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Lexington,IN

Has anyone transplanted small, two true leaf plants and buried the stem up to the cots on leggy plants with good results? I have a couple that got a bit leggy and was wondering if I could bury them up to the cots when transplanting them without causing other problems?? They are still inside and need upgraded to a bigger pot. They will probably be inside for another week or two, depending on mother nature...

4/26/2010 5:03:30 PM

Bowdon, GA

I use to leave them stem out afraid they would rot. One year I had some long enough that they could easily be damaged by wind, so I buried them up to the cots. I had no ill effects. I don't know if it makes much of a difference but I buried the stem in a gentle curve to where it was almost horizontal when it came out of the ground.I don't know if this helped but it made it shallower. I would be afraid to tell you one way or another but that is the experience I had.

4/26/2010 10:02:43 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

That's good to know. I generally do not over bury the plants (like I would tomatoes). I would just normally cover them with floating row cover to keep the wind from being a problem, and pin the plant to encourage direction.

4/27/2010 10:05:24 AM

sevierville, Tn

I hate leggy plants, i put them outside asap, but if its cold they have to come in (tonight=frost) & that makes em leggy. Last year i covered mine to just below the cots. They don't root like pumpkins, but did just fine.

4/27/2010 2:15:27 PM

Frankfort Oh

I would like to suggest a few things here guys ,hope you dont mind ,first thing to this problem is letting your plants get leggy in the first place ,I never let this happen ,i just dont feel they do as well ,so heres what I do ,soon as they come out of the heat box ,they go out side in a hut built like a dome ,if it gets to cold I`LL PUT IN A SMALL HEATER,but i do this soon as the seed pops the soil,this hardens the seeds right from the get go ,and I never pull the seeds off watermelons,one problem I`ve encountered by burying , long stems is that take longer to vine ,and your risk of damage is much higher,and if your soils cold for a long time ,then there prob- going to stem rot, these are just a few things to keep in mind,another thing I suggest is if it`s still cold a few weeks when you plant then don`t transplant directly in your soil ,I always use a bag of Miracle gro potting soil- per plant ,this gives your grown time to warm up while the melon is taking root ,and the good fact in all this is the M grow- feed the plant up to six months of what it needs -Give this a try if you think your soils not up to snuff- but this is the way I start out every year ,and I`ve not lost a single plant!good luck to all of you !!!!I think I`ve got all your guys seeds in the heat box.Rob

4/28/2010 10:26:25 AM

Lexington,IN

I sure didn't plan the leggy ones. HaHa! I'd rather not have them either but it is what it is now. I think I may know what caused my leggy plants, first year with a grow box and I believe I had the temp too high on the first few that went in there. Those that went in a few days later and when the temp was lower are much better. Electricity is not an option in my patch, so no heaters or cables are possible. I use small huts but I still wait until early-mid May before I put them out. Huts are open top and mainly for wind protection but can be covered on top if needed. I went ahead and transplanted the seedlings and buried up to the cots, we'll see how it goes...I don't expect much this year as my soil needs work, but still hope to have SOMETHING to take to a weigh-off. Maybe I'll visit you guys at Bear Wallow this year.

4/28/2010 9:11:17 PM

Frankfort Oh

wheres Bear Wallow,hell maybe I`ll come there also??JUST HAVE ONE BIG PARTY

4/29/2010 7:29:22 AM

Lexington,IN

http://www.lakecumberlandlive.com/bearwallow/
Maybe those down that way know the date for this year...

4/29/2010 10:24:05 AM

sevierville, Tn

It was sept 19 last year, so give or take a day i would guess.

4/29/2010 2:34:37 PM

Frankfort Ohio

somebody keep me posted ,I`m going to bgring a watermelon,Rob

4/30/2010 11:48:45 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Bear Wallow Farms, is located near Nancy, KY. which is near Somerset, KY. Traditionally the weighoff is the third Saturday in September! Hopefully Mr. John VanSandbaggus will let us know for positive!!! LOL

5/1/2010 9:46:35 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I keep a fan on my plants all the time, which I think makes the plants struggle. It seems to prevent leggy plants.

5/3/2010 10:17:01 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

When you have your plants inside keep a light 2 inches over the plant and at night put them in a cool place to keep them from getting leggy.

doug
Jn. 3:16

5/3/2010 5:22:19 PM