From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

Do you want to put the seedling in the middle of your plot and let the plant grow in all directions, or do you put it near an edge and grow the plant across the plot???

4/23/2011 3:33:20 AM

Muddy Waters

Im putting mine in center of plot & growing back to back about 8 feet a part,I dont want roots feeding of my lawn which wont have amendments.I will have vines all grow 1 way about 20 feet & then stop the vines.In the past I have let grow both ways, this year will copy Supermans method,the width of areas will be 12 to 15 feet for a 300 foot total!

4/23/2011 7:16:13 AM

formerly RGG

I will grow using Bill Edwards pattern. You may find it here:http://www.ovgpg.com/documents/articles/ovgpg2-09_3.pdf
You will have to scroll down until you come to the Edwards article about growing his 267.

4/23/2011 8:03:16 AM

formerly RGG

The plants are trained with 2 mains. They will grow to the corner and turn 90 degrees and grow to the end of the second run. Secondaries are allowed to grow on one side only and to grow only to the edge of the patch. A few more vines will be allowed to grow from the stump area later on to replace old dieing leaves.

4/24/2011 10:26:03 AM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

Thanks,
This is my first go at melons. My 291 and 239 are up and looking nice. Just trying to figure out where to put the darn things.
I've also heard of a well known grower who grew them in a wheel shape and had vines that went out from the center in about 5 or 6 directions...like a wagon wheel and the spokes are the vines.
What I was wondering is, could you grow one in a "Christmas tree" pattern like a pumpkin plant?

4/25/2011 12:04:52 AM

formerly RGG

You can absolutely do that and will probably get larger fruit as a result of limiting vine size.

4/25/2011 5:55:48 AM

Muddy Waters

Theres 2 trains of thought here,The Jury is still out on this.Some growers have stopped all vine growth & had Melon stop growing,till vine growth started again then melon also did,Just my opinion I think theres a happy medium with Melons,I will limit vine growth to my perimeter,but let inner vines continue to grow all season with some pruning.I always felt this was the way to go,& Chris Kent has shown it works pretty darn good!

4/25/2011 7:01:06 AM

Muddy Waters

we call this spaghetti style

4/25/2011 7:07:05 AM

formerly RGG

I think you have a good point there Mark.I think I will allow secondaries only until my patch is about filled and they are beginning to be terminated. Then I will allow some additional growth within the plant's perimeter.But how are you going to beat me if you keep letting me know your plans? lol

4/25/2011 9:54:52 PM

Muddy Waters

pure luck!!TD

4/25/2011 9:58:14 PM

sevierville, Tn

If luck was the measure, Mark would be 10 feet tall !

4/26/2011 2:40:11 PM

formerly RGG

Now you're scaring me Chris. lol

4/26/2011 6:00:24 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

TD, I agree...a 10' tall Mark, would be very scary!!! LOL Peace, Wayne
PS...any rain in Tennessee?

4/27/2011 1:36:41 AM

sevierville, Tn

We will get the rain today, been warm(80's) & windy since last week !

4/27/2011 7:49:14 AM

formerly RGG

I'm afraid my patch is going to wash away Wayne. It soaks up rain really well until streams start running through it. Then it starts washing gullies. I am really not sure what I am going to do. I need to dig a drainage ditch for relief but I had a double surgery 2 days ago (one was for a hernia) and I probably shouldn't be handling a shovel just now.

4/27/2011 8:52:21 AM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

Thanks for the replies.
I have been looking at some previous diary entries and I think I have it figured out...Now I just have to grow one if the weather ever cooperates

4/27/2011 9:00:22 AM

Muddy Waters

Luck & determination carries a long way TD!

4/27/2011 11:23:13 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

It was said well by.....

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it."

Thomas Jefferson

4/27/2011 12:40:25 PM

formerly RGG

Thanks guys. I did manage to dig a bit of a ditch along the top of my patch before the storms arrived. Let's see how lucky I am now.

4/27/2011 2:15:20 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

MMM, I have used that quote several times, but always gave credit to "Pap" Wallace!!! LOL Best of luck TD, going thru the same type of problems here...way too much rain, patch is not ready, and standing water, cause of awl the rain in the past 10 days or so. next 3 day are predicted to be "maybe...hopefully" rain free, so hope I can get into patch a lil bit on Sunday. I have to find a new route to work each day, as more and more roads are closed due to being covered w/ water!!! Peace, Wayne

4/28/2011 1:37:01 AM