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Ontario

Regarding your diary post.......are you using polymer water crystals so you don't have to water every day?? I was looking at possibly using them myself, but I water my pumpkins every day, so not sure the benefit. I guess if your soil is so well drained it would allow the roots to obtain water and nutrients within from the crystals in the top 12 inches, but then the roots might not grow longer as they would if they were searching for water. Trying to decide if it is worth the investment. Let me know your thoughts...

Thanks... Bryan

3/28/2011 9:22:50 AM

formerly RGG

Yes, I am using water polymers.I have a large patch and my city water is very expensive here and also my watering will all be done by hand.I know that Chris Kent watered a LOT and set the world record so I believe having very moist soil is very important. Also I have added large amounts of perlite and lots of organic matter that will help with drainage. I am on a hillside also, so drainage will not be a problem for me.You can order a 50# bag of water keep from this site:http://www.water-keep.com/shop/. Price is $199 and my shipping was very reasonable at only $15.I just hope this stuff will not cause my vines to rot.

3/28/2011 10:24:10 AM

Ontario

Thanks...ya I can see your point....under those circumstances I think it will help......mine are different...I have unlimited water. Perhaps you can let us know at the end of season if you believe it was beneficial. It looks very promising for people with a limited water supply for sure, shipping to Canada would likely cost more, but could pick some up on one of our Lunatic runs south of the border... good luck!!

3/28/2011 11:29:24 AM

Western PA

TD, if your house is above (higher than)your patch, you might consider catching rain water and using a drip system like t-tape. Their would be some up front cost, but using rain water would be the ticket in my opinion. Just a thought.I am planning on switching from sprinklers to drip this year.I was not happy with my sprinkler system, it left dry spots under my pumpkin leaves.

3/28/2011 11:43:44 AM

formerly RGG

BP, just watch my diary to see how I am doing as I will probably make frequent posts.

3/28/2011 11:52:01 AM

formerly RGG

Thanks Zappa,I have been thinking about doing just that. I probably won't be able to get to it until next season though.

3/28/2011 11:53:17 AM

Western PA

It has been running through my head as well. In my case I will need to build a high platform for the tank. My yard is fairly flat.
We had a professional from a irrigation firm speak to us at our seminar last week. He stated that your tanks will need to be 18.5 feet high in order for the drip tapes to work at 8 psi.The fact that your patch is on a hill would probably change that height some, probably lower, but I would definitly talk to a professional first. So keep all that in mind.
Lee

3/28/2011 12:02:29 PM

formerly RGG

Thanks for the advice guys.

3/28/2011 5:20:34 PM

Bowdon, GA

I don't know if this is what made the difference because there are so many variables. But last year I watered twice a day ( same amount as ussual) just twice a day after fruit set. I had consistently heavier fruit to the chart. Could have been more hours of sunlight last summer I don't know. Watering has always seemed to be a quessing game on here lots of different methods' depending on soil type drainage and avaliability. Would be interesting to see what others are doing.

3/28/2011 7:16:39 PM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

This could work in the patch. I believe it's already used in some agricultural applications
I believe that it's not necessarily the amount of water you put down, rather, the consistant level at which you keep your gardens soil moist.
Halloway, that's a great example of what I mean. You didn't put more water on, just spread it out so that there were no surges in the plants' water uptake. I think the worst thing you can do is let your garden go dry, especially right before a rain...KABOOM.

3/28/2011 8:21:26 PM

Cleveland, Tenn

TD, how much area will that bag cover?

3/29/2011 6:38:55 PM

formerly RGG

The only website I could find with a recommendation recommended one pound per 1000 square feet. I plan on using the whole 50 pounds on about 3000 square feet though.So I don't know what to tell you. I guess do some research on the web or experiment with it and find what works for you.It is not a fertilize or a nutrient and is not toxic so I believe it would be nearly impossible to over use this stuff.

3/29/2011 8:49:13 PM

Garner, NC

Hey TD, Not telling you what to do, but a long time grower told me once, when trying something new, just do it to a few of your plants. 17lbs per 1000sgft and they recommend 1 lbs, could be a little overboard, or it could be the best thing ever. Just something to think about, what if your spring is unusually wet, will you roots rot?

3/29/2011 9:09:59 PM

Muddy Waters

Yeah Id take baby steps if I were you,your whole season could be spoiled,plus you can compare with & without!!

