Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 168 Entries. Sunday, January 7 View Page Test grafts   Monday, January 22 View Page Test grafting just prior to the real deal.   Wednesday, January 24 View Page Test grafts with different rootstock varieties. Rootstock Separated here for comparison.   Wednesday, January 24 View Page Two different grafting methods shown with the same rootstock variety   Wednesday, January 24 View Page Experimental grafting   Wednesday, January 24 View Page Experimental grafting   Wednesday, January 24 View Page Test grafting   Wednesday, January 24 View Page Early preparation   Wednesday, January 24 View Page Watermelon sheds in the making.Just add legs and cover   Wednesday, January 24 View Page Little Bigg Dogg to carry on the growing tradition   Thursday, January 25 View Page Current picture of my test grafts   Thursday, January 25 View Page Wish it was planting time !   Friday, January 26 View Page Dr. Dogg about to do surgery about 6 weeks ago   Sunday, January 28 View Page Watermelons plants growing vertically.   Sunday, January 28 View Page Test grafts coming right along   Sunday, January 28 View Page Test grafts coming right along   Sunday, January 28 View Page Grafting done in lat December.   Sunday, January 28 View Page Grafting done in late December   Sunday, January 28 View Page Dr.Dogg leftovers after completing surgery in December   Sunday, January 28 View Page Patients in healing . Total darkness in a clear plastic tote , taped closed and mist the top,sides and plants lightly .   Friday, February 2 View Page Test graft update today   Friday, February 2 View Page Test graft picture on 2/1/18 Seeds planted on 12/12/17 Grafted 21 days later Healed 9 days in healing chamber Repotted to 1 gallon containers and moved to greenhouse with only space heaters for heat. No artificial lighting after moving outside to greenhouse I didn’t try to push plant growth with lighting and maintaining an ideal growing temperature 24 hours a Day   Friday, February 2 View Page A shot of the lower part of the plants   Friday, February 2 View Page Graft Day - December 31,2017 Notice 3 larger or older grafts in the tote , they are older plants that I grafted and in turn are the larger plants that I have now On all other grafts the rootstock and scion were planted the same day. I will be planting the CC scion at least 1week prior to rootstock planting as they do better when the scion is planted earlier   Friday, February 2 View Page Germination box on the left.Plants are moved to the box on the right with cooler temperature and lighting after popping up.   Sunday, February 4 View Page Weekly update   Sunday, February 4 View Page Germination box is locked and loaded. Tha real deal is on for me starting today. Seed planted and in the germination box at 3:30 pm . Thermostat on heater set at 95 degrees.   Friday, February 9 View Page The first of 50 to push through. Moved out of the germination box 95 degree heat into cooler temperature to keep plant from growing leggy.Added aluminum foil to magnify LED grow lighting   Saturday, February 10 View Page Just about forgot about my test grafts while preparing my seeds for the real deal .   Monday, February 12 View Page Trying out 2of 12 stump covers I built this past weekend   Monday, February 12 View Page Try this again , the picture didn’t attach on the last post   Monday, February 12 View Page This morning when I checked for any seed to be germinated . I now have 25 or more up of the 50 I planted. Expecting quite a few up this afternoon when I get in about 5:30 . I will plant the rootstock tomorrow or the next day to go with what worked best for me during test grafting.   Monday, February 12 View Page Total of 36 up now   Monday, February 12 View Page About 10 each of Takii GL-1 and Takii Rampart are going into the germination box today . As the other CC come out and room is available more rootstock go into the box. I will plant 10 Sygenta Carnivore rootstock and decide later on what to plant in the field. I will eliminate based on how the grafts look and what grafts survive , hopefully all .   Monday, February 12 View Page About 10 each of Takii GL-1 and Takii Rampart are going into the germination box today . As the other CC come out and room is available more rootstock go into the box. I will plant 10 Sygenta Carnivore rootstock and decide later on what to plant in the field. I will eliminate based on how the grafts look and what grafts survive , hopefully all .   Monday, February 19 View Page Melons and gourds   Monday, February 19 View Page It’s on now !   Monday, February 19 View Page Gourds   Monday, February 19 View Page Watermelons   Monday, February 19 View Page Closeup of gourds   Monday, February 19 View Page Watermelon closeup   Monday, February 19 View Page Got to say good bye to the test grafts and concentrate on the 2018 melon and rootstock seedlings.   Wednesday, February 21 View Page First melon of the 2018 season on my test grafts. Not quite ready for the OTT chart yet ... LOL   Monday, February 26 View Page These are about to be joined together and become one !   Monday, February 26 View Page JBD 205 grafted to Carnivore   Monday, February 26 View Page More grafted plants .   