Anyone growing watermelon......?

[Judy]

Quote:
Yep, now I remember, vine borers. I've tried it all. I've cut open vines and killed larvae to the point that the cutting killed the vine, planted things like mint, etc., etc. Like I said, I think I just attract them.... or maybe I just have a black thumb....

I'm just complaining. Neighbors succeed and mine die. I might get mad and turn the chickens loose in the garden. At least they would enjoy it.... wonder if chickens eat stink bugs....

 

[silkiechicken]

You all are lucky. It's not hot enough or summer long enough to grow any type of mellon out here. Getting tomatoes to ripen can be a challenge in the PNW and losing half to frost is normal.

 

[saddina]

Give me a second, there's one that was bred for up north.... Let me grab my book...

Blacktail Mountain
70 days One of the earliest watermelons we know of; superb for the North, but it also grows well in heat and drought. The flesh is red and deliciously sweet. Fruit have a dark rind and weigh 8-12 lbs each. This excellent variety was developed by our friend Glenn Drowns, owner of the Sand Hill Preservation Center in Iowa. A favorite of many gardeners across the USA. One of the best we have ever tried!


Cream of Saskatchewan
80 days A beautiful little melon with sweet, tasty, cream-colored flesh! An excellent variety for the North. Fruits around 8-10 lbs each, with a striped, green rind. A favorite of those who grow it! An old heirloom.


Golden Midget
70 days A beautiful miniature watermelon that weighs around 3 lbs. It's easy to tell when they are ripe, as the rind turns a lovely golden yellow when ready for harvest, a very beautiful contrast with the salmon-pink colored flesh. The taste is sweet and refreshing. Very early, matures in just 70 days. Developed by the late Dr. Elwyn Meader, UNH, in 1959. Unique.

North Star
85-90 days This great strain of "Moon and Stars" was selected in northern Illinois to produce large melons in that climate. The rind is covered with small stars and speckles. The flesh is pink and very sweet. This great-tasting variety was developed by our friend Merl Niedens. A good choice for home and market gardeners.

Sweet Siberian New!
80-90 days Luscious, apricot-colored flesh is very sweet and flavorful. Grown at New Hampshire's Ag Experiment station in 1901. It is early, and a great melon for the north. In 1937 McFayden Seeds of Winnipeg, Man. Canada said, "Largest of very early strains. A very early yellow-fleshed variety extensively grown by Russians. It is supposed to have come from Siberia. The melons are oblong, dark green, borne abundantly on the vigorous vines. The flesh is a golden yellow, sweet and delicious. Grown extensively by Hutterite Colonies, who find ready sale for them in many districts in Manitoba." It is now rather rare and hard to find.

http://rareseeds.com/seeds/Watermelon

If you start your seeds indoors, and pick a short season variety, you should be able to swing it.

 

[clickie]

You all are lucky. It's not hot enough or summer long enough to grow any type of mellon out here. Getting tomatoes to ripen can be a challenge in the PNW and losing half to frost is normal.

hmm I am hoping that I did not plant my melons too late, the summer here is usually hot, but this year it has been really rainy.​