| Author | Content |
cgustaf
Omaha, NE
(Zone 5a)
August 09, 2009
12:58 AM Post #6925065
| I made a big mistake tonight. I am growing the sugar baby watermelon. I was told that when you hear a hallow sound by thumping the melon that it is ready to come off the stem. Well, it was hallow sounding alright and the fruit was on the vine for over 75 days but when I cut in to it, the flesh was all white with a little bit of red around each seed. So now, I still do not know when is when. Any suggestions? |
Farmerdill
Augusta, GA
(Zone 8a)
 August 09, 2009
08:38 AM Post #6925447
| Thumping requires a very good ear and a comparison. You need to compare the sound of a ripe and green melon. I don't find it very satisfactory. The best indicator is the tendril next to where the stem attaches to the vine, it will dry up when the melon is ripe. Sugar baby is a bit more tricky than most melons however, so you need to look at two other indicators. When ripe that one will turn yellow on the bottom where it is in contact with the ground. Also the filmy look on the skin surface will dissappear. 
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cando1
Ozone, AR
(Zone 6a)
August 09, 2009
01:33 PM Post #6926456
| I've always waited for the tendril next to the watermelon to turn yellow and dry up also. Sometimes checking twice a day. LOL |
cgustaf
Omaha, NE
(Zone 5a)
August 16, 2009
02:24 AM Post #6952085
| Thank You so much for the advice! I had no idea to watch the tendrils! The squirrels were trying to bite holes in the melons so I used old nylon stockings to cover up the little ones. Unfortunately the nylons are not strecthing so much to accomdate the melons - should have bought queen size. I guess this is a good thing and I will have to remove them for the duration. Thanks for the advice. If you have any more, please share! 
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gardener2005
Baton Rouge area, LA
(Zone 8b)
August 16, 2009
11:30 AM Post #6952907
| I used Farmerdill`s advice about the tendrils and all my melons were perfect!
Karen |
stephanietx
Fort Worth, TX
(Zone 8a)
August 18, 2009
10:39 AM Post #6960551
| cgustaf~That's a very nice looking melon patch!! |
gardener2005
Baton Rouge area, LA
(Zone 8b)
August 18, 2009
12:02 PM Post #6960891
| I think the really big melons are better if you wait a couple weeks after the tendrils begin to brown. We cut one that wasn`t quite ripe.(I think that is learning too.) There was another one we waited longer because it was a big melon but had a time reference by when the tendrils began to brown and a few weeks of time and the second one we cut was perfect. |
cgustaf
Omaha, NE
(Zone 5a)
August 19, 2009
08:04 PM Post #6966322
| Farmerdill - It just occurred to me that I am growing 2 types of melons, the sugar baby and the Sandia melon. I planted both because the Sandia seed package said that you need to plant a pollinizer and it recommended the Sugar baby as such. Do you think both varieties will do well or does this make a difference? |
Farmerdill
Augusta, GA
(Zone 8a)
August 19, 2009
09:18 PM Post #6966686
| They should do fine, You must have the Seedless Sangria, I have no record of Sandia as a cultivar. At any rate only the seedless melons need a pollinizer. Biggest problem with seedless melon is getting germination. Once that is accomplished, they grow like any other melon, except that you need a seeded melon as a pollinizer. |
cgustaf
Omaha, NE
(Zone 5a)
August 19, 2009
09:28 PM Post #6966733
| Thank you so much! I think I got a bit lucky too. I discovered that bumble bees have made a home under my shed that is right next to the garden! |
CleffDiggitySD
Aberdeen, SD
August 20, 2009
09:28 PM Post #6970448
| cgustaf, I had the same luck this year under the shed with my garden, only bad thing is this fall when I have to try and get rid of the bees, being alergic to them. |
Jim41
Delhi, LA
August 22, 2009
05:06 PM Post #6976801
| Cleff, when you get ready to get rid of them, put a couple of "No Pest Strips" where they are. Know it will work on honeybees. |
Horseshoe
Efland, NC
(Zone 7a)
August 22, 2009
05:36 PM Post #6976906
| I wouldn't worry about the bumble bees, folks (or the honey bees for that matter).
Bumble bees usually don't survive the winter, only the queens do, and they also don't use the same "nest" the following year. Since they are fantastic pollinators I wouldn't recommend doing anything to "get rid" of them.
And by the way, bumble bees are the most docile of bees, very rarely stinging, so Cleff, you should feel safe by just letting them alone to finish their lifetime in their Winter nest.
Shoe
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cando1
Ozone, AR
(Zone 6a)
August 22, 2009
08:53 PM Post #6977455
| Cleff, if you don't have an allergic kit. Keep benadryl with you outside always and take it immediately. Having your throat swell shut is not good.
Vickie |
