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Jasper, Indiana

What is the expected daily plant growth for watermelons?
I know when AG'S get cranked up the vines can grow about 10" per day.
My plants are looking good and starting to vine but the daily growth is maybe 1" per day. Should I start adding liquid fertilizer to give the plants a boost?

5/16/2012 9:02:49 AM

Pataskala,OH

It has been cool at night lately, that could be the answer.

5/16/2012 9:12:09 AM

Muddy Waters Michigan

Its early 1 inch a day is great growth.I'm not getting that.is plant green & looking healthy?? If so I would leave it alone.How big is plant.You can kill a melon plant real fast with fertz.If nites are below 50 you wont see much growth.

5/16/2012 12:59:59 PM

Muddy Waters Michigan

When melons start cranking about June when it warms up you will get 3- 6inchs a day in vine growth.

5/16/2012 1:01:19 PM

Jasper, Indiana

Plants have a good green color and the size is about 12" diameter....just starting to vine.

The night temperatures have been in the upper 50's and day temperatures have been in the high 70's

5/16/2012 3:20:25 PM

Muddy Waters Michigan

They should start moving with nights over 55.If you want to fert I would do a 1/4 to half strength.Be careful they will take off when nites hit the sixties either way.If your soils jacked.I would only fert if leafs look like they need nitrogen.I just hit the kins with some 12-1-1 Fish meal,they were lite green,looking like they need it.My melons I'm leaving 1 more week before I hit them.Its only 69 in cave today calling for 40s tonite,no need to push them,there not ready yet.I hope this helps,Send me a photo of your plants if you like.Clementz.mark@yahoo.com.

5/16/2012 5:21:15 PM

Sevierville,Tn.

they will grow 6-8 inches at peak growth, but thats a good sized plant, not 12" diameter. give the plant & weather some time before expecting that kind of growth.

5/16/2012 9:16:07 PM

Knoxville, Tn (coolvol@comcast.net)

I feed my plants lose doses of quality liquid fertilizer from the get go. In my humble opinion, it only helps them to grow faster. If you want to really kick start growth, try putting some good grow lights over your plants at night.

5/17/2012 12:42:07 PM

Knoxville, Tn (coolvol@comcast.net)

Sorry, "low doses" is what I intended to type. My dyslexia kicks in sometimes.

5/17/2012 8:18:07 PM

Muddy Waters Michigan

Constant low does's can become toxic.Be careful grasshopper!

5/17/2012 9:21:05 PM

Knoxville, Tn (coolvol@comcast.net)

I have been use low salt fertilizers from Growth Products almost from day one and using them every time I water and my plants have been growing like weeds. There is certainly no sign of any toxicity. But I do agree with Mark that too much can become toxic.

5/17/2012 10:12:51 PM

Jasper, Indiana

TD, What do you mean by low doses?

Would 1 ounce of 10-10-10 per gallon of water be acceptable?

I applied soluable kelp a couple of days ago...but no fertilizers except what is in the soil.

5/18/2012 6:19:10 AM

Knoxville, Tn (coolvol@comcast.net)

I mean something around 1/2 the recommended strength.

5/18/2012 7:09:30 AM

Muddy Waters Michigan

I will be hitting my melons today with a 1/2 strength organic liguid fert to green them up a little.Plus the temps are here now for them to grow at nite.if you do a full strength on a small area the plant will get to much & burn.I may even go 1/4 strength instead.If I did this everyday it would be to much & become toxic.I will wait 5 days before I consider a second app.

5/18/2012 11:04:30 AM

Muddy Waters Michigan

I put a picture of my melons on diary so you can see a healthy color,they could be a little greener then this.Should be up later today

5/18/2012 5:10:14 PM

Jasper, Indiana

Thanks for the information....

I applied liquid 10-10-10 at 1 ounce per gallon and they seem to be responding.....a nice green color and new growth.

5/21/2012 8:00:26 AM

Muddy Waters Michigan

I hit mine & they got lighter green LOL!

5/21/2012 5:12:39 PM

Kokomo, Indiana

My 2 melon plants are about the size of my pinky finger. They havent grown much. Still 2 leafs on them. How seeing how June is this weekend and its been pretty damn hot out. how much of plant growth should I see for a "health plant"

5/29/2012 6:35:19 PM

Knoxville, Tn (coolvol@comcast.net)

Growth rates should be good right now Ryan. You must have some sort of nutrient problem. Did you have your soil tested this year ?

5/29/2012 10:14:50 PM

Muddy Waters Michigan

How long have they been in the ground Ryan,it takes about 1 week for them to take off.Overwatering will stop growth,no oxygen in soil no growth.Make a groove in the soil just outside of the root zone fill with water like 2 Qts,this will make the roots grow out to water.Dont water to much let ground almost dry out again before you water again.

5/30/2012 6:31:22 AM