Getting Prescot Fond Blanc Melons to Ripen??

16 years ago

This was my first year trying to grow Prescot Fond Blanc melons and I didn't have the success I was hoping for. I couldn't get the melons to ripen before they split open on the bottom end. Even after leaving them on the counter for a few days, when I finally cut one open, it was still sort of hard and not totally ripe on the inside.

What's the secret to getting these melons to ripen before (or after) they split open?

The same question goes for Charentais melons. I had better luck with them, and managed to get some to ripen before or during them splitting open, but unlike my other melons, spliting was the norm not the exception.

Thanks!

Bart

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Comments (4)

yumamelon
16 years ago
Hello,
You have probably watered too much to close to maturity. I have never grown the Fond Blanc melon, but in general all melons are same. European melons are more prone to cracking than US melons.
Yuma
robin_maine
16 years ago
I agree with Yuma. I seldom water my melons. If you back off on the water it should give the melons more time to ripen without splitting.

I have better luck with Charentais ripening than Prescott. The first year I grew them I started out picking by looks. When they looked ripe according to all the pictures I'd looked at I picked them. They weren't ripe. I judge by smell now.
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bart1
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the advice.

This year, I watered with a soaker hose and only did it once a week, and towards the end of the season, I'd only leave it on for an hour. It's been very dry here (No. VA) this year so that hour of watering per week was about the only water they received.

Could that be too much water?!?!?

Do melons not need ANY water once they're established and growing well?

Thanks again,
Bart
yumamelon
16 years ago
I can't say for sure but in Yuma with the soil type I have I water melons about 6-7 times during the growing season. Depending on the heat, that will go up. Those numbers are the minimum, but never once a week. However you are probably on more sand than I am (thinking of what I assume VA looks like from my desk in AZ). You need to water deeply early so that you establish deeper roots and then stress the plants for a little to really get the roots out. This is my problem with growing op types though, they just don't perform for me with the rooting structure like hyb do.
Yuma

Getting Prescot Fond Blanc Melons to Ripen??

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Getting Prescot Fond Blanc Melons to Ripen??

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