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Rochester, Minnesota

It has certainly been quiet lately. Not a word on the watermelon forums. Of course it's hard to think about watermelons when it's colder outside than your freezer.

I don't mean to be the bad news, but the old adage is "Half you wood and half your hay, you will use by Groundhog's Day".

But it will soon be February and that means that March and seed starting can't be too far away.

Hold in there melon growers. Spring will get here sooner or later, but hopefully sooner.

1/26/2010 3:31:04 PM

formerly RGG

Well, I certainly have lots to do in my garden nowdays. My biggest problem is finding a day that isn't too cold or too wet. I have collected tons of coffee grounds from Starbucks and need to get them incoorporated into my soil along with perlite and some dolomitic limestone.I have already managed to add alot of ammendments to the top half of my garden and the soil has changed away from the color of red clay. And the perlite I am adding is a good long term ammendment for red clay soil as it isn't organic and won't break down and so it contributes to a long term solution to keep my soil loose. There's really just not much to talk about there.I am a bit excited though as I feel my soil will be much improved over last year. I suppose soon it will be time to give an estimate of what particular genetics we'll be useing in the coming growing season. I still can't decide how many hills I'll have. I just know that last year my plants were too crowded.I'd say pretty soon Springtime requests for "a few good seeds" will start rolling in. James, I was sorry to watch the Vikings lose Sunday night as I was hopeing to see them go up against the Colts in 2 weeks. Well, maybe next year...
BTW, how early will you be starting plants? I used to have dreams about giant watermelons & that is why I chose to call myself Tennessee Dreamer. Maybe one of these day it will happen. I hope that someone sets a new world record watermelon weight this year as I think the record has been in Arkansas too long. My money would have to be on Chris Kent though. If he improves as much in the coming year as he did last year he'll shatter the old record of 268.8. Well, I wish everyone a new personal best in the coming growing season and I know there is lots of excitement ahead.

1/26/2010 6:55:55 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I'd just settle for a nice vine that'd give me some nice juicy ones big enough to fit in an ice cream pail. Pickle them whole....

I'm still trying just to keep a watermelon alive long enough to produce, in three years I have had success once, 2007.

1/26/2010 10:06:17 PM

formerly RGG

OkieGal, reading through this forum would probably be very helpful. Like other things, once you learn the proper techniques & requirements of the watermelon plant & if you have the proper conditions it is easy to grow good melons. Do you have a site that is well drained? Is it in a good sunny spot? Are you giving the plants plenty of room? Are you starting germination at the proper time to make the most of the summer heat and sunshine? Have you tested your soil for proper ph and nutrients? Do you have plenty of organic matter in your soil? Do you have a good plan for controlling weeds? There are lots of things to consider to grow good melons. If good melons can be grown in your area then you can learn to grow good melons. I hope this helps some.

1/26/2010 10:38:46 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I am hoping that after spending a few years growing AG's it might help my watermelon growing... :) Yes I will be reading on here this winter!

Mostly my issues have been the traditional, I don't seem to be able to water them properly, enough, often enough, etc. I shall continue on a great read... thank you.

1/27/2010 12:15:47 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

TD - I start my melons in mid to late March, depending on how I feel the spring will go. I usually start them just after I start all my tomato plants.

1/27/2010 9:08:09 AM

sevierville, Tn

I've got some new areas to get ready if the weather will improve. Ground was frozen for 2 weeks. ( How do you get through those long winters up north i'll never know)
Finally thawed & went straight to mud ! I got a new chain saw to clear some trees. Need more sun !

Hey Tennessee Dreamer, you need to cut some trees ;) LOL
You had a big improvement last year, so don't count yourself out in the run for the record !

Big snow coming here for friday, so no patch work this weekend.
Can't wait for spring, but the hard part will be choosing what to plant this year.

1/27/2010 12:09:31 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Ground frozen for two weeks? You have to be kidding. Mine will be frozen for 4 months to depth of up to 3 feet.

I also got out the chain saw last year and found the south end of the garden. Turned out some willows I planted grew like giant watermelons.

I did just put a brand spanking new 8 horse engine on my troy tiller. I am so looking forward to spring.

1/27/2010 5:10:24 PM

formerly RGG

I really wish I owned those trees so I could cut them SMP. They are in the neighbors yard & the owner refuses to talk about it. That biggest White Oak is hanging right over my house & will destroy it if it ever falls. Since I have no tiller I'm considering a lasagna garden this year. I think it's going to be a very interesting growing season coming up with everyone trying to figure out how to improve on past efforts.

1/27/2010 8:31:38 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

You don't know frozen until you've seen 7.5' frostline and on a cold summer it doesn't thaw all the way down.

There's a real reason I moved south, y'all :)

I have some melons called Desert King, going to try them this year, and some Moon and Stars. Practice up for the real thing maybe in 2011. Heh.

1/27/2010 8:40:41 PM

Bowdon, GA

James, A volounteer pecan can grow 5 ft in one year at the edge of my patch even cutting it every winter and burning the stump, yet they refuse to grow in the yard.

1/29/2010 1:18:46 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

Pecans don't grow up here. They must know better.

1/29/2010 10:24:22 AM