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Hinckley MN

How many seeds do you guys start in each pot? 1,2, more than 2? do you thin at some point down to the best plant? do you have to file the seeds? My son is going to plant 4 pots (for 4 planting sites) on the 1st.

3/30/2012 7:59:15 PM

Linden, Mi.,

One seed per pot ! I file, some don't

3/30/2012 8:19:30 PM

formerly RGG

It really depends on how many seeds you have and how valuable they are. If you have lots of seeds and there is no demand for them, plant as many as you would normally plant for an average watermelon hill. But a sought after and valuable seed should be limited to one per pot.Thin down to one per pot after a single plant has expressed dominance over the others. But be sure to keeps some backup plants just in case you need them.

3/30/2012 8:34:33 PM

Muddy Waters

Some plant 2 plants a foot or two apart & cull the weaker looking plant in a few weeks.The only problem I find with this method is Chris Kents 274 last year came from a lagging plant that was behind all the others.So I'm not convinced the fastest plant at the beginning is always the best pick.Its your call, to cull or not to Cull.I didnt last year.

3/30/2012 9:22:51 PM

formerly RGG

My 207 was grown from a lagging plant Mark. I hope being as early as I am doesn't turn out to be a big mistake.

3/30/2012 10:50:08 PM

Muddy Waters

My 260.5 was lagging behind 219 for a while.The 219 was the most aggressive plant in the beginning.

3/31/2012 7:52:47 AM

SW Ohio

I start one seed per pot.

3/31/2012 10:33:16 AM

sevierville, Tn

1 seed per pot, for 4 spots i would do 8 pots, take the 4 best ones for each spot as at least 1 plant wont do as well as the others.

3/31/2012 2:17:02 PM

Hinckley MN

so how big of a pot? 3inch round or 5 inch round? I use 5 inch for AGs, then transplant into 5 gallon bags. that gets me to 3 weeks after germination. will starting in 3 inch rounds (in an incubator) and then transplanting to 1 gallon pots get me to 3 weeks with watermelons?

3/31/2012 7:45:46 PM

formerly RGG

It really depends on how fast the plants are growing. If they get plenty of light and warmth and grow vigorously they could possibly stand repotting at two weeks. Most likely they will be fine for 3 weeks in a one gallon pot. If you are in doubt, invert one and slide the pot off and look to see how many roots are circling the edge of the pot. If there are many it may be time to repot.

3/31/2012 9:02:04 PM

sevierville, Tn

Ben. that should work fine, just don't disturb the roots when transplanting if possible.

3/31/2012 10:36:10 PM