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Hi everyone
I ended up here after meeting a man at the Durham CT fair who was growing big pumpkins. Sorry I can't remember his name. We chatted quite a bit about watermelons and he told me about this forum.
I am in CT. and have been growing sugarbabys for a while and doing really well with them. I've wanted for a while to grow a different/larger variety, but one that will still be ripe for sale and eating also. I'm in the process of scouring the catalogs/web to choose a new variety. I will still grow my sugarBs at my moms from my seed.
There is some good information here and I am soaking it in.
Looking forward to learning here and planning next season.

11/13/2011 9:36:15 PM

Should have added I'm appreciative of any suggestions as to variety esp. if your in my zone.

11/13/2011 9:43:46 PM

formerly RGG

Trapper, do you want to grow melons only for eating and not for competition? Carolina Cross is the only variety to grow for competition. My favorite melon for good size good productivity and good eating is one called Mountain Hoosier. They often go over 100 pounds and are early so they should be good for your area. There are things you can do to improve your chances of growing big melons in the north. Greenhouses are wonderful. Less extreme is the use of cold frames and starting seeds early indoors under grow-lights.Black plastic might help you to warm the soil in the spring. You can read back on this forum for several years worth of growing advice. Everything is still available to read since the inception of this forum.Feel free to ask questions. That is the purpose of this forum. But it is mainly for giant growing.You should consider joining our Giant Watermelon Growers club. Carolina Cross are often delicious but they are not generally considered one of the best eating melons around. Consider giving it a try though. Anyway, what is good for growing Carolina Cross watermelons is mostly good for growing eating melons.

11/13/2011 10:31:25 PM

Tennessee Dreamer, Thank you for the reply.
Yes, right now, my focus is not on competition but on good eating melons for my family,friends and future stand in front of my home as well as a variety that no one else is growing in my area as well as a bigger melon than what I have been growing.
I wasn't sure how welcome Id be here since I know everyone's focus is on weight, but figured I'd chance it since you seemed like a friendly bunch!
I'm amazed my the locations of some members and that they are growing such big melons. That's dedication.
I have been growing between 50-100 sugar B's with weights up to 15#. I have direct seeded in the past but this year used a light table and started in peat pots and also used the black fabric which worked great.
I do have a lot to learn though and need to spend more time
with soil prep and growing/irrigation methods.
Thank you for the Mountain Hoosier recommendation. I just saw that variety online somewhere this morning. I will look hard at it.
BTW, my wife told me it would not be long before I was competing at this..lol, she knows me well...

11/13/2011 11:06:59 PM

Bethlehem CT

Hi Trapper I grow eating melons here in CT too. Sugar Baby is hard to beat for sweetness,earliness and yield. My favorite catalog to order melon seed from is the Willhite seed Co. out of Texas. They have more varieties than you could ever imagine. Both hybrid and open pollinated types. 'Jubilee' has been a good open pollinated cultivar for me. 'Moon and stars' and 'Crimson Sweet' too.

11/14/2011 8:43:03 AM

Bethlehem CT

It was probably myself or Peter Sweet that you met at Durham. If I remember correctly we were the only two melon growers there. I am hoping to see more growers in CT.

11/14/2011 8:45:51 AM

Muddy Waters

Do you guys Know John Converse??

11/14/2011 10:01:00 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Yellowgirl were my money makers..everyone grows a red melon be differnt

11/14/2011 1:01:48 PM

Big moon, I agree on the SB, a great melon. I just to try something different. I will check out Willhite. Moon and Stars is one of the melons I am considering.I am usually growing OP/hierlooms.
How is the taste of Moon and stars?
I appreciate all the suggestions. The gentleman I met @ Durham was running the pumpkin tent. He did not grow any of the melons there. There was 3 that I saw.

Linus, thanks, I agree, I like to be different.
I am raising cuckoo marans for chickens. We ran Barred Rocks for years. Most people around here have RI Reds or whatever Agway is selling.
I want to try a yellow melon, wish I had more time!

11/14/2011 7:37:47 PM

Bethlehem CT

I actually have never met John Converse before, he is way over on the eastern end of CT and I am on the western end. I would love to meet him and talk melons!

11/15/2011 8:23:10 AM

Pocahontas, Arkansas

Hey Trapper, first off welcome to the board. My father and I have grown some melons to sell locally for several years now and we also use Willhite Seed Co. We generally plant Crimson Sweets and a type called Legacy. I don't know many that plant Legacy but it makes for a sweet melon.

11/18/2011 5:44:49 PM

formerly RGG

Trapper, I have never grown the Moon and Stars, but I know people who have & I hear it grows an excellent tasting melon, maybe one of the best.

11/18/2011 8:17:16 PM

ARweatherman, thank you for the welcome and advice.
TennDreamer,thanks,If I had to pick now it would be moon and stars. I've read other people online saying it is a sweet melon. I think it looks different and cool and it has the the ability to grow a lot bigger than the Sbabys I have been growing.

11/18/2011 9:22:29 PM

ARweatherman, I can see why you like that melon. 85 days, nice shape and good taste.
Some sellers list it as a PVP, not for resale or recommended for saving seed, need to see what thats all about.

11/18/2011 11:22:26 PM