Watermellons!?!?!

[sparkles2307]

Um, ok I know they need quite a bit of water, but HOW much? Also, last year we had mellons in full sun that we let turn nice and dark and left on the vine for about 5 weeks...and they were still pale green inside...how long does it take!?!

 

[curly_kate]

I think it depends a lot on the variety of melons that you buy. I've grown sugar babies, and they don't take as long as some of the bigger varieties. Does the seed packet have a number of days til harvest on it? If you know the variety, you also might be able to find that info online.

 

[farmerlor]

The melon will tell you when it's ready to be picked. DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE THEM ONCE FRUIT HAS SET. LOL! That way when they're ready the bottom will be pale yellowish white and the stem where it connects to the melon will be dry and brittle and easy to break. Most of my heritage melons take just over a hundred days so I have to start those babies inside and transplant when it's warm enough.

 

[aidenbaby]

If you have to put any effort in getting the fruit off the vine, it isn't ready. I got to learn a lot about that last year.

 

[Texan]

Good thread, I've got about 15 vines growing right now. This is my first time growing anything much less watermelons. They are destined to become watermelon wine.

 

[sparkles2307]

My packets SAY anywhere from 80-100 days, depending on the variety. Last year the ones I had trouble with were sugar babies... so apparently I was just not leaving them alone long enough! I am doing an orange fleshed variety and the Moon and Stars variety. Going to plant one kind on one side of the garden, then stagger the other kind up about 12 feet and over 12 feet so its in front of the corn, i figure with corn between them cross pollination is less likely!

 

[Texan]

My packets SAY anywhere from 80-100 days, depending on the variety. Last year the ones I had trouble with were sugar babies... so apparently I was just not leaving them alone long enough! I am doing an orange fleshed variety and the Moon and Stars variety. Going to plant one kind on one side of the garden, then stagger the other kind up about 12 feet and over 12 feet so its in front of the corn, i figure with corn between them cross pollination is less likely!

I planted orange flesh, yellow meated and red meated. The only ones to come up were the reglular red meated ones. Go figure.

 

[sparkles2307]

Aint it just like that!? Never do the exciting ones work out...

 

[aidenbaby]

I'm doing sugar babies this year. I've been contemplating using panythose and such to help it to "climb" our fence. I'm still working the details in my head though.

 

[farmerlor]

My packets SAY anywhere from 80-100 days, depending on the variety. Last year the ones I had trouble with were sugar babies... so apparently I was just not leaving them alone long enough! I am doing an orange fleshed variety and the Moon and Stars variety. Going to plant one kind on one side of the garden, then stagger the other kind up about 12 feet and over 12 feet so its in front of the corn, i figure with corn between them cross pollination is less likely!

Girl after my own heart. I'm a sucker for a good orange watermelon. I've got Orangeglo and Tendersweet outside. They do very well here but like I said I have to start them inside and transplant them when the weather warms up. I also LOVE my Moon and Stars and baby them like crazy. I do grow some Sugar babies and Picnics for the kids and use the rinds to make pickles. Those are the ones I grow in with the corn.