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Heirloom Plants & Gardens

Heirloom watermelon for newbie gardener?

16 years ago

Hi everyone,

I'm new to vegetable gardening and am working on building my beds right now...I have quite a bit planned, and would really like to try either watermelon or another heirloom melon (the rest of my vegetable garden will be all heirlooms). I've heard that melons are tricky to grow. Is it something I should try in my first year? Or should I skip them? I have plenty of space, so that's not an issue.

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Comments (5)

farmerdilla
16 years ago
Try Blacktail Mountain, it is both an heirloom and early maturing. Water melons like heat, sandy soil, and space. If you have those, they are easy.
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farfaraway
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, farmerdilla! I have heat and space, but I do NOT have sandy soil--I have thick clay here in Ohio. However, I did just start my new vegetable beds (lasagna style) and they should be full of rich, loamy soil. Should I give it a shot??
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jimster
16 years ago
Farmerdilla took the words right out of my mouth.

I wouldn't worry too much about the soil. Few of us have the optimum soil for everything we want to grow. We have to get by with what we have. Over time, the soil can be ammended of course, but don't wait for that. Go ahead with the melons.

BTW, Blacktail Mountain was developed by Glenn Drowns of Sandhill Preservation Center and he has told the story of how he developed it to grow in a short season on very poor soil, mostly rocks as I recall, just about the worst conditions imaginable for watermelon. This was before he moved to Iowa.

Jim
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farfaraway
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Jim! I had no idea that the Sandhill guy developed this watermelon! I'm going to give them a try. Thanks!
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vgary
16 years ago
farfaraway, Have you located your watermelon and other Melon seed yet. If not I may have several varieties which might interest you.
Contact me at gary.millwood@gmail.com
Gary
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