3/29/2011 9:38:08 PM

sevierville, Tn

What happens if you over do it ? How do you reverse the effects ? How long does it last ? Years maybe, thats a long error ??

3/29/2011 9:45:36 PM

Muddy Waters

I think you would have to dilute first by trucking in more soil.Just guessing,I would want solid proof,before I jumped in.Maybe you have that already???

3/30/2011 6:24:02 AM

formerly RGG

Well most of the polymer has already been put on so too late for not using it aggressively. I have added lots to my soil already Mark. My garden is like a large raised bed. And with all the perlite and organics I have added it drains very well. I think the polymer will work well. Melons like lots of water as long as they aren't starved for oxygen.I see little chance anything bad can come of this. If it does then so be it.I will concede that my season ended before it even starts is a slight possibility.But then again if I am right in what I am doing then I may possibly have some of the best melons in the country. Only time will tell.

3/30/2011 8:08:37 AM

formerly RGG

Should I have moved slower .... probably.But I am often a risk taker. So if I have messed up then all the other growers out there have one less person to worry about beating them. Actually, I have used a fairly strong mixture of water polymers in potted plants and they seemed to love it.Whether this will spell equal success with watermelons is a whole different issue.I do know that watermelons like lots of water and I have a limited ability to provide it in large daily quantities to my fairly large patch. So I am hoping this will be just the ticket for helping provide my plants with all the water they would like.

3/30/2011 8:27:49 AM

Trinity River Bottom

Td Hope we are all wrong but i believe that may be to much. this stuff holds lots of water. They recommend 1 lb. you are useing almost 17 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. Just my 2 pennies..

3/30/2011 8:44:53 AM

formerly RGG

Que sera sera.

3/30/2011 8:55:43 AM

Georgetown, Ontario

“You have to risk going too far to discover just how far you can really go.”
- T.S. Eliot

3/30/2011 10:04:32 AM

sevierville, Tn

Well if the weather is like last years, you may be set up perfect !

3/30/2011 10:49:51 AM

formerly RGG

I wrote to water keep and this was their reply:
Hi Dennis,

Thank you for your order.

When applied at a rate of 10 lb/1000ft2 tilled 6" deep, you should not
encounter any negative effects with watermelons. The Water-Keep
crystals will hydrate to their individual maximum capacity and any
excess water will drain past through the soil. The crystals will help
mitigate low water conditions, especially once the plant roots grow
into them.

Thank you again and best regards,
Kip Clyburn
info@water-keep.com

3/30/2011 2:18:19 PM

formerly RGG

So perhaps I haven't made any problems for myself.Then again perhaps Kip Clyburn is no watermelon expert.

3/30/2011 2:19:45 PM

Muddy Waters

Go for it TD I hope you Grow a WR 1 lb smaller than mine.lolol

3/30/2011 6:58:41 PM

formerly RGG

That would be fine with me Mark. I just hope I enter an earlier contest than you so I will have the world record for a week or so.LOL

3/30/2011 7:59:14 PM

Muddy Waters

yeah i could go to sept 25 or oct 2nd???? depends on still growing ???I hope to make it that far!!!

3/30/2011 9:17:40 PM

sevierville, Tn

Ok, what is the cracked corn for ????

4/1/2011 2:12:42 PM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

the cracked corn is to attract chickens that'll take up residence by the patch. the chickens are a direct beneficial organism that will pick off pathogenic insects and pull weeds as they sprout in the patch. They will not harm the watermelon plants because of their selective traits.

4/1/2011 3:16:52 PM

sevierville, Tn

I don't have any chicken,but there are lots of wild turkeys in the area. Do you think they would work just as well ?? A side benefit would be that thanksgiving comes right after growing season if you think turkeys would work !

4/1/2011 3:27:59 PM

Ontario

no chickens here....but we do use corn meal to feed the worm population....

4/1/2011 3:32:13 PM

Trinity River Bottom

hmmmm.

4/1/2011 4:04:05 PM

formerly RGG

Yes, I am using the corn to feed the "biological herd".The pieces are much larger than cornmeal and should work kind of as a "time release" food for the micor and so forth. And if some chickens show up then.... well I was wondering what to cook for so supper. LOL

4/1/2011 4:53:46 PM