From

Location

Message

Date Posted

formerly RGG

8. Pruning watermelons for size refers to selecting one good fruit per plant and keeping all future fruit removed.Don't go with 2 watermelons per plant. The shape of the first melon on the plant is often inferior to later ones.

9. Use a watering method that doesn't wet down the leavesand contribute to disease. Drip lines & soaker hoses work well.Don't keep the ground overly wet.

10. Reduce the chances of bottom rot by keeping the ground under each melon free of vines and trash. Rotating each melon a few degrees on a frequent basis helps maintain a healthy bottom.Also move each melon a few inches in the blossom end direction so that the growing melon does not push against the vine. Each melon needs to be moved some throughout it's period of growth. Pull vines over melons to prevent sunburn.

11. A brown or dead tendril near the stem is not a ripeness indicator for Carolina Cross watermelons.Give watermelons a chance to get extra largeby leaving it on the vine until the rind stops increasing in diameter or until the melon stops gaining weight.

12. Add fertilizer throughout the growing season.

10/25/2009 8:56:40 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

8. Agreed. Look to the length and shape of the melon at pollination time. It will tell you alot about what the finished fruit will look like.

9. Interesting. I have lots of sand in my garden, so I haven't really had to worry too much about persistent wet under the vines.

10. Give the melon a space to grow with expansion away from the vine. I agree that you need to slide the melon away from the stem to free up pressure. If you pinch a stem, rot will form and transfer to the melon. Keep the fruit clear of vines. Cover with hoops and burlap.

11. Interesting.

12. Vary the fertilizer depending on the time of year and what the plant needs.

10/27/2009 2:19:06 PM