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watermelons

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by Veggie-T ' 92 on July 09, 2005 10:58 AM
This year I planted watermelons for the first time. I planted them from seed and they were called crimson sweet watermelons. The vine is going crazy but there are no flowers and no baby fruit. At its thickest point the vine is 1/2 inch and there is no sign of fruit anywhere. Can you help me? [nutz]
by weezie13 on July 09, 2005 11:59 AM
Hello Veggie-T,
Welcome to The Garden Helper's Forum,
We're very glad you found us..

I'm growing water melon's from seed for
the first time too this year, so I don't know
much about it to be able to help you.....

But I just wanted you to know I was going to
move your post into the FRUITS AND VEGETABLE SECTION, I know you'll get a few more responses
in that section than you would here....

I could also ask you about your soil/dirt,
what kind did you plant it in?
*is it bagged soil of some sort or garden dirt?
*have you used any fertilizer's? If so, what kind?
*how much water is your plant recieving?
*and how much sun does it get also...??????

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Veggie-T ' 92 on July 10, 2005 02:10 AM
Thanks for answering!

I started the seed in a cup with bagged miracle grow potting mix. Then when the seed grew I transplanted it into my garden. The soil is soft and loamy. I sprinkled some garden manure onto the soil. It gets full sun and there was just a rain storm but otherwise I water it every three days.

Garden-T
by Amigatec on July 10, 2005 03:28 AM
I believe Watermelon has a long growing season I planted mine 2 or 3 months ago and have about 5 melons so far. The biggest one is not quite ready yet.

It is about 14" long and 12" around. This is my first year as well, so I am still learning.

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One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by weezie13 on July 10, 2005 06:24 AM
I was going to say, that the Miracle Grow
is really good for growing green growth,
but not much for the flowering end of it...

Find some liquid fertilizer you can mix up with a high middle number, like 10~60~10 or something,
so the middle number is higher than the first and last number....
Mix it up, water..*make sure dirt/soil is already moist and plant is not dry before addding fertilizer*....
Also, you can do a foliar feed on the plants leaves.. it will be absorbed quickly..

And Fish Emulsion is a good foliar feed too...

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Veggie-T ' 92 on July 13, 2005 06:51 AM
Thanks Weezie!
by Veggie-T ' 92 on July 13, 2005 06:52 AM
I am already seeing baby watermelons on the vine! Peace out !!
by weezie13 on July 14, 2005 05:04 AM
Hey, I was thinkin' of you this mornin'!!!

I actually saw a tiny melon on mine too!!!
Wooooooooo~Hooooooooooo!!!
Can't believe it...
*I planted them soooooooo late...
actually just a couple of weeks ago!!!
*I had started them from seed in May*(ish)*

I'll get one or two for sure..

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by suzydaze on July 17, 2005 11:12 AM
I planted mine in march and only have 2 melons. they do have a long growing season. I have one melon almost ready I think [thinker]

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I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once.
-Jennifer Unlimited-
by topcat on July 17, 2005 01:09 PM
I planted watermelon for the first time this year, from plantling we bought at a greenhouse, at the same time I planted a pumpkin one the pumpkin is trying to take over the whole yard, the watermelon plant has not grown at all. I am wondering what to do for next year?\
by weezie13 on July 17, 2005 09:49 PM
Mine were (are) slow starters too..
but have finally taken off a bit...

Mine are planted in a raised hill of composted manure and shifted topsoil....
That drains quickly, but I water accordingly
to weather and temps..
Only water in the morning,
and no water on the leaves..
I've not even put any fert's or anything on mine..
but might tomorrow morning *it rained really good here, and supposed to today too* one application of a 10~60~10...

What are your growing conditions???

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by comfrey on July 19, 2005 10:26 AM
Ok..seems your problem has been solved. But I would like to point out of couple of things about growing watermelons: that when starting your watermelon seed early in a cup which is fine and using miracle grow potting mix which is fine, transplanting is a whole other thing. The soil does need to be have organic matter worked into it, melons are heavy feeders. But the transplanting is the hardest part...when transplanted they suffer Shock, resulting in a day or two and up to 10 days after planting. All kinds of things can look like they are happening..wilting, curled leaves...or just vines growing and nothing else, But once the planting shock has gone, they will take off and grow out of control quickly. Hope this helps for the future melon plantings.

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by weezie13 on July 19, 2005 10:43 AM
We had some really good rains,
and some big heat wave come thru,
and I was gone for a gooooooooood part
of the weekend, didn't get in my garden
all weekend except once, early Saturday mornin'
to water real quickly for some that desperately
needed it...
But when I came back and looked at everything,
it was like, Holy Heavens!!!
Everything JUMPED!!!

My watermelon plants look huge now!!!!

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by topcat on July 20, 2005 12:49 AM
I planted watermelon from a small plant we bought at a greenhouse, it is a serious flop, I am hopeing next year will be better for it, I use used guinea pig bedding(pine and spruce shavings)the only thing I do is wet it down good when I first put it on, then make sure it is mixed into the soil too, can we say holy fertilizer!! I left the garden empty last year and just put the bedding on it, everything(with a few exceptions) is so much bigger this year, between good feeding and getting the soil broken up good(we have clay based soil).
I just wondered if there was anything I did that perhaps stunted the watermelon plant from growing, or is it just one of those things?
by Amigatec on July 20, 2005 07:25 AM
I harvested my first watermelon last week, It is so good!!!

I have 2 or 3 more left to harvest.

Here is a picture of one of my cantaloupes!!

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One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by weezie13 on July 20, 2005 09:00 AM
Oh my gosh.....too funny on my end here...
I saw the watermelon post, then read
that you'd harvested your first watermelon
and I skipped down lookin' at the picture,
and I'm thinkin', dude~you got a cantalope there.
Or they've changed the outer coverings of
watermelon's lately!!! [Embarrassed] [Big Grin] [Big Grin] [Big Grin]
But then I went back up to finished reading it... [Embarrassed]

I'll blame it on toooooo much sun and heat!!! [Embarrassed]

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by weezie13 on July 20, 2005 09:02 AM
Heyyyyyy, that is an awesome looking cantalope you got there.... [thumb] [thumb] [thumb] [thumb]

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by tkhooper on July 20, 2005 10:02 PM
Isn't there something about wood shavings taking nitregon out of the soil the first year and then putting it back the second year? Could that be part of the problem? I'm a beginner, I think my dad said something like that when I was a kid. But that was back in the dark ages.
by comfrey on July 20, 2005 10:49 PM
Wow...Nice cantaloupe!

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