|
|
Post by James on Jun 21, 2019 13:19:48 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by James on Jun 21, 2019 13:22:54 GMT -5
Woo Hoo got it to work! This is Charleston Grey melon. I have grown quite a lot of melons but apparently have not taken pics of them as this is the only watermelon picture I could find.
|
|
|
|
Post by tom 🕊 on Jun 21, 2019 13:39:44 GMT -5
I have grown quite a lot of melons Isn't it difficult to grow watermelons in zone 5? Do you use black plastic to warm the soil and row covers for warmth? |
|
|
|
Post by James on Jun 21, 2019 13:59:53 GMT -5
Yes, growing watermelons in zone 5 is difficult. I do not use black plastic nor row covers. I just go plant the seed and hope for the best. That Charleston Grey is the best one I have found for this locale.
|
|
|
|
Post by SpringRain on Jun 21, 2019 15:22:33 GMT -5
Yummy! I love fresh watermelon; it's the quintessential summer fruit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wheelgarden on Jun 21, 2019 15:50:47 GMT -5
James Those look good. I've grown watermelons, sometimes with success, but mostly failure. The family loves them, and I do too on occasion as long as the slice includes a little of the cucumbery white inner rind. Strange I reckon, but I'm watermelon-wired that way.
|
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Jun 21, 2019 20:55:30 GMT -5
Is watermelon like cantaloupe- needing nights to be above 50 to set fruit?
|
|
|
|
Post by James on Jun 22, 2019 8:00:31 GMT -5
"Is watermelon like cantaloupe- needing nights to be above 50 to set fruit?"
Had not heard that. I don't know, if those temps are needed we would never get fruit here. Today June 22, calm, clear sky, 39 degrees. Typical Utah weather. Yesterday morning we had a touch of frost. Nipped a few squash leaves. Having a cool summer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Jun 23, 2019 4:47:20 GMT -5
Dad has had trouble with watermelon germinating this year. The second planting seems to be growing, some but not all.
|
|
|
|
Post by SpringRain on Jun 23, 2019 9:27:46 GMT -5
Mumsey, do you think it's the particular seed, or the intense and prolonged rainy season? I'd guess the latter. And I'm wondering how, or if that will affect other long growing season summer crops, such as pumpkins and squash.
|
|
|
|
Post by lilolpeapicker on Jun 23, 2019 9:43:49 GMT -5
Isn't it difficult to grow watermelons in zone 5 Last 3 years I have tried to grow watermelon... 1st year they grew but never fully ripened before the end of the season...2nd Spring was too cold to get it going...transplant did not survive. Last year I had 3 watermelon...1 grew to good size and tasted sweet,,,,Moon n Stars...2nd did not fully ripen, 3rd one...pup pulled it off the vine and broke it open. Trying again this year. I transplanted 1 but very slow getting it going...been very wet...weather getting better...bought 1 that is more advanced....Little yellow...never did before....we'll see |
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Jun 23, 2019 15:54:02 GMT -5
SpringRain, It has to be the weather. Dad has always had a good crop of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by James on Jun 24, 2019 9:07:46 GMT -5
The weather is definitely a factor. If it is too cool the seed won't germinate, but will rot in the ground. I like to plant watermelon about mid May here. In this high Utah Desert we only get from 100 to 110 days frost free. So growing a long season warm weather plant like watermelon is an iffy proposition. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. You plant and hope.
|
|
|
|
Post by heirloomfan on Jun 24, 2019 9:25:42 GMT -5
Very nice watermelon James. My granddaughter wants me to grow a Mountain Sweet Yellow watermelon for her, so I have the little plants going and also hoping for the best. If it works probably won't produce until later this summer.
|
|
|
|
Post by James on Jun 24, 2019 9:35:57 GMT -5
Good luck heirloomfan with the Mountain Sweet Yellow melon.
|
|
