From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Prairie Du Sac Wi

This is my first year growing melons. And I AM blown away by how fast they grow. I really can't believe it. IM only growing two plants. A 219 clementz and a 228 clementz. They both share the same parents but opposite mothers. I thought they might make a good cross. Anyway..... They both to me seem to be growing extremely fast. But as a fist time melon grower I have no clue. On July 4th my 219 was at 11 3/4 " cer. ( the long way ). Today ( July 7th ). Its at 27 1/2 " . Its daily gains were 4 3/4", 5 1/2" and 5 1/2". My other fruit is going 4 1/2" a day. Is this a normal growth rate for a young melon?????? IM sure the inches slow as the melons grow but I haven't yet hit the ott chart so I thought I would ask.

With that said. I think IM going to try a test.....both Of my plants are the same size. I pollinated both on the main vines the same day by chance. So I was thinking to bury the vines of the slower fruit ( the 228 ) . But not with soil . That just seems not to be working out to well with some growers that have tried it but with a mix of sand and vermiculite. It would be well drained and vermiculite has anti fungal properties so I thought that might work better the using the patch soil........any Thoughts??? Should I go for it?

7/7/2012 2:06:01 AM

Muddy Waters

I would only half bury the vines at leaf nodes,if you fully bury them they will start to rot in a month or so,they will root without being fully buried.The growth your getting is normal great growth.Now watch your plant,depending on how good your soil is you may need to use ferts.I found my soil was weaker this year then last so I am adding ferts more regular,try organic if possible.the salty chemicals will burn your plants roots.watch the ferts in the heat.Some HH bury there vines,they also loose a lot of plants each season.

7/7/2012 6:41:29 AM

Muddy Waters

I think to bury vines you need to be on real sandy soil.Im not burying mine hardly at all only if plant tends to roll out of position then I place small rocks on vines to hold them up & bury a hand full of leaf nodes they will root in loose soil by them selves.

7/7/2012 6:46:18 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

Occasionally during really heavy rains, the vines will get buried, and that's when the rot starts setting in. I have never purposefully buried the vines for that very reason, but I have noticed that my vines will root at the junctions for at least 5 and as much as 7 node junctions down from the stump.

7/9/2012 10:25:27 AM