Hi all I have a watermelon plant which has two lovely big melons nearly ready. The issue is that there are about 4-5 other ones which are tiny (2-3cm only) and don't appear to be growing. It gets the soaker hose on every night for 2 hours and I feed it weekly. Its certainly been plenty hot - well until the last 2 days anyway. Any suggestions!
spiritofgonzo,
Feb 6, 7:44pm
well done . better than I've ever managed.
arabelle,
Feb 7, 5:36am
If nearly ready why dont you take one, and see if its OK then the other so that the plant can then concentrate on maturing those waiting in line. never got past a half grown thing myself but trying again this year.
kaeloch,
Feb 7, 6:10am
Thanks - yes I've investiagted how to tell when they are ready and one is just about there so will pick it tongiht and hopefully the plant will grow the wee ones :-) i am sooo not green fingered - kill most things i try to grow so I'm pretty proud of my melons hehehehe
laurie9,
Feb 7, 8:58am
A friend of mine used to grow them commercially,and she told me definitely don't water them.
kaeloch,
Feb 7, 9:13am
Oh really! wow I just assumed they would be like cucumbers and need watering every day :-( Thanks
lythande1,
Feb 7, 12:47pm
Didn't water.right.nothing grows without water. However long soaks once, perhaps twice a week is far better than short shallow watering. It's probably just put all it's energy into those two, nothing you can do now, enjoy the ones you have got.
laurie9,
Feb 7, 1:22pm
Because you have watered it,it may have a weak root structure.
kaeloch,
Feb 7, 1:31pm
Ok - thanks - i will pick the one thats ready now and the other as soon as it is and hope the others grow. The plant itself looks amazing - very vibrant and still growing bigger! I will drop the watering but we have extremely well-draining soil, hot dry wind and no rain (apart from a bit the other day) for nearly a month!
a4dibbleplants,
Feb 7, 4:27pm
article in either the NZ gardener or the weekend gardener recently backs up the minimal water theory. Good soak once a week was recommended
aloha3,
Feb 8, 7:54pm
Tap it. If it sounds hollow it is ready. Thats how I sort a ripe watermelon from the shop
books4nz,
Feb 28, 1:44am
We grew watermelons for a road side stall some years back. about a hectare of them. we were advised not to water them once the plants were showing. A great crop, repeated the next year.
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