Exploding Watermelons?

Discussion in 'Fruit and Veg Gardening' started by Dirtmechanic, Jul 19, 2019.

  1. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    Messages:
    1,816
    Likes Received:
    3,050
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL zone 8a
    My trellised crimson sweets are popping. Even those I had supported by hosiery and tee shirt slings. Its my first year growing watermelon so I am learning as I go. What would cause the splitting?
     
  2. Loading...


  3. Odif

    Odif Young Pine

    Joined:
    May 2, 2017
    Messages:
    1,821
    Likes Received:
    3,020
    Location:
    pyrenees orientales
    The watermelons split when they are ripe. If they are not yet ripe inside, that means that you probably gave them too much plant food.
     
    Dirtmechanic likes this.
  4. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Messages:
    9,332
    Likes Received:
    4,855
    I have never had that happen... even when they were ripe. they usually just start to rot. My GUESS.. is that they got watered after they were ready to pick? if the tendril where the fruit is attached to the stem is brown and crispy and the bottom is yellow I pick mine. yours being on a trellis may make a difference in the color on the "bottom" of the melon though... maybe.
     
    Dirtmechanic likes this.
  5. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    Messages:
    1,816
    Likes Received:
    3,050
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL zone 8a
    I must be missing the ripe stage. I have seen red insides. Timing wise, I have pulled the yellow summer squash and have taken most tomatoes and the okra is a mature height. I just read 85 days for the watermelon. I fertilized at planting and then at flower with epsoma tomato tone, but I think I remember also using some calcium nitrate at flower, 4 ounces per plant. They set well and looked good, though I had no real idea of expected size. They have a variety of sizes, an it made me think I was looking at the growth phase. My sling supports definitely need more thought, as at least one fell out and some pantyhose stretched down too far and broke off. One grew up top in the cattle panel and has a skinny waist. I may eat that one in the garden as I am not going to cut the panel.
     
    Cayuga Morning likes this.



    Advertisement
  6. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Messages:
    9,332
    Likes Received:
    4,855
    depends on the weather for ripe. the days is a guess at best. watch for the tendrils. I did have another thought though.. did something bite into the melons? if a melon is ripe as soon as I put a knife init it splits.

    the skinny neck is a pollination issue. it didn't get pollinated well enough.
     
    Cayuga Morning and Dirtmechanic like this.
  7. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    Messages:
    1,816
    Likes Received:
    3,050
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL zone 8a
    Because they are round, it is hard to wrap my head around the stages of pollenation because I can literally see it on the cucumber and squash. It must be internal? It did get hot enough to slow the flowers on everything except the okra.
     
  8. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2011
    Messages:
    7,074
    Likes Received:
    6,813
    Location:
    New England
    I bow to you both in terms of your knowledge about growing veggies!
    My thought was too much water.
     
    Dirtmechanic likes this.
  9. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    Messages:
    1,816
    Likes Received:
    3,050
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL zone 8a
    I do have a rodent, and I suspect just one, who enjoyed some tomatoes. But we have 4 cats and a confused dog that are on the ground level and the watermelons are all in the air at least 3 feet for the most part. It has been interesting to watch the process.

    My slings will have to become tendril friendly instead of covering some of them.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2019
  10. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    Messages:
    1,816
    Likes Received:
    3,050
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL zone 8a
    Keep watching, my new ideas have spectacular wrecks!
     
  11. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    Messages:
    1,816
    Likes Received:
    3,050
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL zone 8a
    IMG_20190719_172147_resize_49.jpg I pulled all of them. This will be curious. Some to chill, some to pickle. IMG_20190719_174452_resize_9.jpg

    Some for my wife to ask what was I thinking.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2019
    hummerbum likes this.
  12. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2011
    Messages:
    7,074
    Likes Received:
    6,813
    Location:
    New England
    Oh dear.
     
    hummerbum likes this.
  13. adam.ca

    adam.ca In Flower

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2019
    Messages:
    369
    Likes Received:
    446
    Location:
    Montreal, QC, Canada
    too much water to fast? i really dont know.
    but seems you have a few intact, you going to pick them before they fall or spilt?
     
    hummerbum likes this.
  14. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    Messages:
    1,816
    Likes Received:
    3,050
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL zone 8a
    I have 5 gallon buckets of them. That is more than I would buy in a year anyway. I need to clear the vines, and the cucumbers and get some other plants in the ground so they mature before the end of September. Its just me an the wife so no army to feed. Next year I will have a better approach. IMG_20190720_212857_resize_78.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2019
    hummerbum, Cayuga Morning and adam.ca like this.
  15. hummerbum

    hummerbum Young Pine

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Messages:
    1,079
    Likes Received:
    1,124
    Location:
    Savannah GA
    They look amazing after all the problems you've had with them...i'm jealous. Love homegrown melons. An epic fail this year for me, but next yearrrr. Congrats on your harvest. You had me laughing with some of your antics.
     
    Cayuga Morning and Dirtmechanic like this.
  16. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    Messages:
    1,816
    Likes Received:
    3,050
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL zone 8a
    It is better entertainment than most sources. Plus sharing is fun.
     

Share This Page