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Muddy Waters

If your plant is small say 60 to 70 lineal feet of vine,but is on fire growing.I feel you can set fruit as I did on my 260 in 2011 my soil was really good that year & plant was very aggressive at pollination time.That year the month of May was cold cloudy muddy,terrible growth.If your plant is still moving slowing & your temps are good.Its time to start feeding daily doses of chelated nitrogen.I had my worst year in 15 years last year and it was low nitrogen.There is a happy medium.I trusted my soil to have what the plant needed,but it wasnt there.So this year I have been doing mild feedings quite often.If your plant is still small?Get feeding it & set fruit in about 1 week to 10 days.Time is ticking & the window to growing a 250 lber or bigger is getting smaller.Good Luck to AWl!!!!SHHH!!This is a secret!!But go tell a friend!!!!!!

6/21/2014 7:35:19 AM

Indiana

I've been wondering about this very subject. I had to get a late start due to the weather here in NW Indiana, my plants seem to be taking off pretty well now but they are still small. I was hoping to pollinate by the 4th of July. Does that seem too late?

6/22/2014 9:15:07 AM

Muddy Waters

No 4th of July is Ok you could still hit 250 if September is warm.Keep her healthy & fed.

6/22/2014 2:38:25 PM

Indiana

well that's good to hear.

6/22/2014 3:17:20 PM

Muddy Waters

I was figuring if a pumpkin plant can set fruit at less then 1/4 its final size.Then a melon should be able to do the same thing.Pumpkin plant 800 sg feet.we set fruit at 150 to 200 sg feet.Melon plant 250 sg feet.1/4 of hat = 62.50 sg feet.So by the Bubba formula 65 sg feet is plenty of plant to set fruit on.We will find outI will set thwe fruit on my 260 soon I hope.I hope I dont need a melon dating service like Chris does.:)

6/22/2014 6:57:21 PM

Indiana

how about temperature? Can it be hard to get them to pollinate when it's hot? I know the pumpkins can have issues pollinating when its pretty hot outside.

6/22/2014 10:11:57 PM

Home of happy lil plants

wonder if 200sqft is to big to set one? :)

6/22/2014 10:22:29 PM

sevierville, Tn

They have a higher temp range then the pumpkins, but yes, heat will cause non polination or pear shaped melons.

6/23/2014 6:01:52 AM

Muddy Waters

I dont think a plant can be to big Spence :)Yes it can get to hot for melons,We dont see that much here.Just get out there earlier.It is usally 10 oclock around here before the stigmas are glowing.The kins about 8:00 am .so melons do like it warmer to pollinate.I have even done them at noon.We can be 75 at noon sometimes.

6/23/2014 7:31:58 AM

southwest MO

I have been thinking about it and i like the idea of getting all your minerals set and useing Nitrogen as the throttle. Just sprinkling some blood meal around the stump of the watermelon ive seen more mature leaves really jump in size. moderation of course.

6/23/2014 2:32:07 PM

Home of happy lil plants

oh boy this thread now has the word moderation in it guess im no longer allowed

6/23/2014 2:49:31 PM

Indiana

I've been giving them some steady nitrogen, as far as temperature is concerned where I'm at one day maybe 70 and the next day 90. As long as get to them early in the day I should be ok then.

I appreciate all the help

6/23/2014 3:29:30 PM

southwest MO

Sorry for using the "m" word Spence. I was out of line. Probably should just stick with reading the label and tripling everything!

6/23/2014 4:06:43 PM