Monday, February 26 View Page 24 hours darkness at 100% humidity Planted CC on 2/4/18 Planted Rampart and GL rootstock on 2/12/18 Grafted on 2/23/18   Wednesday, February 28 View Page Pictured are half of the grafted plants at day #5 in the healing chamber .   Wednesday, February 28 View Page Day 5 in the healing chamber / Chamber #2   Monday, March 5 View Page Repotted grafts Moved from styrofoam cups to gallon pots Grafted extra plants and will cull and take the best of these 32 showing , re-grafted (5) they didn’t take good Will have a total of 37 if the other 5 take Started with 40 total / Not to bad for an old country boy !!   Friday, March 9 View Page 2018 grafts coming along well .   Friday, March 9 View Page Planted CC on 2/4/18 Planted rootstock on 2/12/18 Grafted rootstock on 2/26/10 This is the result on 3/9/18   Saturday, March 10 View Page This was the picture intended to be on the last post   Sunday, March 11 View Page Grafted watermelons   Tuesday, March 13 View Page Grafts coming along well.   Saturday, March 17 View Page Going to have to plant probably next weekend , plants are growing fast . Days and nights have been pretty warm.Beds are made ,drip tubing is down and put soil amendments down after receiving the second soil sample analysis from Western Labs. Electric fence is up to keep the deer,coon and rabbits out.Work never ends preparing for planting these watermelons.   Monday, March 19 View Page My grafts are the healthiest, lushest plants I have ever had. I plan on planting this Friday 3/23/18. Some of the plants have runners 4-6” long and after looking at the extended forecast ,I think it’s time to roll . I will pick the 16 best plants based on the plant health, graft contact surface ,genetics and etc.   Thursday, March 22 View Page Digging (14) holes 12”wide and 24” deep to aid in water drainage at the stump to help prevent stump rot.   Friday, March 23 View Page Planted melons today (14) out there amoung all that pine straw.   Friday, March 23 View Page Planted melons today (14) out there amoung all that pine straw.   Friday, March 23 View Page Melons are about to get a new home !   Friday, March 23 View Page Planting hole x 14   Friday, March 23 View Page Sand and gravel for the planting holes   Friday, March 23 View Page Tilled the middles with tractor and pto tiller after planting all plants then added most of the pine straw .   Friday, March 30 View Page Stump covers except for 2 are all on . Plants are growing pretty good considering the cool nights .   Friday, March 30 View Page Uncovered all plants after a bad storm came through !   Friday, April 6 View Page Stumps covers are all in place.   Friday, April 6 View Page Try that attachment again   Friday, April 6 View Page Plants looking good and heathy. Added soil amendments two different times to get the major and minor nutrients correct .   Friday, April 6 View Page Photo of another plant.   Friday, April 6 View Page Potatoes will be blooming shortly and we will be eatin new potatoes.   Friday, April 6 View Page Will cover everything tomorrow night with temperatures dropping to 40 degrees. Can’t chance even a light frost.To much invested.   Monday, April 23 View Page One of my seed selections choices.   Monday, April 23 View Page Another one of me seed choices ! We continue to have nights in the mid 40's here and the growth has slowed down.   Monday, April 23 View Page Plants are coming along well now. Its has been a struggle covering and uncovering and dealing with rain, straight line winds and bad weather early on.   Monday, April 23 View Page Shot of the watermelon /potato/tomato patch from one end.   Monday, April 23 View Page Little Big Dogg's helping pawpaw in the garden !!   Monday, April 30 View Page The graft and seed lineup .   Monday, April 30 View Page The grafts and seeds as of yesterday 4/29/18   Monday, April 30 View Page GL axe blade or 2 cot graft on the 283 Dawson   Monday, April 30 View Page 283 Dawson plant that is on the above rootstock picture.   Monday, April 30 View Page Pulling little melons off at 3 and 5 foot out . This came off the 350.5 Kent in the background.   Monday, April 30 View Page Picture of another plant . How far out is the preferred distance to set the watermelon?   Sunday, May 6 View Page Melon plants really growing with the warmer weather   Monday, May 7 View Page Bigg Dogg doing a selfie and watermelons patch   Monday, May 7 View Page Pulled this melon and another off the mains. They were at 7 and 8’out on the main.   Monday, May 7 View Page Patch shot   Monday, May 7 View Page Bigg Dogg has turned things upside down this year trying to grow a Big One . LOL ....   Monday, May 7 View Page Hopefully I did a back flip and landed right this time. LOL...   Friday, May 11 View Page Gave all my stumps a haircut yesterday except for (5) of them .I was after dark and trying to do it with a headlight . I quit and will catch the others after work today. This is what they all looked like before the scissors got a hold of them !! Thanks Iceman for the recommendation !!!   Friday, May 11 View Page Bigg Dogg the barber lowered them ears .Shaved that head !!!   Friday, May 11 View Page Another victim of barber Dogg !   