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Old 03-09-2009, 02:09 AM posted to rec.gardens,rec.gardens.edible
SteveB[_10_] SteveB[_10_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jan 2009
Posts: 30
Default No cantaloupes or watermelons

Because of some health reasons, I did not get a good start on my gardening
until late this year. I do hope to use the next cool months to get things
ready for next year and get a jump on things.

All of the cantaloupes, watermelons, and pumpkins I planted this year failed
dismally. They had yellow leaves and tiny fruit. This was the first
planting. I had a sandy area where there was a water head, so I added about
five bags of amendment (turkey shit based locally suggested stuff) and a
bale of peat moss. I did have sprinkler heads on there, but when I thought
it may be watering too much, I put bubblers on there with lower water flow.

For next year:

Should I till more amendments in there? Should I mound it up? How much
water, and how often for about six plants? What fertilizer, and how often?
The lady at the nursery suggested three things to mix in there, blood meal,
cottonseed meal, and another I can't recall, which I did. She was really
hyped on using natural things rather than chemical fertilizers. I do have
access to all the horse and cow dung I want to collect right next door.

Help appreciated.

Oh, 3700' elevation, XXtreme SW Utah. Right on the lines zonally, but 6-7
he

http://extension.usu.edu/forestry/Ho...inessZones.htm

Soil, blowsand, but the garden and these areas have been amended with quite
a bit of organic materials.

La Verkin is the closest town to our burb.

Steve