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Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee

Two questions:
a) Where did cracks develop and were there more than one on this 2012 melon?
b) If cracks are radiating from stem end, would there be any benefit(s)to plugging these cracks as soon as they begin to develop?

My melons from those seeds all have developed multiple cracks as they approach 40 pounds. Cracks begin at stem end and follow the seams along length of melon. Anyone have any advice?
TIA, Clutch

8/24/2013 12:17:19 PM

Bowdon, GA

The cracks did start at the stem end which it seems genetically dispositioned to do so. I started around 35-40 pounds. I cleaned and filled with sulfer. They heeled up quick. The one that got me was on the bottom where it was hard to see. The crack was to bad to heel by the time I found it.This line of lopes grows faster than most of the others but is more fragile because of it.

8/24/2013 11:21:40 PM

Going Green

I know what works for me is to dust Cantaloupe with lime the last two to three weeks. Also resist the temptation to lift or roll the cantaloupe or vines until harvest day. I have had some cantaloupe crack anyway! I have placed 1st place last three years.

12/9/2013 9:27:45 PM

Bowdon, GA

That is interesting. I have not tried that one. Do you use powdered cal lime? Because of its rapid growth rate this line is very hard to control. It would likely make a good cross with the 46 westfall line or the 8 Cantrell.

12/9/2013 10:19:51 PM

Going Green

Mr. Holloway... not sure if this is Jake. My cantaloupe came from the 46.6 Westfall and yes I do use Powdered lime. I grew 13 cantaloupe this year on 10 plants. Each plant is planted in a raised bed which is 18 inches of soil. I use soaker hoses and I put a 2 gallon watering jug near the stem or root of the plant. I add fish and kelp once a week and run rain water I have collected earlier to overflowing in the jugs. Another suggestion is to place newspaper over the inside interior of the raised bed and cover with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of sand. No weeds will grow in your raised bed and the bottom of the cantaloupe has sand to grow on. However I do put additional sand under all melons I do not cull. Beer is sprayed on plants to keep slugs away and I also foliar feed weekly. The sand allows the water to not be in contact with the fruit or the leaves. I shade all fruit by any means possible once I decide it is a keeper. Twice as long as it is wide is a good standard.

1/13/2014 7:25:48 PM