Friday, May 11 View Page Total of (9) felt the wrath of Barber Bigg Dogg's scissors !!! (5) escaped temporarily until late this evening !! We gotta keep the gas moving through the pipe here at work but when I get off of work .......   Sunday, May 13 View Page Mothers Day Melons   Sunday, May 13 View Page 5 Lobe ???   Sunday, May 13 View Page Another potential melon !   Sunday, May 13 View Page Patch shot .Vines are wrapping it up quickly !   Sunday, May 13 View Page Another melon with potential   Sunday, May 13 View Page Mothers Day Melons with potential   Sunday, May 13 View Page Long slender melon   Sunday, May 13 View Page Some plants are loaded with melons others ,no prospects yet   Sunday, May 13 View Page So far all the hard work is paying off   Sunday, May 13 View Page Maters and melons   Tuesday, May 15 View Page Little Miss Piggy   Thursday, May 17 View Page 199.5 Mitchell x Rampart (1cot)   Thursday, May 17 View Page Hope the watermelon grows to match the shed used for shading !!!!   Thursday, May 17 View Page One shed finished and waiting on melons to set on the other plants to continue adding shade !!   Tuesday, May 22 View Page Mudd 199.5 x Rampart (1 cot)   Tuesday, May 22 View Page Mudd 199.5 x Rampart (1 cot)   Tuesday, May 22 View Page Still adding melon shades .   Wednesday, May 30 View Page Shading for watermelons that are set on the vine .   Wednesday, May 30 View Page Starting to tape this melon   Wednesday, May 30 View Page A different shot of the same melon   Wednesday, May 30 View Page Another melon very close to the stump !   Wednesday, May 30 View Page Different angle ,same melon as the prior post   Wednesday, May 30 View Page Kent 350.5 offspring   Wednesday, June 6 View Page Melon to jug comparison a few days ago   Wednesday, June 6 View Page Melon to 3 milk jug's a couple of days ago   Wednesday, June 6 View Page About to hit 40" circumference mark   Wednesday, June 6 View Page Another melon picture !   Wednesday, June 13 View Page Some recent melon pictures   Wednesday, June 13 View Page Some recent melon pictures   Wednesday, June 13 View Page Close to the stump on this one   Wednesday, June 13 View Page 199.5 Mudd x Rampart (1 Cot)   Wednesday, June 13 View Page Couple of big hogs peeking out   Wednesday, June 13 View Page The Patch   Wednesday, June 13 View Page Chunky looking heavy !   Wednesday, June 13 View Page Picture of still another melon   Monday, June 18 View Page Melon pictures   Monday, June 18 View Page Melon pictures   Monday, June 18 View Page 199.5 Mudd x Rampart (1Cot) 33.5"x48"x 75"=156.5 " OTT = approx. 114#'s   Monday, June 18 View Page 350.5 Kent x GL (2 cot / Axe Blade) Tall and fat / About 51" in circumference   Monday, June 18 View Page Another view of the Kent 350.5   Sunday, June 24 View Page 3 jugger looking good !!!   Sunday, June 24 View Page 3 jugger / View from the top   Sunday, June 24 View Page Long melon / Top view   Sunday, June 24 View Page Keeping it cool on these hot humid days   Sunday, June 24 View Page This is another true 3 jugger that's going to be a real good melon !!!   Sunday, June 24 View Page This is the big hog of the bunch . Tall and fat !!   Sunday, June 24 View Page The "Hog" side view !   Sunday, June 24 View Page Another melon in the patch   Sunday, June 24 View Page The 3 jugger at dark .Checkin it one more time before I go inside.   Thursday, July 5 View Page The “Hog “   Thursday, July 5 View Page 199.5 Mudd   Thursday, July 5 View Page 199.5 Mitchell   Thursday, July 5 View Page Rootstock and watermelon graft looking good   Thursday, July 5 View Page Tall and fat melon   Thursday, July 5 View Page The torpedo   Thursday, July 5 View Page Melon close to the stalk / rootstock!   Monday, July 16 View Page The "Hog" was 62-1/4" in girth yesterday   Monday, July 16 View Page Pawpaw's little helper with the "Hog"   Monday, July 16 View Page Sawyer checking all the melons out yesterday while at pawpaw's house !   Monday, July 16 View Page The vines have never lasted as long as they have this year. Especially with the intense heat that we have had .   Monday, July 16 View Page Melon protector on guard duty !!   Thursday, July 19 View Page The "Hog" approaching the end of the 64" tape in girth   Thursday, July 19 View Page End view of the "Hog"   Thursday, July 19 View Page Graduated from milk jug's to buckets for a reference of size.   Thursday, July 19 View Page Buckets on the side of the melon   Thursday, July 19 View Page Long Boy 1 with buckets   Thursday, July 19 View Page Long Boy 2 with bucket comparison   Thursday, July 19 View Page The "Hog" still growing !   Monday, July 23 View Page Melon update as of Sunday 7-22-18 / The "Hog" will be 64-1/4"s in girth today.   Monday, July 23 View Page Melon #2 update picture   Monday, July 23 View Page Melon #3 update picture   Monday, July 23 View Page Melon #4 update picture   Wednesday, August 1 View Page 168 #,191#,212# and 215.6 loaded and ready to head out last Friday. Weight was unknown at the time the picture was taken.   Wednesday, August 1 View Page 215.6 wins first and the 212 comes in 2nd and was edged out for third. Mine was a 191 and a 196 won 3rd   Wednesday, August 1 View Page Can someone identify this melon variety. It looks to be crossed Cobb Gem and Carolina Cross. If anyone has some of this seeds I would like to do a seed request . Thanks