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View Full Version : Watermelon for the 1st time ever


Scuba_Dave
07-29-2009, 08:01 PM
I've planted seeds in the past - never had anything grow
This year I moved all vine plants into other areas
Cukes are in one area
Summer squash in another

Zuccini, pumpkin & watermelon in another area just cleared near the stream
This year I cleared an area near the stream about 5' x 40'
I have a few watermelons growing & at least 1 pumkpin
Stuff is just starting to take off after a rainy Spring into summer
These are the small watermelons abpout the size of a soccer ball
--Green striped
One is getting to be a good size
And of course I have no idea how to tell if it is ready.....

Richard
07-29-2009, 08:18 PM
Congratulations! I really like the new soccer-ball size varieties because they will ripen in places with modest summers and do not dominate your refrigerator!

hammer
07-29-2009, 09:17 PM
Yep they are the best. i have grown many watermelons but i cant seem to tell when they are ripe.

hersirsmiley
07-29-2009, 09:58 PM
I too have had trouble telling when things are ripe. One thing you can do is take one that looks good and remove it and cut it up. The other thing you can do is smell it if its a melon with a smell when ripe. Or you can try the test where you tap on the fruit to see if its ripe. Although to be honest I don't quite know how the tap test works.

ewitte
07-30-2009, 05:56 AM
I never could tell myself. It stayed on the plant until the plant started dying. When I cut it open and saw pink I was excited :)

damaclese
07-30-2009, 06:53 AM
I've planted seeds in the past - never had anything grow
This year I moved all vine plants into other areas
Cukes are in one area
Summer squash in another

Zuccini, pumpkin & watermelon in another area just cleared near the stream
This year I cleared an area near the stream about 5' x 40'
I have a few watermelons growing & at least 1 pumkpin
Stuff is just starting to take off after a rainy Spring into summer
These are the small watermelons abpout the size of a soccer ball
--Green striped
One is getting to be a good size
And of course I have no idea how to tell if it is ready.....

its easy to tell if a watrmelon is ripe on the botm it will turn yelow were it sits on the ground and when you thump the melon it will have a deep holow sound

Scuba_Dave
08-03-2009, 08:33 PM
I'm letting it grow for now
More are growing, so I guess I'll have a few
Next year I will enlarge this garden area & plant more

damaclese
08-03-2009, 08:41 PM
thought you mite like this one its called Stars and Moon an antique variety recovered from the wields of Missouri

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=20403&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20403&ppuser=2612)

MediaHound
08-03-2009, 09:04 PM
Congrats Dave

Scuba_Dave
08-03-2009, 09:13 PM
I'll have to take some pics
...and make a note to buy the same seeds next year
In the past I bought the big watermelon seeds - NADA

Scuba_Dave
08-10-2009, 10:07 PM
Well, my watermelon is turning orange
So I guess its a pumpkin
I'll have to see what else turns orange