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southwest MO

Do they prefer hot and dry -or- hot and humid? We are fixing to hit a stretch of mid 90's here in SW MO and in the past my plants have seemed to suffer at those temps. Any body ever try 30% shade over them? Maybe that will help with the intensity of the sun. Air temps under the cloth will still be the same but ground temps should be held back a bit. I have never shaded melon plants... what do you think??

7/9/2009 1:27:01 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Hot and dry, but not too hot. They seem to like early 90's during the day, and 70's at night. Over 105 or so, and the plants are in distress and generally shutdown, unless you can keep water on them. I am sure some of our southern gentlemen will chime in with hot weather tricks.

I have never shaded the plant itself, except by planting too many willow trees nearby. I have since cut them down to open to the sun. We are having opposite problems here in Minnesota. Lots of cool weather and too much cloud cover with rain. We call these free days, since you don't need to run either the air conditioner or the heat. Although the jury is still out on that heat thing for some nights. I noticed the missus has turned on the bed warmer on her side of the bed more than once this summer.

7/9/2009 5:01:21 PM

formerly RGG

Hot & humid is not too bad either. Just a better chance of disease with the humidity I think; although that is not a problem I have personally encountered here in hot & humid eastern Tennessee. The watermelon plant is believed to have originated somewhere around equatorial Africa and I suppose that is where it developed it's affinity for a lot of heat.Personally I welcome mid 90's for my melon plants as I know they will grow well under those conditions. Just be sure to give them PLENTY of water under those conditions.The key is to never allow them to get stressed.

7/9/2009 9:13:05 PM

southwest MO

Then hot and dry it is as there is very low chances for rain hear. We are a long way from the equator so that is comforting indeed. Do you guys water directly on the ground or just let the over heads rip?
I think Mites may have been a problem for me in the past as by the time the heat sets in they are well established and taking there toll. I am ahead of them this year though:).
I know this time of the year powdery mildew can be murder on pumpkins if you don't keep up with spraying... What diseases do you guys fear or battle the most on watermelons??

7/10/2009 8:16:02 AM

sevierville, Tn

I did have a few vines burn that got next to my black wind fence when it was 90+, but other then that, the heat doesn't seem to bother them. less water on leaves= less problems, so the closer to the ground the water is the better.

diseases = i spray like my pumpkins, but my biggest problem is anthracnose ! Had it last year , got it again. :(

Need some sun now, had 3 days this week of clouds & it is slowing my fruit growth !

7/10/2009 2:22:45 PM

Fuquay Varina, NC

Hot (90's)and lots of sun...and as Tennessee Dreamer says "plenty of water" on those hot days. The only thing we have the power over is the water...

7/11/2009 12:08:08 AM

Nicholls Georgia

here in south ga i use misters during the hot part of the day i run them 15 min then off 45 min and so on 4 times or more and alot of water so far my best to date is 920 lbs

7/13/2009 5:09:46 PM

Nicholls Georgia

sorry wronge fruit.......lol

7/13/2009 5:10:46 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

920 pounds would be one really nice watermelon. I would need more friends to get that one out of the patch, and even more friends to finish that one off. Don't even get me started on how much alcohol it would take to spike it.

7/14/2009 2:41:09 PM

Nicholls Georgia

lol i forgot what i was reading............hahahaha

7/14/2009 2:43:40 PM

Casa Grande, AZ

I live in Casa Grande, AZ. Its about 105-114 degree's right now. I currently has one watermelon vine. It grows more and more everyday and continues to have blooms and sm melons growing. Last year I did a experment and had one vine grow directlly in the sun-all day from 10am-6pm, the other only got sun from 7am-2 or 3 pm. The one in partial shade grew more melons and the other grew fewer....But the vine in all day sun produced melons that were sweeter then the other vine. It also produced melons longer then the other. That tells me to plant in the sun and to let nature take its course. I dont believe that misting for me is a good idea because it will not only cause troubles with rotting and burning.

7/23/2009 2:41:14 PM

southwest MO

Ya but thats a dry heat! lol Thanks for the info.

7/23/2009 3:19:09 PM