From

Location

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Date Posted

Bowdon, GA

Dave have you ever noticed a correlation between rind thickness and void size. I know shape, lobes, genetics, weather, etc all have roles in density of the melon. But not considering that. A melon with a small void space, anyone ever looked at the rind?

9/25/2016 6:49:44 PM

Corryton, TN

Haven't noticed anything that correlates to thickness. My experience has been the flat top melons seem to have bigger voids whether they have thick or thin rinds. Typically the flat tops have cracked rinds. Do the rinds grow too fast? Centers grow too slow? Density? Genetics? Nutrition?
I have had at least 2 thin rind giants that were tall and solid grown right beside hollow ones. I'll have to dig up pictures to confirm the number of lobes. Quite sure one 4 and one 5.

I'm quite sure there is or was one being grown in a type of sling/hammock. Haven't heard results. Maybe side support is the answer.

All these things may help add pounds and I do think they have serious value but I'd still be happy with hollow pancake that weighed 352 pounds.

9/25/2016 9:34:29 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Good read guys.
Brotherdave,the mad scientist.

9/25/2016 10:16:51 PM

Corryton, TN

I reposted a pic of a fingerling melon from last year in my diary. Only three lobes but more importantly check out the early void. I still can't say definitively that genetics causes the problem although I lean that direction. It still could be extremely rapid rind growth, nutrition etc. I wasn't smart enough to document if the keeper on this plant had a thick or thin rind nor did I document if most fingerlings on this plant had voids. I do know it was grown on a hydroponic system that had a well balanced fertilizer.

I will post a picture of 1 of 4 (35 Kents) grown in my patch back in 2011. 3 of 4 looked this way. Number 4 was red and heavier by 35ish pounds but it had 5 lobes. This is when I started paying attention to lobe count.

The point of my test was just for information and looking for a few extra pounds. I like the thought of extremely thick rinds and more white in the center for extra weight and structure. Could this have a negative effect on weight, sure. Me personally, I view the hollow hearts, flat tops, red centers smaller number of lobe production as faults similar to sag lines in pumpkins when it comes to end weights. Could I be TOTALLY or partially wrong, absolutely.

Pay attention to structure details of you melons during this harvest season. Try some of your own crosses that meet your criteria. But most importantly grow what you think will give you your biggest melon ever.

9/26/2016 7:32:27 AM

Bowdon, GA

This is what I have noticed. Regardless of what factors cause it. Thin rind = small void = dense melon. Thick rind = large air bubble = light melon. Flat melon = Light. Tall melon = not light. I also agree on lobes.

9/26/2016 11:27:50 PM

Corryton, TN

I've seen so few thin rind giants that I can't give a fair assessment. 2 of my own and one very large one from another grower (bigger than anything I've grown). Picture to be posted. I'd classify it as a thin rind compared to most. It went heavy to the chart but I think it was due to simple geometry measurements not density.

I sure would like to have seen a cross section picture of the 350 and a couple of the other beasts to see if we can gain more knowledge. Are the grafts just bigger? How does it affect the internal structure if at all?

9/27/2016 6:39:25 AM

Grant, AL

I know our 228 from last year had a thick rind and very large void in the center. Even with the void it was still 8 lbs heavy to chart. It wasn't very tall but it was wide. This year we had a 187 lb melon grown from Jakes 238 that was a little bit taller melon. That melon was solid inside with a very small void and weighed about 10 lbs heavy. This melon had a thinner rind though.

9/27/2016 9:17:34 AM

Grant, AL

We also had a 165 lb melon this year grown from the 302 Kent that was a short, wide melon with medium sized rind. It had a small void and weigh right to chart.

9/27/2016 9:20:36 AM

NE Arkansas

My 232.75 from last year was thick rind and solid on the inside. I didn't have a single melon with an air pocket. So far all but 1 has had an air pocket this year with a different feeding schedule.

9/27/2016 12:02:01 PM

Grant, AL

Do y'all think the voids in a giant melon could be caused by poor pollination coupled with moisture fluctuations? Maybe a female flower not being pollinated completely causes the beginning of the void and the extremity of the moisture fluctuation affects how big the void ends up being? What do y'all think?

9/27/2016 4:06:55 PM

Corryton, TN

I don't think so Charles normally the poor pollinated ones for me are pear-shaped. They don't get to stick around long enough to check the for voids. Typically on a well-shaped melon the seed count is very high and very few unpollinated seeds.

9/27/2016 9:13:02 PM

Bowdon, GA

We have kicked around ideas for along time. I think there is some truth to all of them. Hot sunny summers melons avg more solid. Some genetics avg denser. More lobes more meat. I'm sure watering and certain nutrients also play a role.

9/27/2016 11:11:38 PM

NE Arkansas

I think melons need a few things to go heavy... I think genetic rind thickness and shape play into this the most. The fatter ss melons tend to always go heavy. The longer melons ee tend to go light. I think the combination of ss + ee is what it takes to get over 300. I do think the feeding schedule plays into this also...

9/28/2016 12:19:47 PM

Clyde is kinda dense crazy ole camel

9/29/2016 9:34:02 AM

Bowdon, GA

So whats the key to his mind loss

9/30/2016 12:08:05 AM

I believe he may have a blockage and the messages are not getting to the correct places.

9/30/2016 9:33:04 AM