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Alabama

The monster had to be picked this morning to enter in the Franklin County Watermelon Festival. Lenght was 36in girth was 54.75in, it's weight was 189lbs. It took first place with 25lbs to spare, My wife took 2nd with a 164.5 pounder, Third was 141lbs entered by a man from Hodges AL. all other melons were in the 90lbs to 110lbs range.

All growers had the same problems this year with the weather, we had 20in of rain in May alone and it has been the coldest Summer in North Alabama since records have been keep (Global Warming ???).

In summary: the 213 offspring that was entered was grown in the worst part of my patch, that has never produced a melon over 140lbs, combine that with the environmental conditions it went through I feel confident this genetic line has the ability to produce a world record in the future. Just a note, I did plant the 213 in the best part of my patch but the wet soil killed 6 of the 9 plants I grew this year.

8/15/2009 8:39:18 PM

Alabama

Photos will be up soon.

Cliff

8/15/2009 8:51:51 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Congrats on a great melon ! Been a weird year to say the least. Once again great Job!

8/15/2009 8:51:56 PM

sevierville, Tn

Great job Clift. Do you have any 213 left growing ?
Seems it should have been alot bigger from your last post. Did you have any problems with the fruit or plant since the day 36 update?? Thanks, chris.
P.S. Your welcome to as many more for next year as you want.

8/15/2009 9:11:48 PM

formerly RGG

Cliff,

Your monster melon sounds awesome. I can't wait to see pictures. I just wish you could have left it to fully mature.I think the weather has been strange for just about everyone in the country.We can only wonder what might have been.Big CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!!

Dennis

8/15/2009 9:20:07 PM

sevierville, Tn

Clift, did it have a long stem ? Mine does which sure helps while growing. Thanks

8/15/2009 9:26:34 PM

Alabama

I have one 213 growing that I replanted around the first of June. It has set a melon, its very young (10 days)and looking good, I will keep you updated.

The 213 size wise is the largest melon I have grown, I was expecting it to be around 230lbs. I quit using my micro-drip irrigation because of the rain, I think that has caused the melon to have a large hollow spot. It is on display at the Morgan County COOP when I cut it I will let you know if its was hollow.

PS Yes I could use some more seeds, Get with you later about it.

Cliff

8/15/2009 9:26:37 PM

Alabama

The young plant that is growing has a stem about 5in long, I thought that was weird until you mention it. The one I picked today had a normal stem about 2.5in.

8/15/2009 9:33:47 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Congratulations on the melon Cliff. I added you to my tracking database for actuals. It's a good melon. Your girth was a little small, but you made up for it with a really good overall length. Do you have other measures like the individual OTT measures?

8/17/2009 10:59:24 AM

Bowdon, GA

Cliff anything going on the 195 or 199's

8/17/2009 6:19:31 PM

Alabama

MMM I will get the numbers for you before I cut it. thanks for keeping the data hopefully we can use it in the future.

Holloway the melon my wife entered was from the 199 it took 2nd place at 164.5 I have two melons growing now from the 199 and 213, they will be late season melons so its hard to judge the outcome now.

8/17/2009 8:37:03 PM