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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Watermelon, Watermelon, Watermelon Rye...









Some interesting fact about watermelons:
1) each plant has male and female flowers, and every 7th flower is a female. Males flowers produce the pollen and female flowers produce the fruit
2) The bees pollinate the watermelon in the morning and then the flowers close up in the afternoon. So, rainy or windy weather in the mornings can hamper yield
3)  Misshaped watermelons mostly occur from pollination problems. ie. If bees pollinate only one of the 3 lobes of the flower a irregular shaped melon will form or weather problems disturb pollination
4) Once a melon is forming the rest of the flowers will drop, so it is important to prune off bad watermelons


I have been growing watermelons for years now. I can count on one hand the times they actually produced an edible watermelon. Here are some problems that I have encountered.

Too small watermelon with dead vine
Too large watermelon and spongy inside
Black rotten hole on the outside
Uneven shaped watermelon
No watermelon yet healthy vine

Each year I encounter a problem, I research it and the next year I change that one thing. So, instead of boring you over the details of my finding and why. I will just share with you the tricks I do to "try" to grow an edible watermelon. 

I plant in full sun always! I try to find a spot with great drainage like sandy soil or for me over an old drain field of a septic tank. The key is the soil can't have too good of drainage and not retain water and/or too poor drainage and lead to rot. I place the watermelon with lots of room to wander through other flowering plants. I use it almost as a ground cover. This year, I planted it in a huge pot filled with moisture control potting mix and placed the pot among my roses. Once I see a watermelon forming, I hand pick all the rest of the flowers off the vine and sometimes even trim the vine and leave only about 2 ft or less after the watermelon. I WATER evenly and consistently.  Watering is my biggest problem. Too little water during fruit formation will cause spongy, small or misshaped watermelons. Too much water will cause fungus, blight and rot. For my region, 8b, I water as much as I can since it is usually hot and dry during fruit production. Ideal watering would be one inch a week. I place a board under the watermelon and try to shade it under a plant (see pic above).

After all is said and done, I feel lucky every time I get to actually eat a watermelon I grow. This year was the best year I have ever had. The funny thing was I did all the tricks above, but still thought it would be bad inside. I waited and watched expected everyday to find it split, rotten or turning yellow. It grew so big it peaked my curiosity to what the inside must look like. So, I asked my gardener neighbor, "How do I know if it is ripe?" He told me that it is easy to tell because there will be 2 light  green tendrils at the next joint past the watermelon and when they turn brown and die...the watermelon is ripe. I was skeptical, however, Charlie has never been wrong (amazing right?).  So, I brought it in a couple of weeks ago, carrying it with 2 hands under it like a fragile child. I placed it on the kitchen counter and marveled at its size and weight. I told the kids to get ready, it maybe really bad when I cut it. I stuck a large knife right in the middle...the watermelon split open with a large CRACK and juice starting pouring out! It was as if the watermelon cried out, "It is about time! Ughhhhhh!!!"


Sarah, my 12 year old


Nathan, my 13 year old (that wants me to tell you that he has a swim suit on! Teenagers!*$#*^?

To say the least, which as you can tell is hard for the long winded. It was delicious! So, next spring buy that 4 pack of watermelon (I will be buying Jubilee variety above) and attempt to glory at the possibility of eating your own homegrown watermelon.


Happy Gardening!

Nicki

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