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- Q.Cutting Runners Off Producing Watermelon Vine - Will cutting side runners off producing watermelon vine hasten ripening? Lots of vines, only 6 grapefruit size melons.
- Q.Watermelon - I checked your site on when to pick a watermelon and it said many different things. I picked my watermelon ...
- Q.Difference Between Red And Orange Watermelons - What the difference between a red watermelon and an orange watermelon?
- Q.Watermelon Flower Drop - The flowers on my watermelon vine are drying up and dropping.
- Q.First Time Growing Watermelon - It was doing great, then all of sudden the end of the watermelon turned brown-not the stem end. Why? Too ...
- Q.Sticky Leaves And Now Sticky Melons - Watermelon leaves have a sticky substance and now the melons do. What's going on?
- Q.Watermelon Rot - All of my melons seem to rot in the early stages of growth.
Asked by
jeep98 on
August 9, 2011Q.Cutting Runners Off Producing Watermelon Vine
Will cutting side runners off producing watermelon vine hasten ripening? Lots of vines, only 6 grapefruit size melons.
Answered by
Heather on
August 10, 2011
Certified ExpertA.Cutting the runners off will not speed up the ripening and could open up the plant to disease. Actually, reducing the number of fruit will help you get larger fruit, but it is a trade off (bigger fruit or more fruit).
Make sure the plants have the appropriate amount of water and that they have the nutrients they need.
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- Asked by
Anonymous on
August 10, 2011Q.Watermelon
I checked your site on when to pick a watermelon and it said many different things. I picked my watermelon when I could do the test you said, by it sounding hollow and the spot on the bottom was yellow, etc. But when I cut the melon open, it was just a white in color. So how do I know when it is ready and did the white mean I picked it way too early or what?
- Answered by
Nikki on
August 11, 2011
Certified ExpertA.The flavor will be the real determinator on this, but it does sound like it was picked a bit early. Make sure that when you pick it, it feels heavy for its size. If the flavor is good on this one though, you may have planted a yellow fleshed watermelon, which can have an almost white flesh at times.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
mbarcena2010 on
August 15, 2011Q.Difference Between Red and Orange Watermelons
What the difference between a red watermelon and an orange watermelon?
- Answered by
Heather on
August 18, 2011
Certified ExpertA.Just different varieties. Watermelons come in a variety of rind and flesh colors. The flesh can be red, orange, yellow and even white.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
hammer on
August 15, 2011Q.Watermelon Flower Drop
The flowers on my watermelon vine are drying up and dropping.
- Answered by
Heather on
August 19, 2011
Certified ExpertA.This may be happening because they are male flowers or it may be a pollination issue. If the flowers that are drying up are male, it is nothing to worry about. This is natural and normal. If the flowers that are falling off are female, than there is a pollination problem.
This article is about make and female squash flowers, but it is the same for melons. It will help you identify if you have male or females: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/female-male-squash-blossoms.htm
If it is a pollination issue, you may want to consider hand pollinating. This article will help you with that:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/melons/hand-pollinating-melons.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Answered by
hammer on
August 21, 2011A.Heather,thank-you for answer on the blossom's. I'll take a closer look at the plant. hammer
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
08nana on
August 15, 2011Q.First Time Growing Watermelon
It was doing great, then all of sudden the end of the watermelon turned brown-not the stem end. Why? Too much water or not enough? I live in Tn. and we have not had much rain, but I watered every day. I have a rain barrel.
- Answered by
Heather on
August 19, 2011
Certified ExpertA.This is blossom end rot and is normally cause by too little or uneven watering. This article about squash end rot applies to melons too and will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-blossom-end-rot-causes-and-treatment.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 19, 2011Q.Sticky Leaves and Now Sticky Melons
Watermelon leaves have a sticky substance and now the melons do. What's going on?
- Answered by
Nikki on
August 19, 2011
Certified ExpertA.Sounds like you have an insect infestation, possibly aphids, which secrete a sticky substance called honeydew. Treat the plants with neem oil to eradicate whatever pest is affecting them. This is both an effective treatment and safe. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 21, 2011Q.Watermelon Rot
All of my melons seem to rot in the early stages of growth.
- Answered by
Nikki on
August 22, 2011
Certified ExpertA.Like tomatoes, peppers, and squash, watermelons can also be affected by blossom end rot. This condition happens due to a calcium deficiency. Calcium helps a plant create a stable structure. If a plant gets too little calcium while the fruit is developing, the end result is what you're experiencing. There are a few things you can try for blossom end rot treatment:
Water evenly, not too much or too little. Add a low nitrogen fertilizer to the soil for optimal calcium uptake. Add lime to balance the soil’s pH if it is too low, (should be between 6.0 and 6.5). Add some gypsum to the soil for additional calcium. In addition, remove affected fruit and use a calcium rich foliar spray on the plant.
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