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Forest Hill,md.

Hi all,Hope someone would be able to help me.I have (first year)a small delemia.I believe i either loaded up on the fertilizer too much ,or its fungus.I take weekly ph and fertil readings as since i believe my soil drains so good i continually am fertilizing the mounds.So i add occasional lime and use soluble 15/35/15,also side dress mounds with a few small handfulls of granular 45 phosphate AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.Even so the readings keep in the low fertil zone and ph went from 7.0 to 5.2.My leaves are (last few days)beggining to curl get a little hard and turning some yellow with dry dark blothes or spots.Is this old age as the prolem is pretty much only the original leaves in the mounds around the stumps.Some of the other leaves(origanal ones along main vines)are also turning a more pale green color as well as getting a litte more hard to the touch.My plants were planted in a south slope low lying area that used to be my 20'x20'above ground pool area.Area was obviously covered in 6" of sand.I made 8 mounds 3x3x3 and planted two plants each mound.All MOUNDS were given ample amounts of manure,sand,humus,good topsoil/leaves etc.. The mounds germinated around may 15th.The vast majority of the plants set fruit the first week of july.I allowed two plants per hill with on ly best(fastest growing)single melon left per plant.These are mixed with ( bright seeds)that were from 186# melons and the store bought 183,s.I hand cross pollinated them.TO DATE (7-27-10)I have melons every hill that go 20-22" long and 31-35" around.That puts them at about 22- 24 days old.Is this good?How much longer to expect them to grow?I KNOW THIS IS ALOT OF INFO TO ASK!Thanks Thinking big...

7/27/2010 9:34:11 PM

Pataskala,OH

That is a lot of fertilizer. I don't know that much about melons since I have not grown one yet. But that sounds like you are over doing it.

7/27/2010 9:54:57 PM

Pataskala,OH

The rapid pH drop can't be good either.

7/27/2010 9:56:13 PM

Forest Hill,md.

I tested the ph of the fertilizer with water is very acidic (4.5 ph).I guess the fertilizer is lowering the ph all together.

7/27/2010 10:03:17 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

big, what are you using to measure ph, and fertility? Peace, Wayne

7/28/2010 12:06:45 AM

Forest Hill,md.

Using the three prong tester from home depot also bought the digital ph tester metal probe.I know that they are cheap but they have very similar readings.also to verify i used the chemical dye test that checks ph,phos,k,etc. and they came back low.Wondering if the sandy soil that drains very well does not hold the nutrients long enough.I will cut back for a week or so on the fert; and see if it helps.Will start the fungicide spray to stay on the safe side.In this patch the vines run on a thick layer of straw(no weeds at all)and have shown very good resistance to the high heat(100 plus,5days) thus far.I had been using overhead drip till recently and now waterspray mounds by hose to keep them fed.

7/28/2010 4:38:21 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

My guess is that you have over done it on the fertilizer and you should pull back a little for a while. That will yellow the leaves.

7/28/2010 1:30:30 PM

Forest Hill,md.

Thanks melon man.To be on safe side will start spraying some daconil fungicide.Will use fish emulsion instead as it advertizes it will not burn leaves.I will wait 1 week to start regular dose.Need crystal ball!

7/28/2010 1:46:34 PM

sevierville, Tn

2 plants per hill wont give you any records, but maybe some nice ones. Too late to change now.

7/28/2010 1:57:00 PM

southwest MO

Nice even water just like you would all your other garden vegies feed a little fish and kelp if you just have to but just let them do it and enjoy the summer.

7/28/2010 3:25:58 PM

Forest Hill,md.

thanks,I forgot to do something else besides these @$#$&^$@$# melons.lol.

7/28/2010 5:23:38 PM