From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Rochester, Minnesota

Occasionally you will see me post comparisons values, where someone says they have a melon that's some girth and straight length. I can do this because I have a database of melon information. You can help me improve this database by sending me the following information about your melon.

Grower
Year
Weight
Straight Length - Visual length
OTT End to End measure
OTT Side to Side measure
OTT Circumference - Horizontal to the ground
Girth - Vertical to the ground

If you do not have all the data, I will still enter what you have.

I only want actuals, that is data about melons that have been weighed.

Just post right here, and I will add to the data base. If you want a copy of that spread sheet, I can certainly make it available.

9/8/2008 1:56:41 PM

Bowdon, GA

Melon Man heres a few from my patch this year that I can remember measurements. 1. 160 lb, SL-37", G-48.5, OTT Circ-86, 2. 154 lb, SL-32.5, G-53"
I had a few more but can't remember them. I will also ask some friends for their measurements when theirs are done.

9/8/2008 9:45:27 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Thanks Holloway. I added those to the table. It was interesting to see the how one melon had the length, but not the girth, and the other the girth, but not the length. It's when those two come together that you get the monsters. Still nice watermelons.

9/9/2008 9:19:04 AM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks, This is really the first year I had some decent ones, still learning. That tip list you sent me this year really helped, I appreciate it.

9/9/2008 7:55:49 PM

Bowdon, GA

Oh, I forgot to ask. Hows yours doing? Have you got some big ones this year? Good luck

9/9/2008 8:04:23 PM

sevierville, Tn

Yes please, how are yours doing MMM ??

9/9/2008 8:06:34 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I will be taking measures tonight, but it's just going to be a good year and not a great year. I probably have four melons worth competing with. They currently lay in the garden like pigs. I suspect because of the 40 degree nights of September that we are having, I will not break 200 on any of them, but I should be close. Had we gotten even a few weeks of nice weather, it would have been different.

The plants look really good still. That's what I like about this genetic line. It seems to keep plants hardy all the way to a hard frost. It is possible we could go into an indian summer, but I doubt it. I just keep watering and using high N fertilizer trying to squeeze the last few pounds.

Will post something tomorrow about sizes.

9/10/2008 10:22:32 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I did take some measures, but didn't bring in the clip board. What I learned is that my largest four gained either 8 or 10 pounds each over the last week. Considering the weather, I will take that. All are greater than 155, but none are over 190 at this point.

9/12/2008 9:52:38 AM

formerly RGG

Hi Minnesota,
I am happy you are having a good year but I wish you were having a better one.I will get my little melon back from the fair Sunday night and will take measurements for you before I cut it.I am very much looking forward to trying out your genetic line next year.And I am sure your tip list will be very helpful also. Good luck at the weighoff!

9/12/2008 7:52:56 PM

formerly RGG

Grower : Dennis Masterson
Year : 2008
Straight length : 33"
OTT End to End measure : 48"
OTT Side to Side measure : 31"
OTT Circumference - Horizontal to the ground: 78"
*Girth - Vertical to the ground :40"
*as you know, with the odd shape of this melon the girth does not hold for the entire length

9/15/2008 9:36:07 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Dennis, What's the weight on that melon?

9/16/2008 11:16:59 AM

formerly RGG

James, I am sorry I failed to put that in.It was 96 pounds at the time of the weighoff. It had been sitting around for over a week before that so it may have been a couple more pounds than that on the day it was picked.I had it on my bathroom scale when I brought it in but it isn't accurate and so it did not give me a true weight.

9/16/2008 8:08:34 PM

Grower Frank Mudd
194.5 Mudd 08
231 Mitchell x 255 Mitchell
OTT 193"
Side to Side 47"
End to End 57"
Cir 89"
Girth 63"
Straight Measurement 33"

9/17/2008 2:33:30 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

That's a nice melon Frank. Great job growing it. And thanks for information.

And thanks for the weight on your Tennessee Dreamer. I did find your previous append on the weight.

