Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 46 Entries. Thursday, June 25 View Page Well. The ground was wet for a long time this past Spring. When it finally dried up, the tiller wouldn't run...need a motor and the tractor fuel tank plastic lining was stopping up the fuel filter,,,,,,,,,etc.......... Late STart. I was impatient and planted a 241 Spencer 2014 melon in this raised bed. The bed is a total of 17 ft long .....32 inches wide and about 20 inches deep. All slightly souped up. It's almost time to pollinate.   Thursday, June 25 View Page The main was broke on the 241 Spencer . A secondary takes it's place but it's not as vigorous as the first secondaries and the females are small. This bloom is on one of the first secondary vines. Vigorous vine. Had several 4 lobers culled on the same vine. It hasn't even bloomed yet and it's close to an inch long. Temps will be milder when it blooms. Should be Good timing.   Thursday, June 25 View Page The 123.5 Spencer also late planted   Thursday, June 25 View Page the other 241 Spencer. #2 real slow== also planted out late.   Thursday, June 25 View Page Different view of raised bed 241 watermelon plant. oh...that female bloom will bloom in a few days . Went out and measured it...... it's only 5/8 of an inch long right now. Also waiting on another bloom on the other 1st secondary vine and one on the secondary main vine.   Friday, June 26 View Page The secondary main vine has a bloom this morning. Small= 7/8 inch. Has 4 lobes. Big things come in small packages.....right? Does that really matter how big the female bloom is?   Friday, June 26 View Page #1 pollination on secondary main vine 241.5 spencer x 123.5 spencer   Saturday, June 27 View Page #2 on the 241 spencer in the large raised bed. It's a 1 inch long. 4 lobes x 123 spencer   Saturday, June 27 View Page #2 241 spencer , 1 inch long, 4 lobe, on a stump secondary x 123 spencer   Monday, June 29 View Page on the 123 Spencer plant = finally. That plant spreads 16 to 17 feet right now and this is the only female in sight. on a finger vine. looks like it might be long and skinny 4 days out?   Tuesday, June 30 View Page testing   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Not normal to get females so close together....but fun when you do.   Sunday, July 12 View Page when I try to post pictures, connection to server is lost......every time. I might try later today when this website is not so busy. Maybe that has something to do with it. Meanwhile. The 241 Spencer plant has a 70" OTT on 10 DAP It didn't grow hardly any at all for two days due to flooding storms.= clouds   Sunday, July 12 View Page Have #2 plant 241 spencer at 6 dap it was 7 1/4 inches long Today = 7 dap and it is 9 1/4 inches long The stripes got darker since yesterday too. I like it when that happens. (shrug my shoulders)   Sunday, July 12 View Page figured out why the pictures won't load. They are 4.30 mb roops   Sunday, July 12 View Page 241 Spencer #1 plant 10 DAP 70" OTT   Sunday, July 12 View Page Can't set a melon on the 123 Spencer right now. Too HOt a nd it will be hot for the next 10 to 15 days. Heat indexes around 108 to 111. BUT......this one OPEN pollinated. Didn't see it until today By the color and the size and based on I didn't see it when I tilled around the patch.....I say its 6 DAP. And it's 7 1/2 inches long. Bad location. I will keep it until I can get another one set...which i doubt.   Monday, July 13 View Page 241 Spencer #1 11 dap 78 1/2 " ott, gained 8 1/2 " in 24 hour. Assuming this is good.   Monday, July 13 View Page the 241 spencer #1 at 78"ott 11 dap   Monday, July 13 View Page 241 Spencer #2 8 dap 11 1/2 inches long.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page 123 Spencer 8 dap open pollinated 4th secondary from stump 9ft out- estimated 13 inches long 62" OTT grew 3 1/2 inches longer in 24 hours. It's a torpedo   Thursday, July 16 View Page 123 Spencer 10 dap next to 4 gallon bucket   Friday, July 17 View Page Cantaloupe 45 Phillips open pollinated estimated 15 days old 27 inch CC   Wednesday, July 22 View Page The best I have growing. 241 Spencer 20 DAP   Wednesday, July 22 View Page 45 Phillips Cantaloupe 20 DAP 38 1/2 inch CC 89" OTT. Fat sadly= open pollinated.   Friday, July 24 View Page 45 Phillips plant #2, estimated 20 days 41 1/2 " cc 85 1/2 " ott one foot from stump flat shape   Friday, July 24 View Page another view 45 phillips #2 plant   Friday, July 24 View Page 45 phillips 22 days 41 1/2 " cc 95 1/2 " ott round shape   Saturday, July 25 View Page #5 cantaloupe is doing great. chuggin along. gaining weight happily, no loping yet. Day 23   Saturday, July 25 View Page 241 Spencer #1 plant, day 23   Monday, July 27 View Page 45 Phillips, 46" CC 105" OTT   Monday, July 27 View Page top view of the 46"cc   Tuesday, July 28 View Page starting to lope....barely see it in the crevices 16 to 20 more days to go   Tuesday, July 28 View Page The other 45 phillips #2 plant It's running neck and neck with the #5 plant But this one is more flat. A bigger CC compared to same day age. But it's catching up with OTT measurements of #5 little at a time. And the amazing part is......It's only 1 foot from the stump. 24 days old 45"cc. no loping yet   Tuesday, July 28 View Page 45 phillips #2 plant was sitting on the ground on a bed of leaves. I put it on a rack and remeasured. The photo entry will say 101 but the actual measurement is 104 " OTT and 45"cc.   Wednesday, July 29 View Page 45 Phillips plant #5 Day 27 about 41 lbs   Saturday, August 1 View Page 241 Spencer Day 30   Saturday, August 1 View Page Squash Vine Borers have destroyed 2 pumpkin and 2 watermelon and my regular squash this year.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page The giant cantaloupes are quarter inching it. a new photo looks like the previous from 4 days ago. So slow you can't see the difference. 45 Phillips Plant #5 34 DAP= 51"CC 116" OTT, 45 Phillips Plant #2 31 DAP= 49"CC 114" OTT   Tuesday, August 11 View Page 45 Phillips plant #5 = ripened , 51" CC, 116" OTT, 37 pounds   Tuesday, August 11 View Page 45 Phillips plant # 2, ripened , 50"CC, 118"OTT, 40 pounds   Tuesday, August 11 View Page #2 blossom end   Tuesday, August 11 View Page Thanks to the SVB and the critters,(coons, mice, rats, and otters) I don't have anything else this year. It's all gone.   Wednesday, August 26 View Page Been growing some Giant Birdhouse Gourds. I grew 9 on the plant this year. They are big. I cannot imagine how big just one would get. 36 1/2 inch circumference.   Wednesday, August 26 View Page 241 spencer growing in a raised grow bed it's bout finished. better luck next year--3rd times a charm, right? est.. 132 pounds.   Friday, September 11 View Page 241 Spencer X 123 Spencer (growing in a 32 inch x 10ft grow bed that was 18 inches deep. Was the only melon plant that survived the dreadful summer. 146 pounds