Man, it feels good to have fruitset on the melons.....In all, there are at least ten I figure - all of which are being grown in the biggest raised bed, of course. The ones out by Jude's pen are a little behind, but hopefully will do something also in about 2 more weeks. Anyway, here's some of the largest fruit right now - consisting of 3 different varieties. If you've never seen melons suspended in mid-air before, then you're in for a treat later in the season. I'm the vertical melon man. :)
Photo below - Crimson Sweet, and seriously needs supporting at this size. Knee highs were installed after shooting this picture, and for reference - I always use the cheapest queen size I can find....Right now, it appears that this one has a good chance to achieve some nice size, because it's really out-doing the others in the garden...The amount of plant foliage necessary to give it the energy to grow well is present, and now it's just up to my watering and fertilization practices to make things happen.
Photo below - here's a sugar baby growing on the southern-most trellis of the bed. If it will grow to 8 lbs. or so, i'll be ecstatic.....However, I haven't had much luck with this variety in the past. Still, there's a first time for everything, and perhaps lessons learned in the past will make this crop more fortuitous...
Photo below - another crimson sweet, and in all - at least 5 have formed already....This variety is a pretty good performer, and I higly recommend growing it if you haven't tried it before....
Photo below - Black diamond, and the first time growing this one in the garden. A friend of mine swears by them, so I just had to try it for myself. I have to admit that the dark color green is quite appealing, and it'll get to around 20 lbs., too....
In other news, the corn appears to be about a week away from maturing, and replacement seedlings have already been transplanted amongst the existing plants. Since ears are growing at various rates, some water soluble fertilizer will need to be applied to those particular swc's to help the smallest ones catch up to the others.
Also, the slips from the sweet potato video earlier in the week have been transplanted, and are doing quite well.
Take care, and happy gardening
EG
13 comments:
Very nice melons EG. I am growing a few for the first time this year. I just hope that mine do half as well as yours.
The melons look great!
I just planted a few last week. I saw that that they are sprouting now.
Lookin' good EG!
Well, usually it's "You show me yours and I'll show you mine", sorry I don't have any :o( I think next year or this fall I have to make up a list of all the things I'd like to plant and then pray I have enough room..Your melons look good.
Those melons look wonderful! I do wish I had room to grow them, but at least I'm real close to some of the best melons in the world, Hermiston watermelons. Our nearby farm stand sells the smaller ones for $1 apiece in season. They also grow and sell their own cantaloupe, several varieties, and they are fresh ans sweet as sugar. They pick their corn from their own fields only when the bin is nearly empty, so corn is never more than an hour or two off the stalk. Unfortunately, every year they raise the price of corn by at least 50-cents a dozen. It was $4 last year, $3.50 the year before that, $3.00 the year before that....you see the pattern. It's so darned good though, I'd buy it at almost any price!
Oh how I wish I could grow melons in my garden. Just not enough sun.
Yours look so good!
Robin, Kelly, and Erin - thanks!
Japanese redneck - what kind ya growing' over there?
Gingerbreadshouse7 - well, you'll just have to make room for them...I know you will. :)
Granny - I don't blame you one bit - I'd just buy them too at that price....
Liisa - aw, that's too bad.....
Look at those Crimson Sweets! How awesome is that! I'm thinking to trellising my watermelons too. Have you noticed any differences in growth been trellised and non-trellised?
Thomas - the advantages of growing them vertically are numerous - less disease, easier to find bugs, fruit doesn't't have to sit on the ground, etc....
You certainly have the touch when it comes to the melon patch! They look fantastic.
Those melons sure look good!
compost in my shoe - thanks, dude...
Dan - thanks, ol' buddy...
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