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North Of The Border

When is it expected that a watermelon plant will "turn off", in the fall?

I have one growing a few inches per day, nothing amazing, that I will be able to cover with a mini greenhouse, and was wondering, how cold does the temperature have to be, for it to stop growing?

8/16/2020 7:08:56 AM

Bethlehem CT

They will keep growing as long as they are alive but do slow down when the nights and days start to get chilly. Your best bet is to keep the plant healthy and disease free, because they will get diseased and stop growing from that long before the weather will stop them. Some growers have gotten 90 days of growth or more on their melons. Truly amazing.

8/16/2020 9:42:37 AM

Liberty nc

Very true the 330.5 grew for 127 days an was still growing when picked. Had 4 melon grow over 117 days last year. Keep them happy an healthy an they give you lbs

8/16/2020 8:54:36 PM

North Of The Border

I live up north, where I will get a killing frost (some years) at the beginning of October, last year, some pumpkin plants died around then from frost, so the watermelon plant will be cold. I have one growing slowly, at 20 ish pounds, and 25 DAP, and was wondering what temperature would kill the plant, not how long it would grow. Sorry if that was unclear.

I was also wondering, which would be better to get it to grow, triple 20 fertilizer, or 4-31-37?

Help is appreciated, thanks.

8/17/2020 7:45:57 AM

Bethlehem CT

Around 32 degrees will take out your plant. Cucurbits are more sensitive to low temps than other plants. You might have a frost that will leave your corn and peppers undamaged but the melons and squash will be brown. Most growers choose high Potassium fertilizers for fruit growth so the answer would be 4-21-37. If your plant needs some greening up or to push out some new growth I personally wouldn't shy away from still using the 20-20-20.

8/17/2020 7:57:14 AM

North Of The Border

Okay, thanks. I was just wondering what I could do to get it growing quicker, as it is only gaining a few pounds a week at most.
I may be able to keep the temperatures above 32 until mid October, but my average first frost, is the 1st-20th of October, so, here's hoping!

I will definitely try to use the 4 31 37, and hope it gains about a hundred pounds between now and October!

Thanks!

8/17/2020 4:27:04 PM

Liberty nc

Almost anything under 55 degrees will equal no fruit growth at time. This determines if you have a day or night grower. Really hard to say with out having a scale under it. Some melons grow pretty equal from day an night. 4 41 37 should be fine like tony is saying. Being 20 ish pounds at day 25 is way off any pace. What seed are you growing an how big is your plant an is it healthy. 20ish lbs should be an 11 to 14 on average but what you should be looking is for day 12 to 14 an that is.....it starts moving some lbs 5 lbs or so a day

8/18/2020 11:43:56 AM

North Of The Border

I might be at 25 now. I didn't have seeds when I wanted them, thought they got lost in the mail, so I am growing generic Carolina cross seeds. Two days after i started seeds, i got three 202.5 crews seeds, so next year. My plant was supposed to be 75 square feet, but the vine stopped growing, so maybe 37?

I am hoping to get past 75 pounds, so don't need anything crazy. I just want to have something to eat. Next year, I'll grow the 202.5 in about 100 square feet each, and try for over a hundred. Not trying for a world record or anything, so I just need about a pound per day.

Thanks.

8/18/2020 3:21:44 PM

North Of The Border

It not I, might be at 25 pounds.

8/19/2020 5:02:41 PM

North Of The Border

Just read back, and noticed. Sorry!

8/19/2020 5:02:58 PM