From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Watervalley Ms

is 5 pounds a day avg ok for 10 days old?

6/11/2016 12:05:48 AM

sevierville, Tn

at 10 days = yes. Should pick up alittle over the next few days.

6/11/2016 10:03:33 AM

Ut

How do you guys know the pounds at that size? The OTT chart doesn't go down that low ya?

6/13/2016 11:55:27 AM

Watervalley Ms

10 days 112 . 5 ott 47.6 pounds is on the chart.

6/13/2016 4:27:05 PM

Watervalley Ms

day 13 ott 127 inches 66 pounds = 6 pounds per day for the last 3 days.

6/13/2016 5:20:45 PM

Grant, AL

Wow! That one is swelling up faster than any I've ever seen! What is the cross on that melon?

6/13/2016 5:36:40 PM

Watervalley Ms

I am not sure of the cross on that one maybe a 239 Vaughn open that was most of my early seeds. I had trouble with my seeds and lost track on some.

6/13/2016 6:56:45 PM

Grant, AL

Hey Mr. Vaughn I didn't know that was you. Nevertheless that is a super growing melon. Keep her going!

6/13/2016 7:18:30 PM

Ut

That's fantastic! What vine is it on and do you measure the flower and count the lobes?

6/13/2016 7:47:07 PM

Watervalley Ms

MR Charles ,keep her going is the magic words. As far as I know I have never had one to grow that fast.

6/13/2016 10:46:08 PM

Watervalley Ms

watermelondentist I think it is on a finger vine right off the stump. no I didn't measure flower or lobes just was the first to grow there was another melon on the day before it but didn't grow it has set some other melons but they haven't grown. trying for an early contest so I took the first one.

6/13/2016 10:57:10 PM

Watervalley Ms

watermelondentist I think it is on a finger vine right off the stump. no I didn't measure flower or lobes just was the first to grow there was another melon on the day before it but didn't grow it has set some other melons but they haven't grown. trying for an early contest so I took the first one.

6/13/2016 10:59:09 PM

Bowdon, GA

The shape has a lot to do with it too. Especially early on the cc increases much faster on a long melon. A thick melon may actually be growing 6 a day but a long melon probably isn't. A long melon is more consistent. Usually a little light but predictable. A fat melon can vary more in weight. But has more potential to be heavy. But that being said I would take a 250lb that is 50lbs light LOL

6/13/2016 11:48:45 PM

Watervalley Ms

it is medium

6/14/2016 12:11:06 AM

NE Arkansas

Do you have a diary? It would be nice to see pictures of one growing like that.

6/14/2016 1:27:15 PM

Bowdon, GA

Thats good Jerry, good Luck

6/14/2016 11:12:51 PM

Watervalley Ms

Thanks Jake .

6/16/2016 6:43:11 AM

Watervalley Ms

I got couple pics up in diary june 5 - 13

6/16/2016 6:45:05 AM

SW Ohio

Looking great Jerry! Best of luck!

6/16/2016 2:47:25 PM

Ut

The 250 pacer has 14-17 pounds down for day 10 and 60-70 pounds for day 20, so this really seems like it's booking! It sounds like Chris isn't surprised by it though. Is that how fast you expect for a big melon or is it more common to have one around 14-17 pounds?

6/18/2016 10:09:18 AM

Ut

...on day ten

6/18/2016 10:09:46 AM

Watervalley Ms

day 20 is better to deal with. I like see 80 pounds at day 20 more is better if you can keep it going. day 20 60-70 p0unds 3-3.5 pounds per day at best day 60 180-210 ponds and then the slow down. 4 pounds per day 60 days 240 pounds then the slow down. 5 pounds per day day 60 300 pounds then slow down a 5 pound per day melon can grow to 350 or more. anything under 5 pounds per day unlikely .

6/18/2016 3:07:49 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Diary pics look great.
I like the pvc pipes for your melon rack.
Melon looks great !

6/19/2016 8:47:20 AM

Grant, AL

Good looking melon Jerry! Hope it keeps going!

6/22/2016 12:29:51 AM

Grant, AL

How is that 239 growing Jerry? Still growing at a blistering pace?

