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Eastern Shore of VA

Here's my dilemma;
2 melons currently on my 251 Kent.
All I have because my other 2 plants down at the marsh were devestated by voles over the weekend.(I need a moment).
Sniff.
One melon,pollinated by 209 Schinicker ,
18 DAP. OTT. 109
Big barrel shape.
Straight stem,on a finger 8-9 ft out,right at edge of patch.
2nd melon, pollinated by 220 Brinkley ,
15 DAP. OTT. 101
2nd melon is long, very symmetrical
Growing on a finger that came out 5 feet,turned and curved back towards the stump.
Set at about 6-7 feet.
Melon set right in curve, with stem that curls up and over and underneath vine.
Not a lot of room, steep curve in vine,that side of plant has signs of spider mites.
Neem oiled the crap out of plant tonight and Avid( $$ ) will be here Tuesday .
Figured I would give them til 20 DAP and then cull one.
Which should I chose?
My thoughts are the 251 x 209 because of ease of access,better stem,and it's bigger right now.
What if 220 is bigger on day 20?
Not a lot of growing room, without a lot of pruning.
Stem concerns me.
The steep curve in vine.

7/9/2015 11:20:22 PM

formerly RGG

It sounds like the melon with less growing room is less desirable to you because of a short stem and curled vine. Otherwise it is the keeper because it is growing faster. I would consider deadheading this one. I have one trying to set on my 74 Clark with a extremely short stem and deadheading is how I solved my problem. Susan Barber uses the deadheading growing method and is certainly one of the best growers in the world.

7/10/2015 7:36:50 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

Thanks Dennis.
I had considered that,as the vine the 209 is on was accidentally dead headed by my weed eater.
At the time I was terrified, as the melon was only 8 DAP.
Hasn't slowed it down any.
My concern is the many secondaries that cross back and forth around the 220.
It would take a lot of pruning to make an opening big enough to set the melon on a rack.
Interesting enough,the 220 was growing faster for about 4-5 days but has since tapered off,posting equal numbers or less for last 3 days.
By using both hands and both feet , I mathematically figure the 220 has to make up some 8 + lbs in 3 days on top of whatever the 209 posts for day 20 tomorrow.
Don't think it's going to post a larger number at roughly 2 pounds a day.
I hate to cull it, as it's a beautiful melon, but I think it would go light to the chart anyway.
Having any luck with those groundhogs Dennis ?

7/10/2015 11:10:17 PM

formerly RGG

Keeping plant size down is a good thing, so I would not worry about pruning secondaries.Anyway it is important to keep any vines or leaves that start decaying off of the vine your melon is on all the way to the stump. My groundhog problem seems to have eased for now. My wife shot one about 2 weeks ago and I haven't seen any since. I know they are in the area though so I have to keep paying attention.

7/11/2015 11:25:22 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

Well, good luck with this growing season.
You have given me great advice,and I hope that you grow a monster that will rival Chris's .
When you say dead head,where do you cut it?
At the tip, or can it be back closer to the melon?
I think what I'm going to do is give it until 25 DAP.
I haven't given a lot of ferts to the plant(maybe 3-4 times since May).
I didn't want to give too much as I've read that can hurt them.
If it will quit raining,I have some nice bloom booster I'd like to run through my drip lines.
Looking like close to 3 inches this week, and forcast is calling for rain everyday next week.
Probably has helped with the spider mites though.
Thanks again !

7/11/2015 12:08:39 PM

formerly RGG

Ben, I deadhead my melons within an inch of the stem. Two pounds a day isn't terrible and that may pick up some once the rains slow down. If you averaged just 2.3 pounds a day for 100 days you would beat my personal best of 228.5.

7/11/2015 2:41:52 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Got any of those seeds left Dennis?
I'd like to try one of those.
And a Mudd.
Cantrell.
Dawson.
Neptune.
Edwards.
Lol, I think I picked a great new hobby, as this will keep me busy for years to come.

7/11/2015 8:03:01 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Wow, I'm impressed.
Even on this rainy day the 220 made 3 inches/roughly 4 pounds for an 18 DAP OTT of 109 or 44.6 pds.
The 20 DAP measurement on the 209 made 4 inches/roughly 5 1/2 pds for an OTT of 116 or 52.3 pds.
Temps were in mid seventies today.
8/10s of inch of rain.
That's the biggest gains in over a week for each.

7/11/2015 10:17:26 PM

Home of happy lil plants

Busy for years to come is what I'm afraid of over here

7/12/2015 2:46:11 AM