From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Williamsburg,KY

How large of a plant do you need before you set a melon?

6/3/2012 6:07:55 PM

Fenton, MI

In past experience I've found that you need about 150' of total vine prior to setting a melon. Measure all your vines, write down each vine measurement and add those totals up. This has always worked for me. If your plant is smaller than that, your root system cannot keep up with the melon and the plant as the melon is growing. Hope this helps you Stevann. If you have any other questions, you can e-mail me at superbangbang@msn.com.

6/3/2012 7:31:46 PM

formerly RGG

It is good to see you active on the form Marvin. :o)

6/3/2012 9:27:24 PM

Muddy Waters

I thought it was 50 feet of vine? Is this a typo Marvin?

6/3/2012 10:16:50 PM

Muddy Waters

I thought we talked about this last year.I remember it being discussed at 50 feet of vine.I started all my melons last year on plants 60 to 100 feet of vine.The 219 had less then 100 feet as were all my melons in the cave.Maybe thats why it didnt get bigger then 219.Actually it was 224 when picked.I also wasn't concerned with shape of melon when pollinated.The 260.5 was shaped like a pear but I wasnt picking it & starting over,I went with the first melon on every plant.I was thinking of not wasting valuable growing time picking melons of a plant in late June,so the 260.5 & 228 were the first melons on plant,& the plants were around 80 feet of vine.Just a second opinion,Dont waste valuable time.You can go the other way which could turn out better??It's all theory at this point.Just keep your choices open & go with your heart,Nobody has this all figured out yet,certainly not me.

6/4/2012 7:27:02 AM

Pataskala,OH

last year smaller vines grew melons quickly and then they stopped right away. The larger vine grew the biggest one 108 lbs.

6/4/2012 8:44:48 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Marvin, will get out my tape measure today and do some math. Plants look good and all is well in the melon patch. Thanks.

6/4/2012 9:16:22 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

My plants still do not have to heft at this point to consider pollinating the little females that have appeared. I will probably just pinch them off when I get the chance. My goal is to get a melon pollinated by the end of June, and then I should have adequate time to grow it big.

6/8/2012 4:33:50 PM