From

Location

Message

Date Posted

British Columbia, Canada

Do you think the 500 pound watermelon is possible? If so, what year do you think it will be reached?

1/17/2014 10:47:16 AM

Ky

I think it will be reached in the next 4 years

otis

1/17/2014 12:04:35 PM

The North Coast

Wow...now that would be a melon that just never quit. A person would definitely need to stretch the center of the growth curve. It would be a serious evolution in practice...I will go with a decade if we keep pushing and sharing knowledge. The genetics will always get us there. Which brings me up to a odd point, I understand that the 239 and the 255 are the kingmakers...but it does little good to genetics for us to keep planting them. The pumpkin folks keep crossing this new big one with that big one. It works pretty good for them. With that being said, if I had a 239 I would plant it.

1/17/2014 12:23:48 PM

Muddy Waters

I think I might be hit 500 this summer

1/17/2014 12:27:23 PM

Muddy Waters

On a more serious note I agree with Otis about 5 years

1/17/2014 12:30:00 PM

Corryton, TN

My math says 2020. I too like the idea of planting other seeds. The seeds from the best melon in your patch deserves to be planted the following year especially if you grew 4 or more under similar conditions AND provided it was a controlled cross.

I suspect the insides of the melon will change in appearance also. More rind and white connective tissue. Probably more air and less red meat.

1/17/2014 2:16:22 PM

Ky

I will go one better, I will guess who will grow the first 500 lb melon

Probably will be

Chris Kent or Frank Mudd or Bill Edwards

1/17/2014 3:08:53 PM

Muddy Waters

Thanks OTIS !lol

1/17/2014 3:14:59 PM

The North Coast

That's like saying that the next pope will be Catholic!!!

1/17/2014 3:25:57 PM

NSW, Australia (barracatcher7@hotmail.com)

Lol

1/17/2014 3:40:40 PM

sevierville, Tn

LOL, Hey i'm catholic, does that give me a better chance !!
With pumpkins, it seems that the top dog is almost always someone different. There have been very few repeats in modern history. It will probally be that way with melons.

1/17/2014 5:35:38 PM

sevierville, Tn

500 lbs should be in the next 5 years or so if we keep improving as we have been these last few years.
the 239 is like the 1068 wallace. Its the basis of the future world records.

1/17/2014 5:38:43 PM

sevierville, Tn

Dave is probally correct on the insides....i have noticed more & more tougher white tissues inside the melons.

1/17/2014 6:02:38 PM

Muddy Waters

So I guess Only Catholics should grow melons.The rest of us are bad seed.lol

1/17/2014 6:57:09 PM

Bethlehem CT

One thing I am curious about is how many giant watermelon growers are there right now? I suspect our numbers are way below that of the pumpkin growers. The numbers of giant watermelon growers is probably equivalent to what the Atlantic giant growers had back in the 90's. I know just about every watermelon grower on this site. I can't say the same for the AG's, their pool of growers is much bigger. I feel with more growers the odds are better. Each part of the US has a different climate and some years will be better in some areas than in others. The more growers the better the chance someone will break the record. .

1/18/2014 7:09:55 AM

Muddy Waters

Yes exactly right Big Moon.The more internet exposure & public attention this gets it will explode.There are many great gardeners in the world.Some are growing apples,orchids,tomatoes etc.When some of these get on board.The competition will be greater then ever before.This could unfold faster then you think.

1/18/2014 8:00:14 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Anything is possible...when I first found bp.com...folks were asking, how long b/4 or will it ever make 1500#'s? It did, then it was 2K? It did...melons, I think will follow the same path, and 500 will hit the scales some day!!! Sorry to say that melons seem to be a hot weather plant.."Handy" yer out!!!LOL, although global warming just might bring you into the playing field!!! Peace, Wayne

1/19/2014 12:31:04 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Following the same theme...Kent, Mudd, or Edwards, seems to make sense, cause the same last name made it 1500# & 2000# for the first time in the pkn world!!! Peace (again), Wayne

1/19/2014 12:34:16 AM

Marshall, MI

Hey Mr Wayne I have to disagree with you I don't consider the melon as a hot weather plant, I think it's an all weather plant.
So you can't count Handy out, his 260 is one of the hottest seeds out there today, I'm going to plant it this year it would be a great cross for the 316.

1/19/2014 9:49:21 AM

South Arkansas

I agree with Bill on this one. (It is easy to slip on a coat for the cold but it is very difficult to strap on an air conditioner for the heat.) Lots of days of weight increases are lost in the south and west when the night temperatures remain high enough for normal plant night cycles to stop. Growers in the upper states do have some advantages in growing big watermelons.

1/19/2014 1:26:11 PM

50 Acres

I don't grow watermelons, but ifeel they could be grown in Ontario . We have good soil, lots of sun shine as others do. I feel it is the cool winds we get that shock the plants,and restrict the growth.

1/19/2014 1:35:43 PM

50 Acres

In Todd Kline,s area they grew tobacco. The big watermelon just may come from there. 500 sooner than expected.

1/19/2014 1:39:55 PM

The North Coast

Thank to all that responded, I was a southern melon man myself but it is obvious that the folks from Michigan have something going on. I would of never guessed that melons could be grown successfully so far north. Food for thought.

1/19/2014 3:55:51 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the 350.5 Kent was grown during a very cold / cloudy summer?

1/19/2014 4:00:12 PM

Bethlehem CT

I have always thought melons did best in a really hot dry summer. But a first year melon grower grew a 190 pound state record here in CT this summer. I am really scratching my head, as it was definitely not what I would consider a good year for growing here. Very wet early with a decent July then It got cool at the end of July and right through August too.

1/19/2014 4:53:19 PM

Muddy Waters

Hey PW! never tell a Clementz he cant do something.lol You just charged me up! Thanks for the boost!!lol I was really impressed with Bills 316 in the cloudiest coolest summers we have ever had here.Wait till we get a hot one.lol The thing is when we get a real hot one,you guys down south will be to hot for melons.I found there growth slows down over 95 degrees.So according to Al Gores Global warming theory.I see myself,Bill or Marvin maybe Darrel or one many great northern growers In the 500lb club soon.lol

1/19/2014 9:58:32 PM

Home of happy lil plants

Don't count out the little guy!

1/20/2014 1:20:08 AM

Muddy Waters

Never Spence If the little guy decides to dedicate the time & effort into this he can shoot to the top in 1 season.You reap what you sew!!

1/20/2014 9:01:32 AM