9/17/2008 2:51:00 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I should comment Frank, that when sorted by Girth, your melon is in the top 5 in my tables. If you could have had three to five more inches of straight length it would have been 40 to 60 pounds heavier.

9/17/2008 2:54:00 PM

Grower Frank Mudd
251 Mudd 08
178.5 Mudd 04 x open pollinated
OTT 208"
Side to Side 45"
End to End 64"
Cir 99"
Girth 61.5"
Straight Measurement 38.5"

9/21/2008 12:26:34 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Way to go Frank. That's the 7th largest melon that I have recorded. It's an incredible melon.

9/22/2008 9:05:21 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

Reading that over, I realize that my compliment didn't sound very complimentary. I should say Frank, that yours is 7th over all and that includes the last three world records. It's definitely a prize melon.

9/25/2008 2:34:44 PM

sevierville, Tn

MMM, here's my data...
Grower Chris Kent
213 Kent 08
Seed 211 leonard 07 x selfed
OTT 200"
Side to Side 46"
End to End 58"
Cir 96"
Girth 60"
Straight Measurement 38"
Was fat, but not at all tall. Also one side was longer than the other so that cost me some lbs.
I DID WIN 1ST PLACE !!!

10/8/2008 1:13:45 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Thanks! I add it to the table. That's a melon you can be proud of. Good Job!

10/8/2008 5:47:05 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

MMM, what no website?? LOL...just kiddin, great job on keepin up with the melon info!!! What a year!!! Can't believe that Michigan grew a bigger melon than Kentucky!!!
Great job, Frank, and Bill is on yer tail!!!!!! Peace, Wayne

10/9/2008 1:04:31 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

It does hearten me that they are growing big melons in Michigan, but remember that they also grow peaches there. The great lakes offer some nice protection.

10/9/2008 10:35:07 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Cherries too, I believe Traverse City is the Cherry Capital of the World....Now, I wonder...what is the world record weight for a cherry???? Hmmmmmmmm??? If you culled to one cherry on the tree???? LOL Peace, Wayne

10/11/2008 1:15:35 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

For worlds largest cherry you have to look to the great state of Minnesota. Yes, thats Minnesota. If you don't believe me, check out: http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/5bd4ae1c-ebc3-4554-aa8f-95b515f8648e.jpg

And as for the worlds largest ear of corn, you can look to my own town of Rochester.
http://www.mnhs.org/places/other/roadside/images/miearro.jpg

10/13/2008 9:45:17 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Very well done!!! LOL The Minnesota Melon Man strikes twice!!!! ROF!!! Peace, Wayne

10/14/2008 8:24:06 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Grower Don Crews
177 Crews 08
Seed 223 Mitchell
Straight Length - 35.5"
End to End measure - 57"
Side to Side measure - 42.5"
Circumference - 90"
Girth - 58.5"
Taste -Yummy!

10/19/2008 6:31:24 PM

Rochester, MN

Hi James! You already have my 175 and 180lbers in your table, right?
Did you want the genetics? My 255 Mitchell watermelon had the brown seeds...so kept that trait. (~150 lber)

10/19/2008 9:26:09 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Thanks Don for the data. You melon is 25 out of 107 in my tables by girth. A nice melon.

And Dave, I have measures from all of your weighed in melons. I haven't been tracking genetics. That would be just a little much for me. I will leave that to the Giant Watermelon Commonwealth (GWC), if we ever have one.

10/20/2008 8:53:27 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Sorry its taken me so long to get this posted.
Grower: Stevann Fraley
seed: 197.5 Mudd
End to End 53"
Side to Side 39"
Circ 80"
Girth 49.25"
Official Weight 135.5 lbs.

I was able to save some seeds if anyone would care for some send me an email. fraleyky at hotmail.com

11/25/2008 3:09:48 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Thanks croley bend for the stats. Would you have a straight length measure on that one?

11/25/2008 4:08:27 PM

Williamsburg,KY

No, didnt take that one, sorry.

11/26/2008 8:02:21 AM