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chuck_barham
Joined: 13 May 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Barry,TEXAS
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:40 pm Post subject: watermelons |
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| having trouble knowing when to pull melons,it is a disappointment when you pull one and it is'nt ripe. Any suggestions and will they ripen after coming off the vine? |
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DirtDiggler
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 36
Location: NACOGDOCHES,TEXAS
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Unfortunately, the best way to learn is to pull a lot of them. I look for a combination of the following; Dulling of the skin on the melon, very browned tendrils near the stem, yellowing (on some types whitening) of the belly, and a hollow sound when thumped. Seems like every type of melon has slightly different combinations of these characteristics so there really is no sure fire methods that I know of. The thumping technique is the most accurate in my opinion but takes a lot of practice; if you think a melon is ripe thump or knock on it and then compare to a slightly smaller melon that you know is not ripe to give you a reference "sound". Even with all these hints, pulling watermelons is an art; When growing melons for the first time, you may want to try "Black Diamond"; easy to grow, taste good, and when the belly turns yellow, they are ready. I have read that melons will ripen some after pulling but at a much lower quality than if vine ripened. Melons ripen from the but end first and most will have black seeds when fully ripe. What kind of melons are you growing? |
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chuck_barham
Joined: 13 May 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Barry,TEXAS
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| Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject: watermelons |
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| Thank's for your input. I have black diamonds mainly,but a few jubilee and charleston gray. |
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DirtDiggler
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 36
Location: NACOGDOCHES,TEXAS
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| Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Those are some of my favorites; In my opinion, charleston grays are by far the hardest to tell when ripe: good luck! |
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pakin
Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 219
Location: Hubbard,TEXAS
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:46 am Post subject: Melons |
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Chuck, I love black diamonds. Do you have seed to sell?
Where is Barry, TX?
Pat |
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chuck_barham
Joined: 13 May 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Barry,TEXAS
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:59 am Post subject: watermelons |
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| Barry is located on Hwy. 22 between Corsicana and Hillsboro. sorry but i do not have any seeds right now. |
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pakin
Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 219
Location: Hubbard,TEXAS
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| Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:50 am Post subject: Barry, TX |
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So, we're neighbors.
Pat A |
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