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Garner, NC

That's all the news is about! Supposed to hit us Saturday. Anybody got any advice on keeping melons going during sustained high winds and a buttload of rain. There no way to cover and protect all 6 plants, so I'm thinking, take the best 3 and doing what I can. Things like this keep it interesting!

8/22/2011 6:22:14 PM

Muddy Waters

Yeah I will pass on the interesting weather Todd!LOL I Hope it misses you!

8/22/2011 10:17:31 PM

Bowdon, GA

Early this spring when we had some nasty t-storms, I cut some 9ft poplar poles from green saplings and set em in the ground about 3ft with a soil auger.Just put cheap painters plastic up. It was flexable and didn't stop the wind, but did help slow it down. They all got a little damage but the 264 Kent was not protected got nearly completely ripped up. Hopefully as thick as your plants are they will be ok, hope it misses every body.

8/22/2011 10:35:15 PM

Bowdon, GA

Todd I got a pic in my diary from July 23 where you can see it. I had it lowered in that pic to let some air flow in, but you can see the idea. The green poplar flexed good and didn't break.

8/22/2011 10:39:49 PM

SW Ohio

The only thing that comes to mind is bales of straw tucked up against each plant. Good luck and stay safe!

8/23/2011 8:25:17 AM

Sevierville,tn

hope N PrayN that you will be safe..... and the Melon too!!! Hugssssssssssssss

8/23/2011 8:33:15 AM

sevierville, Tn

*** ALERT *** ALERT *** for the 3rd run ina row the European weather Model shows a direct hit by IRENE at Wlimington NC on Saturday AUG 27. The Euroeopan - the best weather model in the world - AGAIN shows Irene will be the strongest Hurricane to EVER hit NC. EVER . It forecasts IRENE to be a Catgiory 4 borderline 5 Hurricane. And again for the 3rd run in a row it takes IRENE due North

Make sure your family & property are well protected ! You will have 75+ winds for a long time !

8/23/2011 8:42:37 AM

Garner, NC

Wow, this should be great, flying melons! The last big storm kept us from power for 12 days, and did 40 grand in damage to the house. They are never good, but atleast we have warning of what is coming and can protect our belongs, unlike tornado's. Most melons will be in the upper 60 day range, and gains have slowed to about 7 lbs per day(LOL at Mark),so if it's going be real bad, I'll just cut everything and put the melons in the barn. Thanks for the thoughts

8/23/2011 9:40:51 AM

Arden, NC

Todd, Thought just crossed my mind. You might could use deer netting to lay over the plants and cinch down...kinda like swaddling. It wouldn't keep the water out but it would keep the leaves from blowing around a lot. The netting wouldn't get picked up and blown to bits like plastic would but if you anchor it down WELL on all 4 sides and pin it in various places in the center area you might be able to keep the plants "in place". Now keeping the stuff that could blow in on top top them is a whole nother story! For that I have no ideas.

8/23/2011 9:52:31 AM

formerly RGG

Or try bird netting if you have some or have access to some.Good luck Todd. I hope it misses you entirely.For that matter I hope it just dies right where it is & causes no more harm to anyone.

8/23/2011 1:18:46 PM

Jamul

At least you don't have earthquakes over on that side or the country....oops.

8/23/2011 3:05:39 PM

Garner, NC

Yea, rusico, we had one of those today, it was about 2 hours north, but we felt the ripples from it. Seems there signs saying pick melons and get ready for bow season!

8/23/2011 5:28:41 PM

Muddy Waters

If you slowed to 7 lbs a day.then you already have a WR bring it to Hope!I will meet you there with the 157!

8/23/2011 10:12:27 PM

Bowdon, GA

I hate when they slow down to 7 ppd. Won't ever make 400 at this rate.

8/24/2011 12:11:56 AM

Garner, NC

Keeping fingers crossed, the storm is tracking on more of a East track. The more East the better. The netting idea, along with anchored hay bales might just be a great idea, just hope it doesn't come to that.

8/24/2011 10:03:00 AM

As long as it goes so far east, it goes out to sea!

8/24/2011 12:15:00 PM

Sevierville,tn

I hopeN the thing goes out to sea!!!!! be Safe!

8/24/2011 2:24:28 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Earthquakes and Hurricanes sure do start to make Minnesota sound like a much more inhabitable place to live.

8/26/2011 4:03:17 PM

Bethlehem CT

Now I will have an excuse as to why I didn't grow any 200 pounders. I'll just say, "Well, you see I was right on track for 200 pounds, then Irene came and flattened my patch." It sounds better to me than " The weeds had taken over the garden by August 1st.
It's been a while since we have had a big hurricane here. Last bad one I remember was Gloria back in the 80's.

8/26/2011 6:31:12 PM