From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Hamilton Nj

i was wondering when everyone puts their plants out side,its bein real nice hear in south jersey 50 at night when we are lucky but steady 40 degrese ,and 50-70 dureing the week so far ,im thinking april 1-7 in the dirt,lol?? hope thats not too early with no heat cables???? last year it took my plant so long to get big ,and im itching to plant,lol pizza

3/16/2012 11:08:02 PM

Hamilton Nj

sorry 50-70 during the day!!

3/16/2012 11:09:00 PM

Bethlehem CT

Pizza I usually plant at the beginning of May.

3/17/2012 7:36:40 AM

formerly RGG

I am going for extra early this year. I may be putting some plants in the ground soon.

3/17/2012 11:14:25 AM

formerly RGG

I picked up 23 grafted plants from Nathan Okorn this morning in Asheville, NC. They are beautiful. I want to publicly convey my heartfelt thanks to Nathan for putting me on a great track. I have transplanted them into one gallon pots and will grow them outside during the day and inside under grow-lights at night for a few days.If anyone wants to share some of these plants and you are within driving distance, then just let me know. I have 23 plants and don't need more than a dozen to have plenty of backups. I will grow 6 hills this year.

3/17/2012 3:00:36 PM

Piqua, Ohio

are they grafted to squash root stock?

3/17/2012 3:19:03 PM

formerly RGG

They are grafted to Cucurbita Ficifolia, Shintosa Camelforce and Strongtosa. They are squash rootstock.

3/17/2012 7:07:21 PM

Piqua, Ohio

I've talked to some commercial growers and a few use grafted plants for plant health and disease resistance, is there any other advantage?

3/17/2012 8:27:22 PM

The North Coast

The rootstocks are a beast from another branch in the family tree that was specifically bred to efficiently proccess nutrients to bring the greatest returns.

3/17/2012 9:11:50 PM

formerly RGG

That is the only advantage that I know of. Well, they may do better in cold weather and possibly get off to a faster start due to the second and extra large set of cots.

3/17/2012 9:12:35 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

TD, now that we know the rootstock...we want to know the plantstock (is that a word)? Are any of these top notch seeds? Not meant to be a knock, just curious? Peace, Wayne

3/17/2012 11:40:54 PM

The North Coast

All of the watermelon were top notch seeds. Some from his melons and some from his collection of others melons. I will have to admit with some sorrow that I was not able to get either of the 255's to germinate. I dug them out after 9 days in the germinater only to squeeze one and watch it pop like a pimple. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

There is a whole lot of dreaming going on in Tennessee right now.

3/18/2012 7:59:11 AM

formerly RGG

Let's see Wayne, I have a 113 Kent, a couple of 35 Kents, a 228 Clementz,a 285 Edwards, a 178.5 Mudd 2011, several 179.5 Masterson (255 Mitchell x open) and several 171 Masterson (197 Leonard x 211 Leonard).

3/18/2012 8:56:46 AM

Muddy Waters

The 255s are 5 years old were they freezer kept?or not?or were they kept in a cool place or in a desk drawer to dry out?

3/18/2012 9:07:44 AM

formerly RGG

I won't dignify that question with an answer Mark. I am not that stupid. I will say that my electricity and thus my freezer was out for a week last June when we had a tremendous storm come through. I think that 7 days affected my seeds adversely.But other seeds such as my 113 Kent germinated and they went through the same conditions.

3/18/2012 11:56:58 AM

Alaska

Interesting. Looks like we have a new watermelon class. Regular and GMO. Only one will pay and the other is just for show. IMHO.

3/18/2012 1:25:43 PM

Alaska

Grafted apple trees are a big thing here in Alaska. It's because without a different root stock they just won't survive our long cold winters. So one would expect a standard size apple tree? Nope not hardly. They are dwarf and pathetic compared to one grown in a warmer climate. IMHO watermelon country is watermelon country because the environment favors it. More can be accomplished by proper soil preparation and care than trying change something that just ain't broke to begin with. So has anyone asked those few commercial growers that use grafted plants just how much bigger are the watermelons?

