Not too much exciting to report on the status of the 200 pound watermelons. So far we still have all 5 watermelons surviving and growing. The high temperatures (98 – 102 degrees) in the Sacramento Valley have been brutal. During midday the plants look like they are half dead. The leaves are collapsed and drooping. I have placed umbrellas to shade each watermelon.
I don’t know if the umbrellas actually help the plant but they do help me think I am doing the right thing. On hot days I water in the morning then again late afternoon. Is it possible to over water on a hot day?
At the present time the watermelons look like normal midsize melons. I have started rotating them to prevent flat spots on the underside. When the watermelons reach 50 pounds then I will feel like we have hit the first milestone.
I have also started using pigeon manure to fertilize. Soon I will construct closed cell foam cradles to distribute the weight evenly and prevent flat spots.
My current favorite is WP4 (watermelon plant 4 with the black umbrella).
It is not the largest but it is the most symmetrical of all the watermelons. It is actually the 3rd largest of all 5. The current largest is WP3 but it has an odd looking end point.
Does anyone have any comments on what I should or should not be doing to achieve the goal of growing a 200 pound watermelon?
I don’t know if the umbrellas actually help the plant but they do help me think I am doing the right thing. On hot days I water in the morning then again late afternoon. Is it possible to over water on a hot day?
At the present time the watermelons look like normal midsize melons. I have started rotating them to prevent flat spots on the underside. When the watermelons reach 50 pounds then I will feel like we have hit the first milestone.
I have also started using pigeon manure to fertilize. Soon I will construct closed cell foam cradles to distribute the weight evenly and prevent flat spots.
My current favorite is WP4 (watermelon plant 4 with the black umbrella).
It is not the largest but it is the most symmetrical of all the watermelons. It is actually the 3rd largest of all 5. The current largest is WP3 but it has an odd looking end point.Does anyone have any comments on what I should or should not be doing to achieve the goal of growing a 200 pound watermelon?
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