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Bethlehem CT

I have heard a couple of different opinions on what causes it, I was wondering what you guys think?

12/1/2011 10:07:14 PM

formerly RGG

I do not believe anything can be done to avoid the problem. I think it is genetic and also age related; as I think the older the Carolina Cross melon the more likely it is to have a hollow heart.Huge Carolina Cross melons almost always have a hollow heart and it is nothing I let myself worry about. I don't think anyone has come up with a method that prevents hollow heart from happening.

12/1/2011 10:28:45 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

TD, by older...do you mean age of the seed?, or age of the cross? If so, either way? I do not understand...? I sorta thought that this problem has sorta been corrected by modern watering & fertilizing practices!!!! I have been wrong b/4, and usually am!!!! LOL Let us know!!!! Peace, Wayne

12/1/2011 11:13:28 PM

Corryton, TN

I think most of it is genetic AND I don't think it can all be eliminated soon. On the last 2 pages of this link you can see results of different varieties related to hollow hearts. http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/watermelons/PDF_Files/Diploid.pdfSome are just worse than others under the same management even though the end weights are similar. I would love to know how they weighd compared to chart across all varieties.

I know most of us are growing melons differently than commercial growers. But we have to ask ourselves "are we doing a better job or worse at managing water & nutrients." I want to say better and yet our hollow heart percentage is higher. Why? Maybe there in lies the answer. Could it be that the exterior grows too fast for the interior. Many of us have heard them pop inside when adjusting them in their beds. Is that causing interior damage that leads to less weight gain?
Still looking for answers here.

12/2/2011 7:08:17 AM

Garner, NC

I agree with Dave, that alot has to do with the exterior is growing faster than the interior. Then that makes me think a faster growing melon may need alot more than we think.
What about vine location? Could that play into it. I would assume that a certain vine on a given plant carries water better than others. But then that wouldn't explain why the exterior out grows the interior.

12/2/2011 7:57:06 AM

Muddy Waters

I agree with Dave!There growing so fast it cant be stopped,If you stop the hollow.you will have a smaller melon.Just my opinion,cant prove it.To bad were not trying to grow the largest fruit instead of heaviest.Its all visual who cares what it weighs!

12/2/2011 8:01:57 AM

formerly RGG

I also agree with Dave. By age I was referring to the age of the melon itself. If you cut open a young Carolina Cross melon you will not a hollow heart. But as the melons get larger the chance of hollow heart increases. And I think mark makes a good point; it is likely that the exterior outgrows the interior.And if that is true then it is certainly nothing a grower would want to stop.

12/2/2011 9:30:30 AM

Linden, Mi.,

I have growen a lot of solid watermelons and some with air.
My 2 cents, I feel a lot of water when young and in the 30 to 40 day range, back off some.
But here again, we get into the type of soil, mine is sandy and drains fast.
This year my 234 was solid and our 181 had air, did the same with both, the soil just a little different.

12/2/2011 9:01:08 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

TD, while re-reading this thread, I realized what was originally meant...age of the melon itself!!! Duh!!! As the melon ages, it's shell outgrows the melon itself, and thus produces a Hollow Heart? I hope to grow one of those in 2012!!!! Peace, Wayne

12/3/2011 3:02:29 AM

formerly RGG

The longevity of the plant and melon are crucial to growing a big one. This past season I was never able to get growth rates up to even as much as 3 pounds a day. However my 204 was 90 days old when I picked it and still growing slowly. I would have had a lunker if I had been able to get up in the 4 or 5 pounds per day growth range. My point is that these melons will grow for a very long time and to get a really big one that is what has to happen. Keep your vines healthy and your melons high and dry and you should grow some fruit of which you will be very proud.I am hoping to go over 100 days with some melons in 2012.

12/3/2011 8:09:43 AM