Anyone ever tried growing watermelons?

Discussion in 'Fruit and Vegetable Gardening' started by flowercents, May 18, 2005.

  1. flowercents

    flowercents Active Member 10 Years

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    Have you ever had sucess growing watermelons? I'm giving it a try this year, for the first time. I live Southwest B.C.
     
  2. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Watermelons are hard to ripen in this cool climate. Choose one of the varieties for northern gardens and provide them the warmest spot you can. I had a couple cantalope last year -- only two fruit. They formed nicely but never really ripened.
     
  3. Carol Ja

    Carol Ja Active Member 10 Years

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    I grew some in my green house, and it was pretty successful, also if your going to do it outside you can try putting down black plastic to help with making extra heat.
    Carol Ja
     
  4. H20.world

    H20.world Member

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    any follow ups? I've got some seedlings under flouros right now getting ready to go outside... I hear this is pretty much perfect time for it in my area...
     
  5. Pharmerphil

    Pharmerphil Member

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    I raise a couple small varieties here in zone 3/4 of Minnesota, they do quite nicely from seed, I believe you are doing the right thing by starting them inside.
     
  6. Idacer

    Idacer Active Member Maple Society 10 Years

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    My experience indicates that, besides heat units, you need lots of room for watermelons. The really like to sprawl. Though I've tried and tried, I can't seem to get mine to climb a trellis at all. This doesn't work very well in my raised bed, semi-square-foot-gardening scenario. So, I tend to stick with canteloupes and honey dews which do very well in a vertical garden.

    Bryan
     
  7. Pharmerphil

    Pharmerphil Member

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    they will take some training, a little jute rope, and patience. But they will climb, and use something, I suggest old panty hose, to make comfortable little 'hammocks' for the ripening melons.
     
  8. Dee M.

    Dee M. Active Member 10 Years

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    Sorry, but my opinion is "Wrong plant, Wrong climate". If you try a lot of tricks you can get them to grow, but this isn't the place for them, they are tropical plants. A greenhouse would be OK. The cantaloupes I did grow never had the sweetness I wanted. It would make a difference, it might work, if you had the summer heat that we do not have in the Northwest.
     
  9. Idacer

    Idacer Active Member Maple Society 10 Years

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  10. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Having lived in Tri-Cities for a year and a bit, I'll agree with that.
     
  11. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Watermelons huh? Below are several links to show that
    Watermelons can be grown in a variety of locations.

    Watermelon, Food Resource, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

    Watermelon Production in California

    Gulf Coast Research and Education Center - Watermelons

    MELONS November 2003 Introduction Cultural Practices Ontario

    Welcome to Hagihara Farm's Web Site

    Now for some fun. The link below shows a couple of
    photos of Japan's famous square Watermelons. It is
    not a myth as some people have suggested in the more
    recent past.

    Wild Life

    Washington has their great and grand Apples, Oregon has their
    outstanding Pears and berries and we have our giant Watermelons.
    Enjoy..

    Fruit From Washington - Exaggerated Fruit and Novelty Cards

    Jim
     
  12. Dee M.

    Dee M. Active Member 10 Years

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    You're right, I should have said the Puget sound area of the Northwest doesn't get enough heat to make a sweet melon without tricks like a greenhouse. So it does depend where you live in the Northwest.
     

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