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virginia

I just wondering do you deadhead watermelon plants like u do with pumpkin plants when u got a nice one going???? Like secondaires vines and main and such,,,,,greg

6/29/2011 3:15:11 PM

formerly RGG

I don't know either but I have plants that were deadheaded by strong winds.For example, my 194 Brinkley has set a fairly nice melon on the main about 4" below where the wind broke it off. I wonder if I should allow the main to grow a new vine or should I keep new growth cut off from this part of the plant?

6/29/2011 6:00:11 PM

Muddy Waters

some do some dont its your call

6/29/2011 10:35:43 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Greg, I would assume that as with pumpkins, there are some benefits to terminating the vines. Although "some do, some dont it's your call" is a bit too vague for me, I can tell you that with pumpkins, once you terminate a vine, you direct that energy back into the fruit, this manifests with increased gains, or sustained gains over longer periods, but that is a discussion for another time.
I am curious to learn what the more successful watermelon growers do.

6/29/2011 11:46:11 PM

Bowdon, GA

Hey guys look back about 3 pages near the bottom, entitled plant size. good discussion on plant size.

6/30/2011 12:21:36 AM

sevierville, Tn

There are 2 groups in the melon growers. One who let their plants get as big as they want, growers like Bright, Pleasant, many of the long time growers. Others like Mitchell & Edwards prune theirs like pumpkins. Both groups have been sucessfull. I'm kinda in the middle & prune to the size of area i'm growing in but will let it grow as much as it wants inside that area. The melons are harder to keep pruned & since you can set on multiple vines makes it more difficult to make a case for either at this time. Both have merits. Melons share many of the traits as pumpkins, but not all so were all still learning what works best.

6/30/2011 2:35:56 PM

formerly RGG

Even the pumpkin growers are still a little divided in their thoughts on this matter
aren't they Chris?

6/30/2011 5:55:16 PM

Muddy Waters

I believe if you stop all growth on melons you drasticly slow down the root system! yes they have grown big Melons this way!But I think Chris Kents Great line up last year has something to do with letting plant continue to grow,thru the season! just my thoughts ,cant prove it, its your call which method you think is best!When were hitting 400 pds we will have a better feel for this!!

6/30/2011 6:27:07 PM

Bowdon, GA

I don't know just starting to try pruning last year. Do I have this right? Chris is pruning the edges and stimulating growth from the center. Michigan growers are pruning and training in patterns similar to pumpkins. Assuming they are removing some vines to maintain the pattern?

7/1/2011 12:18:38 AM

formerly RGG

Jake, my understanding of the Michigan growing technique is that all secondaries that grow in the wrong direction are removed up until about the first of August. After that a few are allowed to grow to replace dying leaves. Along with the weather and grower mistakes, this has kept my vines small and I am so far behind I feel I will probably not be competitive this year.

7/1/2011 7:36:09 AM

virginia

Thanks for the comments. Looks like there is alot of ways to grow these big Guys,,,,,,,,greg

7/1/2011 2:49:40 PM

Sevierville,tn

I call it the spaghetti factor let the vines fill in the patch size. Keep turning back in. I think as long as you keep them green and growing..it helps.

7/2/2011 6:23:38 PM