Message Board - BigPumpkins.com

sevierville, Tn

This is so hard to decide... ok, we have slowed down now. 80 days old, 1 lb per day gain the last 5 days....now at 263.8 lbs est. 39 inch straigth length & i dug under the sand. The bottom looks good in the middle. has a girth of 66". I think i will wait 1 more week (unless someone convinces me otherwise). I want to give it every chance possible. The plant looks good, vine & stem are good, the melon is still nice & green, no changes noted. Weather looks nice....80's days, 60 night. How does everyone vote ???

9/16/2010 1:18:43 PM

Minnesota Melon Man

Rochester, Minnesota

I don't know. I would probably let it ride and hope for the best, but so much can happen.

9/16/2010 1:26:30 PM

Trinity River Bottom

chris at a pound a day its still growing . let it grow unless you see something going wrong . it sounds like to me things are still good . cross your fingers toes and anything else you can cross . let it quit growing before you pick .you still have plenty of time.

9/16/2010 1:41:59 PM

Trinity River Bottom

james when are your weigh offs?

9/16/2010 1:49:52 PM

Frank and Tina

South East

We are in the same boat. But ours is only growing at 1/2 lb a day now.(est 172.5) Our weight off in NC is Sat. 25th, so do we pull it or is it better to leave it on the vine and let it grow another week and 1/2. So what I am saying is we aren't any help in helping you make your decision cause we are trying to make the same one.., but only diff is yours is bigger then ours..:)

9/16/2010 2:36:09 PM

sevierville, Tn

my feeling is unless its real old, to leave it on the vine.
Now if you wanted to keep it say 3 weeks, then off the vine & a cool place is best. How old frank ?

9/16/2010 2:46:16 PM

Trinity River Bottom

i would say if it is on a good vine and stem is still good and green the plant is still feeding it. i think it will store better on the vine for a week or 2 . it might not be growing but a pound every 2-3 days but that is better than nothing . get every ounce you can get. if you pick it it will start loosing weight from drying .you might need that 1 pound it grows that last week. keep it on the vine

9/16/2010 3:06:45 PM

sevierville, Tn

Kirk, with pumpkins i agree, but melons seem to have a vine limit, but off the vine seem to keep longer. Agree they lose weight once picked, but its only a few pounds ... like 2 lbs a week it seems.
If someone knows different, say so.

9/16/2010 3:19:33 PM

Trinity River Bottom

i agree but i also believe you can look at that melon and tell when that limit has been reached . the big thing i noticed was the melon looses its luster and looks pale .dull looking.

9/16/2010 4:01:11 PM

Mehdi

France

Let it grow to the max Chris ! plant is healthy, weather seems good, so let it grow !

9/16/2010 4:19:38 PM

brotherdave

Corryton, TN

I've already heard you say "If I had waited.......". Your plants are healthy. The changes (if any) in water, ferts or other management has led to yor first year of X% heavy fruit across the board. Thats not lucky choosing of individual seeds.
No one here wants to see it come down to weighing it somewhere other than at a weigh-off but if it starts to look suspecious between weigh-offs I'm sure we can find certified scales and enough witnesses to attest to its weight. I'd be there. Go for it!!!

9/16/2010 4:31:15 PM

Team Wexler

Lexington, Ky

I would chance it, what's to loose? A potential world record weight vs a melon that came in a pound short of the record? If you come up short of the world record what do you have? Just another big watermelon and some prize money. So few melons have ever been grown into the range that you're in. You may grow the rest of your life and never have another one. What would it sound like hearing your name as the World Record Holder. Guiness Book of Records maybe? Best of luck for sure!!!!!

9/16/2010 4:58:01 PM

Frankfort Oh

DIDO WHAT 1320 JUST SAID -and I already gave you my in put on this matter -100% LEAVE IT GROW-!!!!!!!!!!!!YOU COULD VERYWELL SMASH THE world record-Bill Edwards had one reach 285 est- a few years ago ,and lost it to rot, but thats because he didnt have it on anything-so if the bottoms good ,then you have nothing to lose ,but only to gain-good luck , u have us all rooting for you -where u going to weigh the big melon at anyways?wish it wasn`t so far away- Id come to watch -ps like 1320 said long as you live your chaces of getting another one this big ,may just not happen so go for it -I`ll say a melon prayer for ya !I`d probly give my left arm for a melon like that -got to keep my right one to pick my nose ,lol

9/16/2010 8:52:50 PM

sambo

Sparta, NC

I say let it grow till it stops.

9/16/2010 8:58:24 PM

sevierville, Tn

Good points everyone. Thank you all very much for your help !!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 more week it is !

9/16/2010 10:32:26 PM

Frankfort Oh

Chris ,do u have any pics anywhere of this melon?

9/17/2010 7:15:46 AM

sevierville, Tn

Ok just for you Rob, i posted 3 pictures. I had to do 3 cause it wont fit in 1 ! LOL
You will see when they are approved.
It just looks like any other big melon unless you see it in person.
Actually, mine last year measured bigger & had a better shape, so i hope this one isn't hollow & will be anything heavy !

9/17/2010 12:51:13 PM

sevierville, Tn

I got the 178 mudd loaded for Bear wallow. Tapes 246 so we will see what the scales say on saturday !

I keep telling myself...

I have waited this long, I can wait another week !
I have waited this long, I can wait another week !
I have waited this long, I'm going to go crazy ! LOL

9/17/2010 2:07:44 PM

Frankfort Oh

LMAO ,YOUR KILLING ME -WELL THANK YOU !!!I feel special,and glad to hear your going to hold out on the big one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Can`t wait to see what the big ones going to weigh-I tell ya the truth -I`m excited for ya -no matter who grows a big watermelon, its just nice to see these things go to the next level-and next year it`s 100% just melons for me no pumpkins!
ps -I`ll be the first to ask you as a guess speaker at out seminar in the spring ,will you consider it ?i`LL PERSONALY TAKE care of your motel room expence!!YOU JUST CLEAR YOUR THROUGHT-and tell us all your secrets-by the way this is your invataion-lol-you can ask anyone down here I`m a man of my word- and I`ll take you out to dinner -just make sure you got seeds in your pocket-LOL

9/17/2010 2:41:45 PM

Frankfort Oh

DID you put these pics in diarie ?

9/17/2010 2:50:46 PM

sevierville, Tn

Yes Rob, they are not approved yet

9/17/2010 2:54:24 PM

Trinity River Bottom

we may have to get rob a xanax or something before this is over!!! lol

9/17/2010 4:08:28 PM

Trinity River Bottom

we may all need something before this year is over!!!!
all of m.m.m. melons are still in his patch!!!

9/17/2010 4:33:50 PM

Frankfort Oh

lol-Kirk

9/17/2010 11:47:54 PM

Frankfort Oh

ok Chris just got done looking at your pics ,heres all I got to say..IF THAT MELON COMES UP MISSING ,i DIDNT DO IT -LOL-wow ,really now it`s a nice melon!!

9/17/2010 11:54:27 PM

Frankfort Oh

ps ,kirk I`m starting to feel chest pains-after I called the air lines,and they told me how much it would cost to bring that melon home .

9/17/2010 11:57:37 PM

sevierville, Tn

Rob, should be the same air fare as say the center for ohio state.....probally weigh about the same.

p.s. i think you will need some help to move it & some steaks for the guard dogs ;)

9/18/2010 6:52:01 AM

Frankfort Oh

lol

9/18/2010 1:17:44 PM