7/5/2016 1:07:46 PM

Watervalley Ms

NOT positive what seed it is. so far so good a pb for how old it is. what about yours MR Charles are they setting a blistering pace ?

7/6/2016 6:31:06 AM

Grant, AL

The only thing blistering here is the heat.lol
Got a few growing good but still less than 20 DAP so we will see. Good luck Jerry!

7/6/2016 9:09:10 AM

Watervalley Ms

Thanks MR Charles.

7/6/2016 5:46:52 PM

Watervalley Ms

Thanks every body.

7/6/2016 5:47:58 PM

Bowdon, GA

I agree Jerry that day 20 is when you start knowing what it will do. Here is an example of two melons from 2011 and 2012.
The first one was
day 10- 68"
day 14- 35 lbs
day 17- 54.6 lbs
day 25- 100 lbs
day 30- 121
day 69- 230

7/10/2016 10:38:15 AM

Bowdon, GA

Second melon different year
day 10- 82.5"
day 14- 47 lbs
day 17- 66 lbs
day 25- 100
day 30- 121
day 69- 233

7/10/2016 10:43:16 AM

Bowdon, GA

These were estimated weight at those ages. Notice how they converge at day 25. If those melons were on the same plant at the same time I know which one would have gotten the knife. I think you have to compare what you have in the patch at the time. Don't be discourage if you behind last year at day 14.

7/10/2016 10:51:27 AM

Bowdon, GA

Which that being said yes I'm still jealous of Jerry's day 13 numbers LOL.

7/10/2016 10:52:21 AM

simpson,KS

Lookin good but my 251 is at day 15 and charts 64 lbs. first thing this morning. Is putting on 6 lbs a day right now. Hope it doesn't explode.

7/10/2016 11:31:09 AM

Grant, AL

Jake what do you consider good, great, and excellent growth as far as total pounds for a day 20 melon? What is the biggest day 20 melon you have heard of?

7/10/2016 11:52:02 AM

Bowdon, GA

I think it has alot to do with were you are and how you grow them. Its hard to say where you will end up. I like to be around 100 pounds at day 25. But its really relative. Alot of Chris's success is in his ability to keep a melon going steady for along time. For example (Chris correct me if I'm wrong)213 Kent in est pounds
day 14- 28lb
day 17- 42
day 22- 68.8
day 32- 107.5
day 72- 209
day 90 (heres the key)- 223

7/10/2016 6:40:16 PM

Bowdon, GA

There are other factors like shape. A long melon will look like it is growing MUCH faster than a fat one. A melon with a lot of air will appear to grow faster. I think it is better to have a fast growing early melon because its hard to make it up at the end, but I think picking the right melon isn't always about picking the fastest one. Just pick the best melon you have and ride it out to the end and see what the scale says. The guys and gals you see growing 300 pound melons pick the melon with the right qualities and run a marathon with it.

7/10/2016 6:53:59 PM

Bowdon, GA

Charles I don't have the numbers but probably Todd s 282. It measured over 300 and was picked early. All of the numbers were crazy. I haven't seen numbers on the 350 Kent.

7/10/2016 7:01:00 PM

Grant, AL

Oh by the way Jake our email has been down off and on so I haven't noticed if you got my return email about a month ago. We ended up selfing the 238.5 and it hit day 20 yesterday. It was the same size as our 316 melon from last year at day 20, charting at 76 lbs. It is starting to look a lot like its momma LOL! We have one growing really good that just hit day 20 today and is way ahead of the 238.5. But good starts don't mean anything if you don't finish good also LOL! Thanks Jake!

7/10/2016 7:59:39 PM

sevierville, Tn

i agree with what Jake says. Many of my melons last year & this were ahead of the 350 pace at day 10, but from day 20 couldn't keep up. Take the best you have and run with it. Each year is different. Also, FINISH is very important. A melon that stops at day 60 won't be very good no matter how well it did till that point.

7/11/2016 6:32:58 AM

sevierville, Tn

My 305 last year was 16 lbs behind at day 45, but it didn't stop and caught up ! That has been true of all my great melons (regular or grafted) the greats don't quit !

7/11/2016 6:36:18 AM

Grant, AL

Well said Chris!

7/11/2016 8:04:09 AM