tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post2839021349918417656..comments2024-03-21T01:15:20.870-07:00Comments on Sacramento Vegetable Gardening: Melons R UsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-61433986526080316042009-08-25T13:59:45.970-07:002009-08-25T13:59:45.970-07:00MamaBee,
Yes, there was quite a bit of experiment...MamaBee,<br /><br />Yes, there was quite a bit of experimentation with the melon bed in terms of recharging the raised bed AND fertlization procedures. I appears to have worked wonders. I say "appears" because I'm just not ready to pass judgement on the melon garden yet. We picked one over the weekend (a full sized watermelon) and wouldn't you know it? It wasn't quite ripe yet. It needed another week or so on the vine, so that's what we'll give it.<br /><br />As far as technique is concerned, the melon plants are in a raised bed, about ten inches high. This 8X8 bed is filled with planter mix, and I also recharged that bed this year with about six bags of Steer Manure compost and a bag or two of Chicken Manure compost. I also fertilized with a mixture of Omega 666, another liquid fertilizer called Maxicrop (they are both organic) and also stick a weak mixture of non-organic Miracle Grow into the valves that are connected to the garden-drip sprinklers. The water, upon hitting the valve, dissolves the Miracle grow and it is transported to the many garden beds.Bill Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11816389236294882066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-22275602511591192022009-08-25T13:44:22.405-07:002009-08-25T13:44:22.405-07:00Hi...we are in Vacaville and we had such high hope...Hi...we are in Vacaville and we had such high hopes for our melon garden this year...they came on well, set melons...and then...not much of anything. About four watermelons sized up and were ok, they tasted like watermelon and were sorta sweet and the honeydews barely sized up and after awhile I thought maybe I should just pick one because they were about two weeks past the seed pack harvest date...and they were mushy in the center and really had no flavor. So I waited another few days and picked a few...ever smelled Honeydew wine?? EWWW!!<br />I see that you learned to water only two days a wekk and 30 minutes. Hubby thought a three hour soak with a soaker hose once a week would work....I am guessing not....did you give them fertilizer, organic or chemical?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-38577317889369048732009-08-25T12:31:54.058-07:002009-08-25T12:31:54.058-07:00Thank you everyone. Yes -- in good ol' Califor...Thank you everyone. Yes -- in good ol' California -- we're blessed with the best of everything. That includes weather. It's great year round -- and we just happen to live in the absolute GARDEN SPOT of the Golden State. My long-gone mother, who survived the Great Depression, once remarked: "you have the great fortune of not only living in the greatest country in the world -- but the best state in the country." She would routinely tell me this whenever I was feeling sorry for myself (which happened a few times).Bill Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11816389236294882066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-42992711029235842312009-08-25T08:42:37.515-07:002009-08-25T08:42:37.515-07:00great site,keep it upgreat site,keep it upjohn ballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-29027021283015446352009-08-25T08:41:02.307-07:002009-08-25T08:41:02.307-07:00I envy your weather in usa,it must be great to gro...I envy your weather in usa,it must be great to grow such good fruit. Here in Liverpool England we get rain and cold, however i love your blogg, keep it up mate. I grow peas in my tiny back yard and i love it, my friends think im crazy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-48311065301806786672009-08-23T17:40:11.861-07:002009-08-23T17:40:11.861-07:00Yep, nice melons BillYep, nice melons Billdavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03272436229160674764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-43180989739003085352009-08-23T10:22:16.481-07:002009-08-23T10:22:16.481-07:00I've only tried to grow melons a few times bef...I've only tried to grow melons a few times before with moderate success. I haven't in years due to space constraints. I might try to talk a friend into letting me do some at his place. Your melons and harvest look great.Greg Damitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12681672410404222333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-65649935265784498432009-08-22T11:51:41.260-07:002009-08-22T11:51:41.260-07:00I tried to grow watermelon in a container this yea...I tried to grow watermelon in a container this year...only got 1 good fruit from a variety called Orchid from territorial seed. I've been watering them everyday too. Orchid is a personal sized yellow flesh watermelon...it was excellent! I was hoping to have yellow, orange and red watermelon for a watermelon salad...oh well. There's always next year!<br /><br />Congratulations on your melons!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-20493389776847206832009-08-21T08:04:53.204-07:002009-08-21T08:04:53.204-07:00To test melons for ripeness, rap the side of the f...To test melons for ripeness, rap the side of the fruit with your knuckles. A light or metallic sound<br />means that the fruit is still green; a dull sound means it is ripe. This is most reliable in the early<br />morning. During the heat of the day or after melons have been picked for some time, they all sound<br />ripe. Fruits have a "ground spot" where they rest on the ground; this spot turns slightly yellow as the<br />fruit matures. Watermelons tend to become rough as they mature. The tendrils closest to the fruit<br />darken and dry up as the fruit ripens. Do not pull melons off the vine; use a sharp knife for cutting. (From: http://vric.ucdavis.edu/pdf/watermelon.pdf)Fred Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00501190876515519882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040094306206601621.post-72885574413343895382009-08-20T22:24:57.929-07:002009-08-20T22:24:57.929-07:00Wow, looking good! We just harvested our (only) ca...Wow, looking good! We just harvested our (only) cantaloupe tonight and boy, was it delicious. <br /><br />Will have to try some Moon & Stars watermelons next year. And thanks for the FF tip--I'd been watering them every day. Oooops!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508300303347262656noreply@blogger.com