From

Location

Message

Date Posted

formerly RGG

I recently purchased some CC seed from the Bright family and there was a sheet of recommendations included with these seed.I will share with fellow growers on this forum what the Brights have to say.I will have to break this up into 2 posts as it is over 2000 characters. Here it is part 1 :

Recommendations on Carolina Cross Watermelons according to the Brights

1. Carolina Cross seeds will not germinate at all at cool temperatures like regular watermelons. Use a late planting date for outdoor planting. If started indoors, use a constant 91 degree temperature for good germination.

2. Cut a 2-inch hole in the top of each cover when transplanting under hotcaps. The hole will prevent scalding due to heat build up.

3.Do a soil analysis to determine fertilizer needs. Watermelons do well with a 6.0 to 6.5 ph. Most nitrogen fertilizers lower the ph & lime raises the ph.

4. Daconil fungicide like from Was-Mart is a good watermelon fungicide for small gardeners. Braveo, Dithane,Kocide,Quadris and Pristine are some of the other fungicides used on watermelons. Clemson University's spray guide is a good fungicide resource.

5. The female flowers for watermelonsmust be well pollinated for the melons to have good shape. If no bees are present, the flowers will require hand pollination. Failure of female flowers to develop into fruits is usually an indicator of the absence of bees.

6. Protect the bees among watermelons by applying insecticides very late in the afternoon. Do not use sevin on watermelons. Use insecticides as little as possible in order to protect predators that give natural control of watermelon pests such as spider mites.

7. Plant watermelons at least 15 feet apart and thin to one plant per hill after the plants get 4 to 6 leaves per plant.Keep the area between plants free of grass & weeds.

10/25/2009 8:54:15 PM

Mississippi

http://www.newsweek.com/id/219604
This link has a picture of the world record melon I have not seen before. Entertaining, I thought.

10/29/2009 5:07:22 PM

formerly RGG

That is Mr. Bright poseing with a huge watermelon grown by someone else.That isn't a picture of Bright's 268.8 world record melon.

10/29/2009 8:01:48 PM

Mississippi

Sorry, that was the 2688 post to the board though. Cool.

10/29/2009 8:15:16 PM

formerly RGG

I understand.

10/29/2009 8:31:04 PM