3/18/2012 1:41:06 PM

Piqua, Ohio

They get the same size just more fruits! That's why I asked Tenn.Dreamer what the advantage would be. I was told from a comm. grower it promotes vigor, and disease resistance. That's all I was told, so maybe it will help you get bigger plants faster and keep them going into the fall. I guess we shall see, and if it's grafted I think there should be a rule that it has to be specified, if you grow a 300lber on grafts will it's seeds produce big ones for a grower doing it the old fashioned way?

3/18/2012 1:51:26 PM

formerly RGG

Someone please tell me how any rule changes can possibly be enforced. They simply can't be. I wish all you worried growers would get over it and go about your business. The biggest melon is going to win. End of story.

3/18/2012 2:51:36 PM

formerly RGG

My plants go out at daylight and inside at sunset and under 400 watt metal halide lamps for the night. They think it is summer already. lol

3/18/2012 4:53:58 PM

formerly RGG

Hey Scott, what is GMO ? BTW, nearly all apple trees that are any good are grafted. If the apple has a common name such as red or yellow delicious then by definition it is from a grafted tree.Any seed grown apple is a new and unique variety.

3/18/2012 4:58:46 PM

Muddy Waters

I was just curious TD a lot off growers dont keep seeds in freezer.Thats ok,but if not in a cool environment.5 years maybe too long to germ.depending on temp & humidity.I wasnt Implying anything just asking.

3/18/2012 5:55:28 PM

formerly RGG

Thank you Mark. It was nice of you to explain. :o)

3/18/2012 8:51:35 PM

Muddy Waters

Im not planting outside till the end of April

3/18/2012 9:18:57 PM

Alaska

Don't put all of your eggs in one basket TD. Just some good ole back woods advise. lol!

3/18/2012 9:50:50 PM

formerly RGG

I'm sorry but I believe it is proven technology and the plants are very early and looking wonderful. All my eggs are and will remain in one basket as I don't view this as any kind of potential problem.But thanks for the advice.

3/18/2012 9:53:44 PM

formerly RGG

What about in your greenhouse Mark ? Will you have some nice plants ready to go in the ground at the last of April ?

3/18/2012 9:55:19 PM

Muddy Waters

Yep! I will keep the normal Schedule Shooting for Mid Sept to mid October weigh-offs.They bumped OVGPG 1 week later to the 13th.So I wont start any earlier for sure.

3/18/2012 10:06:40 PM

Hampstead, NC 28443

I agree with Scott. Get a mix. Kind of like thinking that one amendment is the fix all. Need to spread your risk

3/19/2012 6:36:04 PM

formerly RGG

Scott, I just don't believe there is much if any added risk here. The farmers who grow grafted watermelon plants grow all grafted watermelon plants. I will take the chance, I am pretty sure any added risk is negligible and the advantages are real.

3/19/2012 7:18:11 PM

Garner, NC

My advice or thoughts on growing grafted is, if you grow all grafted, and no traditional, you have nothing to compare. If you grow a 200lb average on 6 grated plants, you will have no data to compare to traditional plants. It would be nice for someone(hint..hint) to grow half and half, same soil, weather, ferts, water, and so on, then there would be alot of data to compare,(plant vigor, melon set, growth rates at certain days, heat tolerance, and on and on). Until someone does a data trail, were all second guessing.

3/19/2012 9:31:11 PM

Alaska

Amen to that brother Ice!

3/19/2012 10:10:56 PM

formerly RGG

Todd, I am sorry, but I am committed and all in for the beautiful healthy grafted plants I already have. Maybe next year I will do half and half. I do have plenty of plants though. Hey Brother Dave, would you like me to provide you with 3 or 4 nice grafted plants ? Anyone ? Maybe Suzie will do this for us. I know she is supposed to be getting some grafts from Nathan.I believe Chris was thinking about growing some grafts; but I am now doubtful about that since I have heard he now won't have much space to grow in this year.

3/19/2012 10:16:06 PM

Muddy Waters

Great point again Todd,Dont put all your eggs in one basket either

3/19/2012 10:16:44 PM

Corryton, TN

Thanks TD but I think I'll pass for now. If you grow that field full of 300 pounders, I'm sure I'll be on board next year.

Pete. If weather holds 4 are going in this week for august weigh-offs. If things don't work out I'll plow them out and start again with the rest april 10th.

3/20/2012 7:02:50 AM