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Centennial Colorado

Hi all,
I am wondering how large a proper watermelon plant is before polination. I have a female at 5 feet out, but only have 5 feet width of plant. Also how should I get the plant to green up and grow faster. I tried fertilizing a month ago and haven't since. I burned the leaves with that fertilization. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

6/8/2020 2:40:19 PM

http://bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=30&p=635713

6/8/2020 4:16:50 PM

97, I am giving you links because I am no expert and I do not know where the good growers have gone.

http://bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=30&p=619043

6/8/2020 4:21:46 PM

This link is from 2012 and talks about slow growth(possible cause) and when they grow faster. Read carefully and you might get some tips that will help you.

http://bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=30&p=439474

6/8/2020 4:40:47 PM

There are a couple of links in this discussion that might be of benefit to you.
Maybe the growers will show up.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=30&p=647436

6/8/2020 4:54:51 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Not an "expert" and the links spudder added . My addition is that you don't need to worry much about "missing out" on setting a melon on a plant. It's good to get it early enough so it has time to grow while it's warm in the summer and in time for whatever weighoff you're looking at. But my first year when the first couple females didn't pollinate well I wondered if I'd missed my chance. Nope. The problem is always picking off all the extra melons once you've chosen one for the plant. All summer long. As a sidenote: my neighbors' chickens really like unripe watermelons

6/11/2020 12:38:37 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Hmmm. No "edit" feature. The end of the first sentence got cut off. It was meant to say:
"....links spudder added probably have better information than I'd give."

6/11/2020 12:39:42 PM

Grant, AL

I would at least have 75 total feet of vines before setting a melon. Some growers will wait till they have 100+ feet of vine before setting a melon but I have always heard that 75+ is a good rule of thumb when it comes to setting a melon.

6/11/2020 4:37:51 PM

Tacoma wa

charles B what do you mean 75 ft out? you mean one watermelon vine 75 ft long and then set it? Or total length of vines 75 feet.

6/14/2020 4:04:41 AM

Tacoma wa

charles my bad lol .I see 75 total?

6/14/2020 4:18:37 AM