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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 47 Entries.
Tuesday, January 29 View Page
I began preparation for the 2019 watermelon season. I collected the soil sample today and mailed it Western Labs for analysis on 1/29/19.
 
Monday, February 4 View Page
I have officially started the 2019 season on 2/19 when I planted 52 GL-1 rootstock. I lightly sanded all seed edges for water absorption, pre heated the grow mix , punched drain holes in all styrofoam foam cups with a skewer, set heater temp at 95 degrees and it shake and bake time .
 
Monday, February 4 View Page
Germination box setup
 
Monday, February 4 View Page
GL -1's about to go down on 2/4/19
 
Monday, February 4 View Page
Another shot of the germination box
 
Monday, February 4 View Page
Grating in the germination box to allow bottom heat and air flow for better germination %
 
Saturday, February 9 View Page
Added aluminum foil to plastic tote to magnify fluorescent lighting .
 
Saturday, February 9 View Page
Took from Monday 2/4 to Saturday 2/9 to get the GL-1 to this point . 100 % germination on GL-1's
 
Saturday, February 9 View Page
Watermelon seeds in the germination box on 2/9/19. 5 days after GL-1 rootstock
 
Saturday, February 9 View Page
Potatoes in the ground on 2-9-19
 
Tuesday, February 12 View Page
GL's in the right tote and a few watermelons in the left tote that have just came up.
 
Sunday, February 17 View Page
GL-1 rootstock Day 13 after planting .
 
Sunday, February 17 View Page
Watermelons on Day 8 after planting .
 
Wednesday, February 20 View Page
GL-1 on Wednesday 2/20/19 . Planted them on 2/4 /19 . (15 days old)
 
Wednesday, February 20 View Page
Last post wasn't the most recent picture of GL's . This is a current photo taken on 2-20-19 . (16 days old)
 
Wednesday, February 20 View Page
Photo of watermelon plants taken on 2-20-19. Planted on 2-9-19 (11 days old)
 
Saturday, February 23 View Page
Rootstock and melon about to become one !
 
Saturday, February 23 View Page
Doctor Dogg about to do surgery on these two.
 
Saturday, February 23 View Page
Successful surgery . Hope the healing goes well !!
 
Saturday, February 23 View Page
(50) patients in recovery from their surgeries . They have already been through 24 hours total darkness .
 
Monday, February 25 View Page
Day (2) of healing . Some minor drooping going on,but overall looking pretty good .Added fluorescent lighting at the end of the 24 hours of total darkness . (16) hours on & (8) hours off
 
Wednesday, February 27 View Page
GL-1 x 146.5 Young at Day 4 with grafting clip removed .
 
Wednesday, February 27 View Page
Just removed all grafting clips on Day 4. Some wilting but overall the grafts seemed to have taken real well .
 
Saturday, March 2 View Page
Grafted some leftover watermelons and gourds on 3-3-19 . Just putting them into the healing chamber .
 
Sunday, March 3 View Page
Grafts at Day 8
 
Sunday, March 3 View Page
Lighting on older grafts and younger grafts .
 
Monday, March 4 View Page
Got to get better at rotating pictures before submitting !
 
Monday, March 11 View Page
Grafts are getting a good hold after repotting and showing new growth. Temperature is kept at least 60 degree's in my little greenhouse. I have 2 cot / 1 cot and hole insertion methods of grafting. Whatever worked best for melon and rootstock size. I have Carolina Cross and (8) other varieties grafted. If all works as planned I will enter in (9) different watermelon categories at the end of July.
 
Sunday, March 17 View Page
Planted GL-1 gourd seeds on 2-3-19 Planted watermelon seeds on 2-8-19 Grafted gourds to watermelons on 2-23-19 Resulting plants after 42 total days have passed
 
Sunday, March 17 View Page
All the recommended soil amendments have been out for a couple of weeks. Made the beds for the watermelons plants today.
 
Tuesday, March 19 View Page
Grafted plants on 3-19-19 before dark.
 
Tuesday, March 19 View Page
Another shot of the grafts after dark out in the greenhouse .
 
Tuesday, March 19 View Page
One last shot of the plants before heading inside . I also dug 25 holes where the plants will be planted that were 2' deep x 1' wide and will add 1' of pea gravel and 1' of sand at planting time to help with drainage and stump rot issues. I did this during the 2018 season and didn't lose a single stump to rot .
 
Tuesday, March 19 View Page
Grafted plants on 3-19-19.
 
Tuesday, March 19 View Page
Top shot of grafted plants on 3-19-19.
 
Tuesday, March 19 View Page
Grafted plants on 3-19-19 after dark under lights .
 
Tuesday, March 19 View Page
One cot graft on 3-19-19 .
 
Wednesday, March 27 View Page
(3) rows of watermelons / 25 holes 2' deep 1' wide that are filled with 1' of pea gravel and 1' of sand. Watermelons planted in the top 1' of sand .
 
Wednesday, March 27 View Page
Close up of a plant
 
Wednesday, March 27 View Page
Still another grafted plant
 
Wednesday, March 27 View Page
Last plant picture for today
 
Sunday, March 31 View Page
Watermelon plants on 3-31-19 just before I covered them up for the night. We are forecast to reach 38 degree's tonight .
 
Sunday, April 7 View Page
Got the middles cleaned up just before the big rain and storms came through last night .Next step is to get straw or hay down in the middles for weed prevention .
 
Wednesday, April 10 View Page
All melons are putting on good runners and have a lush green color !
 
Wednesday, April 10 View Page
Got some hay down ahead of the runners and I will cover the middles as I have some time .
 
Wednesday, April 10 View Page
A shot down one of the (3) rows
 
Wednesday, April 10 View Page
Close-up of one of the plants
 

 

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