getting ready to plant watermelons

What a great looking watermelon. Was it as good as it looked?

 

I know, I was drooling just from looking at those shots! I think I already know what the answer is going to be...

: )

 

Perfect!

 

Just as I enviously suspected it would be!

: )

 

Okay update, i got one melon per plant and sum did not have any melons at all. i saw lots of them turn black and die. also can anyone tell me what cuases the black spot at the end of the melons? im not sure what i did wrong on this first grow. you would thank planting somthing in the ground would grow naturally.

so do yall think they are ready to pick?

 

Not sure about the black, but give your melons a thump and if they sound hollow inside, they're ready to harvest. The smell can tell you if they're ready too, oftentimes.

Enjoy that beauty.

: )

 

Those watermelon look great! I'm not sure about the black spot. I suspect that it might not be good news. :(

 

i just cut one and its not ready. but it did sound and look ripe. how much longer should i give them?

 

Here is some of my own information from my 'Harvesting Tips' thread...

Melons...

When to harvest: 70-120 days after sowing seeds. Cantaloupe: when fruit slips easily off the stem. Other melons: when they have a strong sweet aroma and slight softening at the blossom end or when the skin turns from shiny to dull.

How to harvest: Lift cantaloupes until they separate. Cut other melons from the vine with a knife or shears.

How to store: Keep cool and damp for 2-4 weeks. To preserve, freeze.

: )
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Watermelon...

A watermelon is probably ripe if it makes a dull 'thunk' when thumped, if its underside has turned from white to pale yellow, and if the tendril opposite the stem of the melon has withered.

When to Harvest: 70-95 days after planting out.

How to Harvest: Cut fruit from vine with pruning shears.

How to Store: Refrigerate unwashed; use as soon as possible. To preserve, can.

: )

 

It's too bad that it wasn't ripe yet. I don't have any first hand experience, but this is what my book says. It say to thump them and listen: a "ping" is unripe, a "pong" means it's ready. A dull thud means "sorry, you're too late." You can also turn a watermelon over and look at the light-colored patch on the bottom where it rested on the ground; when this turns a gold or orange color the melon is likely to be ripe. Maybe try again in a couple of weeks.

 

Hope your next one is ripe. You'll get the hang of it, not to worry.

: )

 

That is my unfortunate experience with melons - they took up a lot of space, I got a grand total of two, one of which I harvested too early and the other I harvested too late. LOL.

 

...but when you get some more experience, you will know exactly when to harvest them.

 

My Sister lived on the 35th floor of a hi-rise in Denver. She was trying to grow some sort of melons on her balcony. The problem was that the weight of the melons would pull the vine down off the railing. She went to the Goodwill and bought several rather large cuped bras, then nestled the melons in the cups. She said it worked well. Must have been smallish melons or hugh bras. ;)))) barb

 

LoL!

 

By the way...

I believe that story, because I once used knee high panty hose to support my cantaloupe melons on a trellis.

: )

 

srryan-Don't be discouraged. You didn't do anything wrong, you produced some good looking healthy melons. You live in Georgia so you still have till the end of october...you should get some more melons off those plants. Keep in mind that melons have to have bees for pollination. (unless you do it yourself) So if some of your plants are not producing melons that would be the problem.

As far as picking them...Look back in this thread at what I told Madinfant about the "feelers". And don't be afraid to let them sit a few days even when you're sure they are ready. After you grow a particular variety and harvest a few, you will get the hang of picking a ripe one. It will get easier! And melons are like tomatoes...store bought just doesn't compare to homegrown. So like I said, don't get discouraged. You've grown some fine melons and you'll get more!