Re: Watermelon state records
On Fri, 1 Sep 2000 12:00:29 EDT, pumpkins@mallorn.com wrote:
Helo Barb,
This was also my rookie year at growing watermelons,so I just did what
others reccomended and tweaked it a little along the way. The patch was
treated the same as my AG patch as far as preping. Manure,Ironite,peat,and
all the other goodies. And I added some extra of the "secret ingredient"
(bat guano,worm castings and pelletized fish emulison). I got the seeds out
of the Illinois state record from Mr. Elkins,the grower. Only growing 1
plant. I didn't train any vines,just let them go. I did bury the first 4
feet or so of a few of the vines that first started. I am letting the plant
get as big as it wants,covers about a 30' X 40' area now. People tell me you
can't blow up a watermelon as easy with water and fertilizers,like you can a
AG. So I fertilize every 3 days with 10-60-10 now,started out with Miracle
Grow,fish emulison and seaweed. Getting ready to fertilize now,and water
throughly. It's alot harder to keep all the fruits picked off than it is on
the AG's,I bet I've picked off 100 or more! May have seeds out of mine this
Fall if you want a few. Still haven't found that Indiana state record!
Dewight
Dewight:
At 180 lbs. and still growing, you have a monster melon, indeed. Saw Todd
Kline's winning watermelon at Ottawa two years ago, and it was HUGE.
Congrats
and I hope you reach 200!
Is your watermelon a Carolina Cross variety? Where did you obtain your
seeds,
commercially or from another grower?
I would like to know how different the cultivation and propagation
techniques
are as compared to the AG. Did you use different fert, soil or organic
matter
for your melons? How big did your plants get and did you prune or train
your
vines at all?
Very curious.
Barb
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Dewight Blanton
Indiana-USA
Zone 5.5
First year Rookie
dewig1@excite.com
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