From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Lakewood, CO

First time we’ve grown watermelons with strong genetics. So we’ve got 3 good sized watermelons on the vine, one that’s larger then the others. By good sized, I mean a fruit the size of a large grocery store melon. Don’t laugh! We’re happy with that - very dry climate. I’m concerned that it may be getting ripe, yet the weigh-off isn’t for another month or more. Do I need to be concerned about the melon picking itself when it’s fully ripened? Do I continue to attempt to beef it up with fish emulsion, kelp, etc.,? Any help appreciated. Thank You

8/22/2018 9:02:23 PM

Grant, AL

What makes you think that it might be getting ripe?

8/22/2018 9:38:10 PM

Lakewood, CO

Good question - just assumed - looks like a melon I’d buy in the grocery store. So are you telling me not to sweat it? I can continue doing what I’ve been doing all summer? Keep in mind, we’ve never grown a giant melon - it’s been kinda fun. Any suggestions for getting this larger besides fish emulsion, kelp, compost tea, humid acid, calcium and a light/occasional synthetic fertilizer? I’ve got it off the ground and covered, concerned that the stem is not a straight shot from the main stem to the melon, assuming it’s too late to straighten that out.

8/22/2018 10:12:34 PM

Corryton, TN

If the stem is green and the plant seems healthy she's most likely still growing. You can do an OTT measurement a few days apart and you'll know. Stem doesn't have to be straight but you don't want the melon growing over it adding stress. If it is gently slide the melon back a bit away from the stem end to relieve the stress. You may have to do this several times while it's growing.

8/22/2018 10:44:11 PM

formerly RGG

Even if you discover your melon has practically stopped growing,you should leave it on the vine as long as the stem is green until it is time to cut it to take to your weigh-off. If you cut it now and store it until the weigh-off it will continually lose a small amount of weight. But if you leave it on the vine it will at very least maintain it's weight.

8/23/2018 1:04:25 AM

formerly RGG

By the way, these melons are capable of growing for over 100 days after pollination which is longer than any other watermelon.

8/23/2018 2:36:29 AM

central Nc

Does the stem dry out and turn brown? Mine has some black spots, almost like rot. I scraped it off and covered in sulfur. It has rained a lot lately so I'm hoping that was it and not end of life cycle.

8/23/2018 7:36:11 AM

Lakewood, CO

Exactly! These melons can grow up to 100 DAP - that’s what I was going for, however, the words don’t always come out the way I want them too. The stem looks great, plenty of time - sweet! Thank You

8/23/2018 7:02:14 PM

Home of happy lil plants

Spence's rules of worrying as a flow chart:


Is it broken-if yes see final rule
-if no, no touchy

Melons got a disease-Yes,treat it
-No-sit down

Melons got incureable disease- No- sit down be happy
-Yes,the disease is dwarfism(disease native to meade county kentucky)

Melon is broken- Yes-grow in 2019
No- still shouldve been 1lb bigger grow in 2019

8/23/2018 7:55:55 PM

Princeton Kentucky

Listen to Spence, I'm still sittin inside and it works!

8/23/2018 8:45:00 PM

formerly RGG

Wolfpack83, all nice melons should get some sort of covering that keeps UVB rays them and also keeps your melon along with it's stem dry. A stem which is kept dry is highly likely to remain in good shape as long as the rest of the vine is in good shape.

8/24/2018 1:37:36 AM

central Nc

Thanks Dreamer. I have a tarp over mine, and a sheet over the melon itself (not covering the stem though to let air get around it). I guess all the dampness in the air could've done it. I still need another month at least so I hope I treated it well enough. The weird thing is the vines just started putting out growth everywhere and I haven't changed my fert routine. It's like it knows the melon is dying and wants to set another.

8/24/2018 8:56:20 AM

formerly RGG

New growth is a sign of a healthy plant.Sometimes on an old plant the old leaves will die out without much replacement growth. That is a sign of very slow growth for it's melon also.

8/24/2018 6:39:03 PM

Lakewood, CO

Couple more question if you don’t mind....
Four melons on two plants, one of the four melons is quite hefty. I’ve long lost track of the vines, would you eliminate the other three in hopes of promoting a bigger melon? It’s still growing and looks great - haven’t a clue when it was pollinated, maybe 3 weeks old and 96 ott. Approximately 200 sq ft plant - and nailed by hail 4X’s!

Also, do you use the same ott chart for watermelons as you do for pumpkins?

8/24/2018 10:57:03 PM

formerly RGG

If you are giant growing the common practice is one fruit per plant and especially so on a small plant like you have. The OTT chart is different for melons. I think there is a melon chart on the GWG web site and also maybe one on the GPC web site.

8/25/2018 12:21:16 PM