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sevierville, Tn

Final on 1 of my 255 mitchell 07
The cross is 209 kent 09 = 255 mitchell X 251 Mudd

209 lbs on a shipping scale i have. Fruit was leaking this morning. Went out to check on it & saw the merchants of death (fruit flies) swarming. I weighed it when i got home today. While not certified, its close considering it was leaking all day. Was estimated at 211 lbs.
James, some measurements for you:
cir=93.5
side to side = 43.5
end to end = 59
girth=57
straight length = 37.5
It was probally my nicest looking melon. Most of the inside bottom was rotten/liquid, YECH ! probally too much rain this year, makes me very worried about my other ones.

8/25/2009 10:29:34 PM

formerly RGG

Chris, I am awfully sorry to hear about your loss. I certainly hope your other melons stay intact and continue to grow.I know I was out there but I don't remember; do you have boards or anything underneath your melons? I think it is something to consider if you don't.

Dennis

8/25/2009 10:50:03 PM

formerly RGG

Oh yeah,I seem to remember now that you have sand under them. I guess that wasn't enough. Well, I hope that at least the seeds will be viable. I'm pretty sure they will be on such a large melon.Well, do yourself a favor and get something under those other melons. Let me know if you need any help & I'll drive out there to assist you.

Dennis

8/25/2009 10:57:04 PM

formerly RGG

By the way, the one I have growing that I am calling "Little Boy" on my growers diary is almost exactly the same size as the one you lost. And I know how awful I would feel if I lost that one.

Dennis

8/25/2009 11:01:45 PM

sevierville, Tn

Thanks Dennis, Yea I got a ton of seed out of it. She was 65 days old. I did the sand thing. Doesn't help when i rains every day. Even sprinkled while i was weighing it tonight ! We had rain everyday last week. Saturday was a big gully washer here & the forcast was 20% at the time.

Yours looks great too, hope it keeps going !

8/25/2009 11:08:55 PM

sevierville, Tn

What was "little boy at day 32-35 Do you know ?

8/25/2009 11:09:51 PM

formerly RGG

Sorry Chris, I was watching this one with interest but even now I'm not keeping records on it and my memory isn't that good. I just remember it as fast growing, long & skinny.It's starting to look a little plumper now though and weight gains are still pretty good.

8/26/2009 7:38:39 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I am sorry to hear about the loss of this melon. I will use the numbers regardless.

I have found that sand alone isn't enough. Even lots of sand isn't enough. I put every one of my melons up on boards, and have never had a melon develop rot that I have put on boards. I used to have 1 or 2 out of my 6 to 8 melons rot every year before I started using 2x4 boards placed perpendicular under the fruit. Although the fruit does conform to the board, that is, grows around them a bit, I have never had a fruit "hurt" from the boards themselves. I think the additional air flow under the melon makes all the difference.

8/26/2009 12:03:17 PM

formerly RGG

It might be air flow James but not necessarily. I have never had a melon rot on plastic or I would be useing plastic and boards. I think just a solid barrier between the melon & the dirt may be the thing. That said, I can see where a board would be better protection than plastic because it would keep the melon from any residual mositure from rain or watering or whatever.

8/26/2009 4:43:30 PM

Bowdon, GA

I hate to hear that, I would have liked to have seen how it finished. That is still a huge melon. I'd love to have one that size at any age. I tried to make that same cross but at the time I didn't have any pollen on my 251 so I used the 197 Mudd. It will be interesting to see if 209 produces 255 length and 251 girth. I like the looks of that 239 too. Hope they hold together for you.

8/26/2009 10:28:01 PM

sevierville, Tn

Jake, I could not take not knowing after loosing the 255 , i had my son pick up one end of the 239 so i could look underneath. Looks perfect, sand was very dry. I feel alot better now. Its going to be a nice one but its open polinated. Your welcome to seed this fall. It has a 255 on either side so what ever the males was it will be a good cross. I got a girth while he was holding it( hurry up dad LOL ) 61.5" Length is 37" Now if only this rain would STOP !

8/27/2009 12:39:33 PM

Bowdon, GA

Wow! that is going to be a big one. It's pouring here today. I had the day off planned on working outside but no chance. The ground under my biggest one stays wetter than the others. I thought about trying to get some 2X4's under it, but I'm kind of afraid they would damage it if I tried it at this size. I have gotten them under a 100 pounder no problem, but have'nt tried it on one this far along. I appreciate the offer on the seeds I sure would like some out of those. Thanks Good Luck

8/27/2009 4:19:55 PM