uncletodd
Should've been a 6 point, but only had one skinny antler
Backbone's first Buck kill award winner
Posts: 193
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Melons
Mar 25, 2011 13:02:01 GMT -5
Post by uncletodd on Mar 25, 2011 13:02:01 GMT -5
Got me a packet of these to try this year and was thinking about using a trellis like I saw Splash use last year. Any thoughts on this Splash or anyone else for that matter. They are small melons......only 1 pound or so. I am thinking they would work well with the trellis method. henryfields.com/Tasty%20Bites%20Hybrid%20Melon/p/75737/Also note that there is a automatic coupon on the site for $25 dollars off your order.....no min. Just have to pay shipping.
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andymaviglia
Fish whisperer, scholar, and gentleman
Posts: 909
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Melons
Mar 25, 2011 15:06:41 GMT -5
Post by andymaviglia on Mar 25, 2011 15:06:41 GMT -5
75 days, you should be able to do well with. Depending on if ya give em a headstart or not indoors. If ya put em in the dirt June 1st you're looking at mid August which is usually perfect. I'd say go with trellis, anything you can do to keep em off the ground...and I always stress the organic nutrients, you don't want to ingest the crap Miracle Grow puts in their crap I don't care what they say.
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uncletodd
Should've been a 6 point, but only had one skinny antler
Backbone's first Buck kill award winner
Posts: 193
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Melons
Mar 25, 2011 20:08:31 GMT -5
Post by uncletodd on Mar 25, 2011 20:08:31 GMT -5
Cool, thanks for the info. Should I start them ahead of time? I have never grown melons before.
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andymaviglia
Fish whisperer, scholar, and gentleman
Posts: 909
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Melons
Mar 25, 2011 20:18:36 GMT -5
Post by andymaviglia on Mar 25, 2011 20:18:36 GMT -5
Cool, thanks for the info. Should I start them ahead of time? I have never grown melons before. Wouldn't hurt and it'll give ya something to do until ice out.
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uncletodd
Should've been a 6 point, but only had one skinny antler
Backbone's first Buck kill award winner
Posts: 193
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Melons
Mar 25, 2011 20:30:12 GMT -5
Post by uncletodd on Mar 25, 2011 20:30:12 GMT -5
Cool, thanks. I will get some going now and then put some seeds in the ground later and do a little experimenting.
I am going stir crazy this time of year......It needs to warm up so I can go shroomin!
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Melons
Mar 25, 2011 22:50:05 GMT -5
Post by SPLASH on Mar 25, 2011 22:50:05 GMT -5
Its nice to hear you saw my melon thread from last year. I'm moving my photobucket account right now so no other site can see those pics. Once I'm done I will post them all here. Andy has much more eperience than me in gardening and if Chez ever comes back, she is a wealth of gardening knowledge. I can't see the links cuz I'm on my phone. Sunday extends my 7 day stretch of working to 8 and then I'm off for a day. I'll see them and then give my opinion. All I can say is NEVER trellis melons on pvc pipe. That's what I did and the pvc is shot it bent so much. Pvc will work great for trellising pickling cukes and beans but not melons.
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uncletodd
Should've been a 6 point, but only had one skinny antler
Backbone's first Buck kill award winner
Posts: 193
|
Melons
Mar 25, 2011 23:24:43 GMT -5
Post by uncletodd on Mar 25, 2011 23:24:43 GMT -5
Thanks. I was hoping you still had the pics around and could get them up here. I was also thinking of doing the trellis method with the cukes too.
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Melons
Mar 25, 2011 23:28:53 GMT -5
Post by gbrebory on Mar 25, 2011 23:28:53 GMT -5
splash..... i been doing a little pondering... couldnt you use laddis horizontally to keep the melons off the ground???
