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simpson,KS

Been a quiet season in the watermelon world this covid year. And i'm ready for a challenge or friendly competition. So we pick one seed preferably one that has genetics but not a giant one. Must be weighed at a GPC event. Can be an exebition melon. Post your monthly pics on your diary so we can see! Any thoughts or tweeks to this post are appreciated and lets GO!

10/17/2020 11:48:54 AM

simpson,KS

P.S. I'm putting up a $100 dollars to go to the winner and maybe a cool plaque is possible. Anybody that wants to up the annty can do so as we get going. I know it"s early but I have the feaver!!!

10/17/2020 11:59:14 AM

simpson,KS

I will also be streaming this on the GWG facebook page so this could get rather large if the administrators will allow me to do this? So any input is appreciated.

10/17/2020 12:02:28 PM

simpson,KS

I also feel that this needs to be a traditional plant for those that don't have the skills to graft like the younger newer growers that want a shot at this!

10/17/2020 12:06:46 PM

Muddy Waters

The stumps on grafted seem to blow up a lot & have serious issues.I talked to Bill Neptune at Barnsville & he said this season was a stump disaster mostly.I think its a great idea however Why not pick a great seed or a good seed 290 plus Im thinking.Have a traditional competition & see what the genetics can do from the grafted seeds

10/19/2020 7:54:02 AM

simpson,KS

Great idea Mark but I'm not sure who would want to give up let's say a hundred seeds! Lot's of time to hash this thing out. Just trying to wake up the community. LOL

10/19/2020 7:59:01 AM

formerly RGG

For folks who grow only Carolina Cross, they would need to remember to adjust their timing significantly for any other type of melon as no other varieties approach the length of growth period of the CC. And I feel you would have to trust all growers involved to stick with the provided seed. And that is almost akin to the honor system the GWG had for awhile that you could declare your melon was grown on the plants original roots. There has been some suspicion that a few growers cheated and declared a regular plant grew their melon when in fact it was on grafted roots. To be completely fair, this contest should be foolproof and that might mean allowing grafted plants.

10/20/2020 7:13:05 AM

simpson,KS

Giant watermelon growers surely can adhere to the rules! There are alot of nice honest people growing watermelons these days!

10/20/2020 8:03:34 AM

Centennial Colorado

What if it is not a specific seed. Just need to post say 5 pictures on this site. Including the stump and the melon in the same picture. In Colorado grafting is not an option with 5-15% humidity being normal and 40 being extremely humid. I would be in though.

10/20/2020 10:15:00 AM

Hawesville, ky

97pounder why do you say that grafting isn't an option in Colorado?

10/20/2020 1:12:38 PM

Grittyville, WA

A side comment about grafting: I grafted some this year & got a melon off one. If I can graft... anyone can. Just need a plastic dome, mist warm water inside the dome, and keep them out of harsh light. (Thats how you get 90% humidity.)
I used clothespins which wasnt great. It could be reasonably easy with some proper grafting clips.

10/20/2020 1:28:25 PM

Centennial Colorado

Good idea. Still not going to graft with a struggle to get a watermelon to grow without grafting. Took me 8 years to get a 21 lbs watermelon. I tried growing bushel gourds this year and had no success. That would be the root stalk I would use though.

10/20/2020 3:49:44 PM

Grittyville, WA

To compete with the southern growers, we just have to grow under plastic. I wont do a melon next year but I would encourage others to try it. I bet lots of northern growers can be successful at this, as soon as they try.

10/20/2020 4:29:34 PM

Muddy Waters

100 seeds should not be a problem My 260 had over 1600 seeds in it. Im sure we could find a donor

10/20/2020 7:41:01 PM

Centennial Colorado

I just harvested seeds from my 21 lbs one and it had over 2000 seeds.

10/20/2020 8:35:52 PM

Hawesville, ky

Tony, I will donate the seeds for this contest if your willing to distribute them to all of the growers involved. I wont be getting in this contest personally, but if 97pounder will email me I'll be on your team and see if I can help you get going in right direction through some advice, I'd love to see this young grower set the world on fire.

Nick Mccaslin
E-mail: mccaslin.nick2@gmail.com

10/20/2020 10:27:27 PM

simpson,KS

Sounds good Nick! Let me put this out there. What are your thoughts on growing in a 64 square ft. area? 8 x 8 lets say kinda like they do the pumpkin. No specific seed easy to get the picture in the camera as you grow maybe that would even the field up? It would take up minimal space! I like it. THOUGHTS GO

10/21/2020 7:43:02 AM

Nampa

This sounds like a lot of fun. It's time to give watermelon a try.

10/21/2020 12:41:45 PM

simpson,KS

So that's what i'm thinking is growing a melon in an 8x8 area if anybody is interested. It'll be a great experiment if anything. Any challenger's?

10/31/2020 8:07:10 AM

Centennial Colorado

I would do that.

10/31/2020 10:13:41 AM

Centennial Colorado

Any one else interested. Lets make this a fun competition of any watermelon seed, not grafted, I will say I just have 1 spot and it is about 75. How about 100 sqft or under competition?

11/11/2020 2:35:31 PM

simpson,KS

I still say 8 x 8 ft. you can go as deep as you want. It would give city people that have limited space to grow something to do. My main melon beds are only 12 x 12 so downsizing is interesting to me.

11/20/2020 7:48:34 AM

simpson,KS

I'll get a new thread going closer to the first of the year on this. I think everybody is still in the down mood right now but it'll pick up by then.

11/20/2020 7:53:45 AM

Grittyville, WA

cantelope 8x8 :)

11/20/2020 12:40:01 PM

Centennial Colorado

I would grow in 8X8. would be a lot of fun. I am getting soil cables and making a greenhouse this spring.

11/20/2020 1:21:27 PM