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Nova Scotia

how prone are these things to splitting? about the same as pumpkins or a 50% less? and is haveing them flat and perfectly level as crucial as with pumpkins?

4/9/2009 12:11:14 PM

formerly RGG

personally, I have never heard of a watermelon growing so fast that it split open.it might be nice if they grew that fast though. a few really big ones have been dropped & busted but that is a whole different problem.it is important to have them off the ground and to provide shade from the sun for them

4/9/2009 5:44:29 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

TD...I am aware of the shade thing, but never heard about the "off the ground" thing?? Can you explain in detail? Mill fabric underneath all my melons...does that make them off the ground? All help appreciated!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...I am gonna do the most I can to try and split a couple this year!!!! YAHOO!!!! 350# MELON!!! LOL

4/9/2009 7:05:44 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Rot is the problem with watermelons. In the past, I have always had one or two melons out of 8 rot on me. What I do now to prevent this is to put pure sand under small starter melon, and when it get's big enough, I put 2x4 or 2x6 boards under the melon. I run two or three of them perpendicular to the melon itself.

I have done this for the last 4 years and I have never had a melon on boards rot. So I consider this a problem solved.

4/10/2009 12:13:38 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I should add, that as far as I know, watermelons do not split. I do shade them to keep the outer skin pliable so that their growth is not hindered.

4/10/2009 12:15:08 PM

sevierville, Tn

Maybe one day we will grow em big enough to split ! lol

4/10/2009 2:04:13 PM

formerly RGG

Wayne,I think James stated it clearly enough.Just out of contact with the dirt is what melons sometimes need.This seems to prevent soil bourne problems from penetrating the melons skin and causing rot. Mine was on plastic last year and this was good enough.Boards,sand and I am sure lots of other things could provide equally good protection.I am sure you would about die if you grew the first 350 pounder only to have it be the first watermelon to split from growing too fast.You would have some great memories though and could probably make a fortune just from selling the seeds!LOL

4/10/2009 5:41:53 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Marv Mitchell had one split on him in 05 or 06. I can't remember the details, but it split lengthways along the top. It's the only one I've ever heard of splitting.

Phil

4/15/2009 8:39:26 AM

Ohio

I had one that split on me this year. I know this didn't happen but it looks like someone took a knife and sliced it halfway through down the length of the melon. I guess I should have taken a picture of it and posted. The fruit itself was not rotted, it looks like it just swelled up and split. I do need to try the 2x4 idea.

8/14/2009 9:53:13 PM