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Melons
Mar 26, 2011 20:52:59 GMT -5
Post by SPLASH on Mar 26, 2011 20:52:59 GMT -5
You just have to have something strong enough to hold the weight. I figure I had anywhere from 8-20 pounds of fruit on each section and that made the pvc bow bad. I won't be able to do it this year, but I have a great idea for my next melon trellis, very cheap too.
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Melons
Mar 26, 2011 20:57:52 GMT -5
Post by SPLASH on Mar 26, 2011 20:57:52 GMT -5
Now I see your link Todd. Those melons will be fine to grow on a smaller trellis. Minnesota midget is the small variety I grew last year, same size as what you ordered. Mine went about 5-6 foot long which was more than the packet said.
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Melons
Mar 26, 2011 21:32:58 GMT -5
Post by SPLASH on Mar 26, 2011 21:32:58 GMT -5
Here are some views of the trellis you asked about. This one shows the plants. This was about 2 weeks after planting. So if you start yours from seed as I will be, figure 6-8 weeks before transplant. This view shows the staggering of planting. Unless you are selling melons You will want to stagger by 2-4 weeks depending on how long each variety grow. Closest are Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe with Gold Star (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) next on rear bar with Honey Rock cantaloupe started from seed infront. Look at the size of this Honey Rock plant. It got it's first male flower that day so almost 2 weeks before fruiting will start. I was getting discouraged it took so long to fruit, but don't. Better to get the best roots and vines before fruiting. Female watermelon flower Female Honeydew flower Female Cantaloupe flower Small watermelon Progress in growth Needs to be wider. It was tough getting in there without disturbing things. Something for you to think about Todd. This is a Minn Midget fruit. It's just above the ground so you will need low support. I used pots. My personal favorite melon I grew, Gold Star Cantaloupe Honeydew Older Sugar Baby watermelon in back younger in front. Zinnias to attract bees to pollinate the fruits Watermelon I used 2-3 womens nylons to make slings for the watermelons Honey Rock Cantaloupe started to fruit low also excuse me, 4 nylons Honeydew on a pot Honeydew in an onion sack Honeydew in 2 nylons Minnesota midget Gold Star And Midget Honey rocks below a Sugar Baby Honey rock Honeydew, Midget, Sugar Baby My absolute favorite, Gold Star Cantaloupe
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Melons
Mar 26, 2011 21:44:02 GMT -5
Post by SPLASH on Mar 26, 2011 21:44:02 GMT -5
Notice the white on the leaves towards the end of the pics? That is the powdery mildew or pm as it's called on gardening forums. Build your trellis large enough so the vines aren't crowded like mine were. Also, this was between 2 houses, it got great sun but not enough breeze to dry the leaves after rain and that's how you get pm. It slows the fruit maturing process and kills the plant.
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andymaviglia
Fish whisperer, scholar, and gentleman
Posts: 909
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Melons
Mar 26, 2011 22:31:30 GMT -5
Post by andymaviglia on Mar 26, 2011 22:31:30 GMT -5
Yes, you need to have good airflow to avoid powdery mildew but chances are you're gonna get it in a garden with bigger plants around it. There's an organic spray called Serenade I use on my plants year round to avoid any mildew problems. Completely safe for you but just like any plant wash it before you eat it. Pretty common problem for squash and zucchini also.
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Melons
Mar 26, 2011 22:35:57 GMT -5
Post by SPLASH on Mar 26, 2011 22:35:57 GMT -5
I'm not nutty enough yet and WONT be doing this, but researching growing giant pumpkins I came accorss a video or two where they had extension cords going to the garden for fans.
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uncletodd
Should've been a 6 point, but only had one skinny antler
Backbone's first Buck kill award winner
Posts: 193
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Melons
Mar 27, 2011 7:54:05 GMT -5
Post by uncletodd on Mar 27, 2011 7:54:05 GMT -5
Sweet! Thanks for the pics and the info. I got that pm on my zuc and summer squash last year. Also have had it on my cukes one year. I am not sure what I am going to build my trellis out of yet but I will definitely do it and post pics.
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