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Alabama

I wanted to double the plants I have each year from six to twelve, the richest soil I have is an acre that is flooded from November through March. Late this winter I dug drainage ditches then cleared and sandbagged an area about 100X30. After hours behind the tiller, finally on May 15th I transplanted one 267 Pleasant and two 160 knights. The plants were very late in setting decent females, I had mains and secondary’s 15 foot long when I finally pollinated on July 1st here are the results at day 17:

160 X 267 - 42in girth, 26in length

267 X 160 - 40in girth, 24in length

267 X 160 - 37in girth, 26in length

Keeping my fingers crossed.

7/19/2011 6:00:55 PM

formerly RGG

Cliff, sounds like you are well on your way to some monster size melons. What are you feeding them?

7/19/2011 9:11:44 PM

Garner, NC

Wow, sounds like you have some really good ones going, girth looks really good. Girth is something I just can't seem to get. How do the swamp melons compare to the other melons you have going?

7/19/2011 9:56:11 PM

virginia

ISG,,They going to be some mosters, if u can keep them going,,,,Good luck,,,,greg

7/20/2011 1:31:58 PM

Trinity River Bottom

Looking at some of my melons those are the same measurements i take to make sure they are still growing. That would put the 160x267 around a 100 lbs. Thats big. Sad to say but those are 30 day measurements for me..lol

7/20/2011 2:24:51 PM

Alabama

To answer a few questions:

I used about 20lbs of 13X13X13 when I was breaking up the soil, I have not used anything else. The soil is extremely rich. When the swamp dries in the spring, worms migrate to the area for the moisture and leave their castings.

I have two other melons I planted where I usually plant my corn that are doing real well, 52in Girth 32in, 38 days old and 50in girth 33in length 32 days old. They are being outpaced by the swamp melons about eight inches to this point.

My big concern is, they are about 1200ft from my house on the far backside of my property, it would be easy for someone to steal or vandalize them. I will try and get some pictures up tonight.

7/20/2011 2:55:37 PM

Adams County

Hey Top.. Sounds like you got em going well. I'm sure you can protect the perimeter...

7/20/2011 10:20:05 PM

Muddy Waters

what are the OTTs???

7/21/2011 6:39:32 AM

Muddy Waters

This is a virgin patch?? Ck calcium level hopefully its up there for thick walled fruit!! If not amend for next year!!

7/21/2011 6:43:11 AM

formerly RGG

1SG, you had some melons growing at a near world record pace once before and you finished with less than spectacular results. I sure hope your luck is better this year. I can't wait to see those pictures. Please let us know when you get them posted.Did you post pictures of previous melons ? I just don't recall seeing any.

7/21/2011 2:13:11 PM

sevierville, Tn

Cliff, those look great, what seeds are those from ??

7/21/2011 2:45:43 PM

sevierville, Tn

opps, never mind, i should read the top. Keep em growing !

7/21/2011 2:46:22 PM

formerly RGG

Very nice looking melons. Thanks for the pictures. Looks like you should do extremely well.

7/21/2011 5:37:39 PM

Alabama

Just started a growers diary, and got some pictures up today. The photos are from yesterday and the measurements are from today. Please forgive my spelling and many more photos to come.

Just Bill, thanks for the seed and I installed some tripwires with claymores and a bouncing betty for good measure so nobody try to steal my melons!

7/21/2011 7:13:04 PM

Adams County

Oh Yeah......

7/22/2011 8:31:59 PM