Watermelon Vines... 2nd round?!

[vfem]

I ripped out some watermelon vines I thought were done producing when I removed the last of the fruit. It was a giant over grown mess of vines...

That is when I noticed more flowers... but I had already ripped them up... so I got on to my other bed where I had another tangle of vines I already thought I got all the melon off of... more flowers... and WOW a new fresh watermelon is growing?!

So, how many rounds of melon should I expect? More if the season stays warm enough!?

 

[bid]

They will produce another few melons...maybe. If they do, the melons will probably be a bit smaller than your first harvest. So much depends on the weather. It's 8/20, how many days till those little melons mature?

The question I would ask is Do you want to put the space to a different use or take a chance on getting another 1 or 2 melons? Powdery mildew will be a concern as the days get shorter, dew points get lower and temps a little cooler also. My 2 cents worth.

 

[vfem]

Well, I decided to trim the vines back to let the one largest go on its own. Its gotten to be a good size actually and I think its great because it grew out of the raised bed through the fence and over by the grapes!

I am converting the rest of the bed over to grow carrots for fall now.

Downy mildew has already killed my cucumber and is attacking my canteloupe... so I'm in a bit of a mood over that whole bit. Its slowed the ripening and growth of about 6 melons... I'm not sure they will ripen now at all. :/

 

[Greenthumb18]

Well, I decided to trim the vines back to let the one largest go on its own. Its gotten to be a good size actually and I think its great because it grew out of the raised bed through the fence and over by the grapes!

I am converting the rest of the bed over to grow carrots for fall now.

Downy mildew has already killed my cucumber and is attacking my canteloupe... so I'm in a bit of a mood over that whole bit. Its slowed the ripening and growth of about 6 melons... I'm not sure they will ripen now at all. :/

I think thats a good idea this way all of the plants energy will go to ripening the fruit instead of producing leaves or new vines.
I wish you luck on the mildew problem heres a good recipe for the fungicide i've used it with good results:


Baking Soda Spray for Blight, Leaf Spot and Mildew
A spray made from baking soda is a great all-around disease spray. It is good for treating anthracnose, tomato blight, leaf blight, leaf spots, and powdery mildew.

1 Tablespoon baking soda
2 1/2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 gallon water
1 teaspoon plain dishwashing soap (such as Ivory)

Mix thoroughly.

Pour into your sprayer and spray top and bottom of leaves thoroughly, as well as the surrounding soil. Mix or shake often while spraying to keep all ingredients thoroughly mixed. Repeat every 5-7 days as needed.

 

[davaroo]

Im not far from you here in SC and Ive noted that most melons give a big rush of fruit and a later few stragglers. So you are seeing what is normal.
The latecomers never really get much going, though, usually coming in about half to two thirds as full as the first.

It is a usual recommendation in any book I've read to trim back the growing tips and side branches on melon vines. The goal is to get it down to four good fruit on bearing branches, so the vine gives them all its energy.

I rarely mess with all that and just plant a lot of melons. I stagger the plantings so they last a long time, well into the summer. I'll be rooting out the last of mine this week.

The problem here in the South is the weather. Melons need heat, but they can't take it for too long. Once the night temperatures get up there (75 degrees or so), the mildew sets in. The thing to do is plan/stagger multiple plantings, so the melons only last as long as they need to.

But I do appreciate the mildew spray given here. I'm gonna get up a batch of that next season. Thank you so much!

 

[Greenthumb18]

But I do appreciate the mildew spray given here. I'm gonna get up a batch of that next season. Thank you so much!

Your welcome davaroo! This spray was a lifesaver in my garden when i wasnt able to go to the store to buy some fungicide and its better than having harsh chemicals in the garden.

 

[vfem]

Oh yes, thank for the mildew spray... it was really rampent in my garden this year. I didn't plan on so much rain and mulched. For once, mulching didn't help that much at all!

 

[Greenthumb18]

Oh yes, thank for the mildew spray... it was really rampent in my garden this year. I didn't plan on so much rain and mulched. For once, mulching didn't help that much at all!

Your very welcome vfem!!! If only it wouldnt rain that much, but sometimes you have to be ready to take action against mildews and diseases.

Good Luck!!!