Watermelons 2023

[karstopography]

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There is a watermelon! The bad news is that where I planted these is where a couple of trees recently lived and their “ghosts” are really messing with fertility.

The good news is that I have a Sangria watermelon actually growing. My expectations are so low that this effort has already exceeded expectations.

[GoDawgs]

That looks like it's growing into what I call a "pinhead" melon, one which is narrow on one end when it isn't supposed to be. I've had a few of those the last couple of years. That narrow end just doesn't ripen well and I can't find any real solid information as to what causes it except one reference to possible insufficient pollination.

What variety is yours?

[karstopography]

Sangria @GoDawgs

[pondgardener]

@karstopography I hope to plant some of the Sangria seeds soon and see how they do in Southern Colorado.

[karstopography]

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Watermelon putting on some weight. This one appears to be the only game in town for the moment, so I’m leaving it be.

[Uncle_Feist]

My buddies suburban loaded down with Sangria melons from my patch mid August of 2019. The crop that year was like honey running a consistent 12 brix. Everyone that bought one came back for more, but like everything else once they are gone they're gone.

[Tormato]

My buddies suburban loaded down with Sangria melons from my patch mid August of 2019. The crop that year was like honey running a consistent 12 brix. Everyone that bought one came back for more, but like everything else once they are gone they're gone.

I was unaware that you hung around with Mr. Majestyk.

[Tormato]

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Watermelon putting on some weight. This one appears to be the only game in town for the moment, so I’m leaving it be.

Watermelon plants need plenty of water. The good thing is, unlike with melons, a bit of excess water doesn't effect the flavor.

I like planting watermelon seeds. A couple of hills, 4 or 5 seeds to a hill, thin to the 2 or 3 strongest plants per hill, and that's about it. Later, I start training the vines to grow in the direction that I would like.

I have about 500 pole and bush beans to sow, 50 plus cucumbers, 100 plus tomato plants to transplant, 2 or 3 dozen summer and winter squash, many 100s of allium seeds, 100s of zinnia seeds, etc...that's where the time and work mostly goes.

At least the tomatoes will be delayed by about a week, because of my late start.

[worth1]

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Watermelon putting on some weight. This one appears to be the only game in town for the moment, so I’m leaving it be.

Watermelon plants need plenty of water. The good thing is, unlike with melons, a bit of excess water doesn't effect the flavor.

I like planting watermelon seeds. A couple of hills, 4 or 5 seeds to a hill, thin to the 2 or 3 strongest plants per hill, and that's about it. Later, I start training the vines to grow in the direction that I would like.

I have about 500 pole and bush beans to sow, 50 plus cucumbers, 100 plus tomato plants to transplant, 2 or 3 dozen summer and winter squash, many 100s of allium seeds, 100s of zinnia seeds, etc...that's where the time and work mostly goes.

At least the tomatoes will be delayed by about a week, because of my late start.

Too much water during the ripening stage can effect sweetness.

[karstopography]

Hempstead and Luling, Texas are famous for the excellent quality and flavor of their watermelons. Both places have well drained soils and are pretty gosh darn hot in June and early July when most of the watermelons are ripening.

My watermelon patch has good light, but had until the late summer of 2022 a big water oak growing in the spot. Much of the stump and buttress roots got ground up to dust, but that dust has been a major nitrogen sink and there are still even deeper roots jacking with the vegetables, including the watermelons, and ornamentals I’m trying to grow in the spot. I’ve amended with composted chicken manure, earthworm castings, greensand, and other products and have made progress, but there’s still a ways to go. Any watermelon is a plus. Next year, things should be much better in this spot.

[karstopography]

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Watermelons understand how to put on weight in a hurry.

[GoDawgs]

Today I got that cardboard down on the watermelon bed and added leaves on top while it was cool this morning. The grass did need to be scalped again and I had to have long pants on for that so yay for cool air! This is the bed being cardboarded:



Then I dumped leaves over it all. I used all the cardboard I had so will have to wait a week for my source to get in another delivery. I want to expand the mulched area back to the trellis and to the sides of the area.



A good rain came through this afternoon and dumped 0.8" on us so the watermelon mulch is nicely soggy/heavy and I won't have to wet it down this evening.

[karstopography]

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Harvested my 12 pound sangria watermelon today. I realize these should be more like 22-24 pounds.

Went through a checklist of when is a watermelon is ripe. I won’t know if I timed it correctly until I cut into it.

Pretty pleased I got the one half sized fruit considering how raw and immature the site was in terms of the soil.

Next year’s ought to be much better as all the saw dust should be broken down and the soil much more accommodating.

[Tormato]

It needs about 24 hours in the fridge to really cool down. They are not like store bought, which are at about 72 degrees.

[karstopography]

It needs about 24 hours in the fridge to really cool down. They are not like store bought, which are at about 72 degrees.

I wasn’t going to cut into it until tomorrow evening at the earliest. I picked the melon at about 1 pm today in the full sun and the melon felt like a giant hot water bottle. I debated letting it go one more day, but I prefer watermelon on the less ripe side if any error is made. I can eat and fully enjoy a slightly underripe watermelon, but a mealy, mushy overripe watermelon is inedible.

[GoDawgs]

Waiting to hear the verdict!

Meanwhile I found one in my patch... it was 1" long. LOL!

[worth1]

I'm about ready to harvest mine at the store.

[karstopography]

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The Sangria Watermelon is fantastic! I nailed the ripeness. Super sweet with crisp flesh. Not even a whiff of mealiness.

The experience has fired me up for next season.

[worth1]

Grrrrrrrrrrr

[pondgardener]

@karstopography Looks good! Unfortunately a hail storm took out all of my Sangria starts, so I am going to have to wait for next year.🫣