From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Bowdon, GA

Normal range for melons is usually 6.5-6.7, but I know some have had good results with 7+. What is the highest PH you have been successful at?

4/6/2016 8:40:29 PM

Home of happy lil plants

7.4 highest for me.... mark was 7.8 Nearly on the 260 year?

seen 6.3 Work well

heard a rumor of 300 ish range all the way down near 5.8 But I can not say for sure if fact or fiction on that one

4/6/2016 10:19:44 PM

Grant, AL

We were at 7.3 last year on our 228. We've tried to get that down a little for this year though.

4/6/2016 10:36:21 PM

Corryton, TN

2011---7.8---251
2012---7.7---250
2016---7.3---???

4/7/2016 5:52:56 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

I grew a 132 with a half eaten plant (vole attack) on a piece of marsh land last year.
PH was 5.8 there

4/7/2016 1:07:47 PM

2014---7.1----256--253
2013---7.4----276--290
2012---7.6----274.5---256.5---256

4/7/2016 3:30:30 PM

SW Ohio

My 296.5 was 7.2 ph

4/7/2016 3:42:42 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Mine was 7.4 last year. Grew a 224, 226.5 and 230dmg Great results for MN

4/7/2016 6:26:34 PM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks for the answers. I'm sittin on 6.7 right now. My Ca, Mg, and K are in great balance but the ppms need to come up. So to keep ph at 6.7 I would need gypsum, mag sulfate, and K sulfate. Which would put my sulfur at 600ppm to get to where I want to be, if I figured right. But judging from these numbers I may just use lime up to 7.6 and finish it off with the sulfates. That would lower the sulfur alot.

4/7/2016 11:20:15 PM

Bowdon, GA

While we are on the subject. In the past I usually start with OM at 20+% and ph of 7-7.4 . My fall test in the same spot would usually be OM 12-14% and ph of 5.8-6. Was the ph change due to organic breakdown, acid water/ ferts? My theory was organic decomposition, but I don't know. This year I set my beds up totally different than usual to try something different. This year the OM is 6% hopefully it will help prevent rot problems in rainy weather. It will be interesting to see if the ph is more consistent this time.

4/7/2016 11:31:27 PM

Bowdon, GA

Has anyone had consistent ph in spring and fall?

4/7/2016 11:34:12 PM

NE Arkansas

I had 3.2 om last year and grew 232.75 and 229dmg...

4/8/2016 12:05:39 AM

Corryton, TN

My ph has stayed nearly the same all year every year. I usually only test once during the growing season. OM in my patch has NEVER been above 4% but usually closer to 3. Too much of a tightwad and too lazy to ad that much compost.

4/8/2016 6:40:52 AM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks that helps alot. That kind of supports my theory. I usually haul about 5 or 6 dump truck loads of well composted cow manure to the patch. This year I just used what compost I could make with no manure. I noticed lower OM seemed to work better on my cantaloupes so I thought I would try it on my melons. I have a heavy clay with no top soil which is why I hauled so much compost in the past. This year I hauled top soil and built beds on top on the clay after it had been subsoiled. Then added a much more modest amount of compost.

4/8/2016 9:30:19 AM

Bethlehem CT

It is good to see you on bp again Jake.

4/8/2016 6:24:18 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I agree.
Your article in the GWG newsletter a couple years ago on stump rot and proper drainage around the stump helped me a lot.
Also, the closet shelving racks were genius.

4/8/2016 9:42:12 PM

The North Coast

Good luck Jake. I think lower OM is a good move. Sounds like some big melons grown with +7 PH. Sounds like you'll have things dialed in.

4/9/2016 10:12:30 AM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks Guys, I took 2 seasons off so I'm ready to go

4/10/2016 8:29:57 PM

Western PA

My ph usually drops some throughout the season. As you stated above Jake, the breakdown of the organic matter and some acid rain that we get on the East coast do contribute to the lowering.( western labs told me that ).
Glad to hear your growing,
Best of luck.

4/11/2016 11:30:06 AM

formerly RGG

It's good to see you back Jake. Sadly my growing days may be about over. I have plans to move to the Philippines in the next few months.

4/13/2016 7:35:34 PM

Grant, AL

Welcome back Jake! Glad to hear your growing again this year. Thanks for all of your help and advice with watermelon growing.

4/13/2016 8:25:57 PM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Ph 8.4 I grew that year a 1481 1328 1284 and 2 more I can't remember the exact weight but 1100 and 1000 all from same patch with a ph of 8.4

4/14/2016 8:40:18 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Haha... I suck growing melons maybe 8.4 isn't good for melons.. Kins didn't mind it...

4/14/2016 8:41:50 AM