GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

06-02-2005, 09:36 PM

wrote:
I have tried to grow these before and not had alot of luck. I grow
maybe 4 hills and get one ripe mellon. I get several others but they
are no good. (I dont know if i am picking them wrong or what.) They
seem to be orange inside.

What if I pick all of the meelons off as they are growing with the
exception of the first one? It always seems as if the first one is
always the one taht turns out ok.

since you are in Kentucky, yes, you should get melons. Here is a list
of things that could be wrong for you:

- borers. do the stems appear to rot at some point?
- beetles bringing in blight. I usually lose zucchini to either
disease, I am sure if they were watermelons I would not get
anything out of them (because they are zucchini, I get two months of
harvest before they die)
- watermelons love sandy soil and lots of water. if you have heavy
clay, you should maybe consider something else
- your garden is in a low spot and cold air flows there, delaying
maturity
- your garden is not in full sun
- and as you mention, if you want big melons, only keep one per plant