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Bowdon, GA

I have two good melons taping about the same. One is still growing just a little. I think the other has about stopped. I had thought about taking one to Allardt on Oct. 3. Should I leave it on the vine til then or should I try to find a cooler. How long can you leave them on after they stop? How much weight do melons lose after picking 1 lb, 5 lbs? Will it hold it's weight on the vine? Any experience would be greatly appreciated.

9/15/2009 8:35:19 PM

formerly RGG

Jake, I think you should hold it on the vine as long as the stem is green and the vine is alive. I don't think it will lose any weigth while it is on a growing vine. Indeed it will probably gain just a little more. They will lose weight in a dry cooler. The bigger the melon and the longer it is in a cooler the more weight it will lose. My 181 was in a grocery store cooler and they about ruined it by moving it around as it got a couple of significant gashes in it.I am fairly certain leaving a Carolina Cross with a green stem on a growing vine for as long as you can is better than in a cooler.Just my opinion.

Dennis

9/15/2009 9:04:29 PM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks Dennis, Congrats on the win at the Tennesse Valley Fair. I'm going to leave it as long as I can stand it. My patch is already flooded and it is suppost to rain all week. I have them up on blocks but still making me nervous. I wish I could go to elkin but my wife and I already had plans. I think Allardt is the only other one I could find close enough. Probablly going to be some big melons there, but I've never been to a weighoff and would like to go just to experience one while I have a decent melon. (Just hoping the chart don't lie to much. Have you picked all of yours now? Did you weigh your 181 when you picked it?

9/15/2009 9:56:14 PM

Long Island,New York

We had melons wieghed, then set in cooler for about 30 days, then rewieghed and found they lost 1 lb over that time....about 1-1.5% The two scales were different (before and after) but the wieghts were within a lb after about 30 days of cool storage.

9/16/2009 6:25:10 AM

sevierville, Tn

if its off the ground & the vine is still green, i would leave it attached. Keep the shade on it as the sun would probally make it loose faster. How old is it ?

9/16/2009 2:39:18 PM

sevierville, Tn

Do melons float ?? The way its raining, i may be able to float it out of the garden ! Just kidding.

9/16/2009 2:58:50 PM

sevierville, Tn

Congrads Dennis on the Tennesse Valley Fair !!

9/16/2009 2:59:34 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Yes, watermelons float. It was a common activity at Boy Scout summer camp to play football at the lake with a greased watermelon. Loads of fun, but I can't imagine using a giant.

9/16/2009 4:08:37 PM

Bowdon, GA

I think about two more inches of rain and I may have some boats. I checked today and the one I thought had stopped had put on some more circ. since last measurement. Both are around 75 days Oct. 2 will be 90 days. I do have them up off the ground. I didn't trust the sand with this much rain. I also have the shade tarp tilted to try to keep the rain off them. The blocks should keep the bottom dry. I think I could keep the plant alive if I could ever find a day to spray. The forecast shows rain for the next eight days. Thanks for all the input. I think I'm going to go for it, since they are still plugging along a little.

9/16/2009 10:40:30 PM

sevierville, Tn

well with 2 left you should make it with all the safeguards you have done. Mine was 90 days last year too.
Hope to see you there.
Chris

9/17/2009 2:14:34 PM