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Hamilton Nj

when is the best time to have my plant in the ground????
trying giant watermelon for the first time!!! june 1st.????????? i plan on planting one of mr. halloways seeds eithor the 191 or 194 cant decide on the others gonna do 2 plants !!! thanks pizza

1/10/2011 2:45:21 PM

Rome Ga

anytime after danger of frost is past.

1/10/2011 4:00:59 PM

Muddy Waters

plant as early in may as you can, if cold its a waste of time planting early if temps over 65 to 70 plant will take off.Some people use ground warming cables designed to warm soil to 74 degrees I will be using them this year to grow the 312 WR (LOL Dreaming)

1/10/2011 4:47:24 PM

Muddy Waters

you can cover plant if frost happens that can happen in early june in the north i even heard of frost in lk george mi.on july 4th.i will shoot for may 10th thru 15th planting in the north.start plant april 15 thru 20th.we need to set fruit by mid to late june

1/10/2011 5:04:29 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I watch the weather and make the big decision some time mid May. Of course they will be covered by hoops and fabric blanket, but that only gives you so much protection. I have been thinking about joining the heat coil crowd, but that's for a different append.

1/10/2011 5:39:40 PM

Sevierville,tn

depends when your last frost is.

1/10/2011 5:46:54 PM

Lexington,IN

Putting down a 4' X 4' piece of black plastic a few weeks before planting helps warm the soil also. If it stays too cool early on I may even use small hoop houses this year.

1/11/2011 12:41:27 AM

Muddy Waters

Hey dwight are you using plastic instead of cables?? or with cables?? How about do surrounding area border around cable square with black plastic or roof felt so u have say a 8x8 area getting heat a cold spring can be tough to heat!!!

1/11/2011 7:03:40 AM

Hamilton Nj

thanks guys, hey with the heating cables do u leave them on all the time or do u just put on at night when its cold???? thanks again pizza

1/11/2011 10:00:24 AM

Lexington,IN

I have never used heating cables. Would need a 1/4 mile long extension cord.LOL Usually by the time the roots outgrow the area covered in plastic the surrounding soil has been warmed by mother nature. Pizza, If I used cables, I would leave them on all the time. At least until soil warms up naturally.

1/11/2011 10:37:54 AM

Western PA

Pizza, I would recommend looking at MMM's tip sheet for growing melons. It is geared for us northern growers. I believe it is in the "how to" area on this site. Let me check on that.

1/11/2011 10:43:40 AM

Western PA

Yep, it is the first one in the "how to" area.
Try this : http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Attachments/How_To_Grow_Giant_Watermelon.pdf

1/11/2011 10:46:55 AM

Muddy Waters

The cables have a thermosat will shut off at 74 degrees.I would keep plugged in as needed.depends on season.we have had 45 degree nites in August.

1/11/2011 12:34:17 PM

Bowdon, GA

Seems like it works out to about the same time everywhere.
I could plant them a month earlier than my northern friends but, I have found it is better for me to wait. The plants and fruit will start out faster and the plant is younger during August and growing old during September when it cools of some. I think up there it takes about he whole growing season. Ussually plant mine in may and pickem in october, to give you an idea about how long it takes, Good luck Pete

1/11/2011 1:59:33 PM

Muddy Waters

I read the How to site,I think mid March is a little early to start Melons, are 120 to 150 days to maturity.I think if you start mid March they will stop growing early sept.Just my opinion and experience.

1/11/2011 4:28:12 PM

Lexington,IN

That's my experience here too Mark. I start seeds mid April and in the patch somewhere during the first 15 days of May. IF I could keep the plants alive and growing, I would try a little earlier date. Maybe I can learn that at the KY seminar in Feb...

1/11/2011 5:40:00 PM

Muddy Waters

I planted a plant 2 feet long on June 7th 1998 , Bill Edwards gave me the plant.I had lost my patch Kins & all to a tornado the day before.That plant grew a 181 my PB that year.I know Bill started plants mid april,I never thought that root bound plant would get that big.They were Bills back-ups he was going to toss.The kin was root bound & ugly it hit 739 planted on June 7th.So who knows what can happen.At that time wr was the 1061 Zehr or 1092 Burke? a 181 melon was pretty big then.took 2nd place Pt.Elgin

1/11/2011 6:58:01 PM

Sevierville,tn

Dewight when is your last frost??

1/11/2011 10:33:50 PM

Lexington,IN

Oh, anywhere between May 1 and May 30th. Not very predictable here in the Ohio Valley. Most old gardeners say don't plant until after KY Derby. But I've seen it snow on Derby day too.

1/11/2011 11:04:57 PM

Hamilton Nj

thanks everyone i learned my lesson last year with my pumpkin not planting till may lol !!!! i froze my 1253 sperry !!!! pizza

1/12/2011 2:47:17 PM

Sevierville,tn

Yep many of derby's has has snow

1/12/2011 2:56:44 PM