what do yo think. Feel free to join in. What do you think...is it sun, soil, and seed or is it hydroponic or hormones? Melons are on the cusp of their big jump...just like the pumpkins have been experiencing.

1/17/2014 12:47:06 PM

Ky

Genetics

Growing Techniqoe

Soil Co composition Type

Hormones

Fertilizer and Nutrient Fine Tunning

1/17/2014 3:11:04 PM

Muddy Waters

The perfect Summer & soil

1/17/2014 3:16:02 PM

The North Coast

Sorry about my verbal dyslexia, it should read...I feel that there is no more dissention....

1/17/2014 3:32:46 PM

Ontario

Disease prevention and pest control

1/17/2014 5:37:16 PM

sevierville, Tn

A little of all the above. each area of improvement leads to bigger melons. 60 lbs from genetics, 30 from growing methods, 30 from soil, 30 from disease & pest control = 500 lbs

1/17/2014 6:07:12 PM

Bethlehem CT

I would be shocked if hydroponics have anything to do with a record. I feel that hydroponics are Ok for growing greens, but to get the record our soils need to be full of life and diversity. Soils are immensely complicated, I believe science is just on the tip of the iceberg with what we know.
Not sure about the synthetic hormone thing either. If they are to get to 500 pounds those genes will have to be in our seeds. We just have to coax them out through Inbreeding and maybe crossbreeding and proper cultivation. If there is any parallel between pumpkins and melons it will be through inbreeding. We just have to find the golden seed. Maybe it has already been found. Maybe it is still a ways off.

1/18/2014 7:22:51 AM

Bethlehem CT

I never thought we would see 350! That is a big melon.

1/18/2014 7:25:06 AM

sevierville, Tn

my hydroponic melon made it to 178, and that was without me knowing anything to start with about hydro ! i just threw together a homemade setup in june & took a negleted plant and threw it in.... but it taught me lots about growing ;)

1/18/2014 11:29:14 PM

sevierville, Tn

Wish i had a greenhouse like Matt D does. I could grow in the winter & double the pace of genetic improvement !

1/18/2014 11:30:34 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Nobody seems to say it out loud...but does Growing Technique...mean grafting? Peace, Wayne

1/19/2014 12:37:34 AM

Corryton, TN

I think most of us would include grafting under "growing technique" but "growing technique" is NOT defined as grafting. Let the sleeping dog lie PW. :)

1/19/2014 6:25:40 AM

sevierville, Tn

wayne, while grafting would go under the "growing technique" , i didn't mean grafting when i said growing methods =30 lbs.

1/19/2014 8:43:11 AM

The North Coast

Huge fan of hydro...feel that it can do anything better. Except maybe AGs for obvious reasons. Looks like I will have to sit this next year out and wait for our house to be sold but man am I chomping at the bit. When I do get another go I am all hydro. Screw the soil and it's tie ups, vermin and guess work. If I could only find a way to extract all the info that is in Chris' head I would be ready to blow it up.

1/19/2014 9:54:09 AM

sevierville, Tn

hydro could set a new world record with the right setup...DISNEY ARE YOU LISTENING???? LOL the perfect off season winter job !

1/19/2014 11:08:04 AM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

If one wanted to learn more about hydro possibilities, who could one contact, any experts here? John

1/19/2014 2:53:16 PM

The North Coast

Chris and I have experience and ideas...possibly a new thread would be appropriate.

1/19/2014 3:57:19 PM

The North Coast

For sure there are many ways to get extra pounds out of a plant but I am a bit confused. If growing techniques can yield another 30 pounds but none of those pounds are from grafting...why would any experienced person waste time with the concept of grafting? I just dont understand.

4/11/2014 9:51:21 AM

sevierville, Tn

Yea, i guess that answer was kinda cloudy ;) I see what you mean. How about re wording the answer to ...Both growing techniques standard & grafting can each add weight.

4/11/2014 1:15:08 PM

The North Coast

Agreed...good luck

4/11/2014 1:30:55 PM

sevierville, Tn

the problem is that there isn't enough data. There was only 2 growers that did better by grafting, maybe, Bartoli & me. The others did worst by grafting. Bartoli has to for soil disease issues. So, yes the records has been set 2 years running by grafting, but its still not a "silver bullet" by any means.....and grafting adds another skill level both to do it and bring it to the finish line. Remember 1 of mine did fail & grew the smallest in the patch !

4/11/2014 5:12:29 PM

The North Coast

I have been working hard to make my very initial statement on this forum true. I believe that it is. The first year I had major egg on my face and it really disturbed and motivated me. While last year was not the convincing victory of concept I was hoping for, it was really close. And I really appreciate your expertise on the subject. This year I feel that I am really close to fixing the big picture as I see it. On thing is for sure, I worked damn hard to help others to grow the big melons that I crave and I hope I dont let them down...again. Not sure who took 2012 harder me or the growers.

4/11/2014 5:46:37 PM

The North Coast

In the world there is plenty of data that supports the concept, that's what drives me to apply it to Carolina Cross. It is extremely abnormal for Carolina Cross grafts to have outputs that contradict the data...and when you take into consideration that a known seed borne disease keeps rearing it's head and blowing up our crowns...it becomes an easier jump to conclusion. I hope that my efforts help everyone get a big fatty someday.

4/11/2014 5:59:21 PM

sevierville, Tn

No one should be afraid to innovate or be chastised for doing so. Innovation is what drives our hobbie and our weights !!
For commercial growers grafting is proven, workable & achieves results...no if ands or buts ! Carolina Cross grafted is not a commercial melon. The 274 kent grafted that became my failed 240 would have been a resounding sucess in a commercial field. Even after the stump blew and the melon stoped growing, the plant looked as healthy as a horse & was setting & GROWING melons like crazy !

4/11/2014 7:37:36 PM