Went to pick a watermelon.....yeah right *pics*

Jared77

Garden Addicted
Joined
Aug 1, 2010
Messages
2,616
Reaction score
974
Points
277
Location
Howell Zone 5
So this year I thought Id be all smart and grow Sugar baby watermelons right? The plants took off, lots of nice good sized watermelons but no tendrils to be found.

So I looked at the skin. Dark color.

7129_sam_1705.jpg


Even found the yellow spot on the underside

7129_sam_1704.jpg


:drool

Yep thought I was so smart till we cut it open

7129_sam_1706.jpg


:ep

DANG IT!!!! :somad

Well tasted it anyway yep its not ready :sick

Luckily I only picked one but it was one thats been looking like this for a while.

I made the mistake of not noting when I first got fruit on them. I could probably figure it out when I noticed them and start counting but I thought for sure I was getting close. Maybe Ill have watermelons for Labor Day.....:barnie

Anybody have some insight to where I messed up at? Other than picking it too early?
 

journey11

Garden Master
Joined
Sep 1, 2009
Messages
8,469
Reaction score
4,218
Points
397
Location
WV, Zone 6B
Look for a bigger, pale/creamy colored spot on the bottom...bigger & lighter than what that one had, unfortunately! It's too bad those don't have the tendril. That really is the easiest way to tell. :p

ETA: And with a good thump, it should sound hollow.
 

thistlebloom

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
16,473
Reaction score
17,394
Points
457
Location
North Idaho 48th parallel
Aww, too bad Jared! Yours are way farther along than mine, I just have blooms, so I'm not expecting any melons for summer picnics :( .
Hopefully you'll have lots more .
 

dinkadoo

Leafing Out
Joined
Jul 19, 2011
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
Points
22
Jared,


Had the same issues with a Sugar Lump(Baker Creek heirloom). I read somewhere that those w/o tendrills would show a canker on the stem 1-2" from the melon and when it was ripe the vine would split at that spot. Well, dog if it did'nt! And the melon was great! Mine ripe looked like your pic but it was a whiteflesh. I did sacrifice 2 or three before I hit it right!
 

lesa

Garden Master
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
6,645
Reaction score
566
Points
337
Location
ZONE 4 UPSTATE NY
That is the worst part about watermelon!! You just don't know until it is too late! I agree with Journey, the yellow spot will be almost white... Still waiting for mine (I am growing sugar babies too). Enjoy your next one!
 

hoodat

Garden Addicted
Joined
Apr 28, 2010
Messages
3,758
Reaction score
501
Points
260
Location
Palm Desert CA
When that happens it's time for either watermelon rind pickles or marmalade.
 

Stubbornhillfarm

Attractive To Bees
Joined
May 23, 2011
Messages
924
Reaction score
8
Points
74
Location
Shapleigh, Maine
Jared, at least you have some size going there! Sorry it wasn't ready yet though. That is disapointing. My one and only sugar baby is smaller than a golf ball. It may be a "one bite" melon come fall!
 

Hencackle

Garden Ornament
Joined
Jan 6, 2008
Messages
133
Reaction score
0
Points
83
Location
northeast TN
I wait for the melon to slip easily from the vine without any tugging whatsoever.
 

Carol Dee

Garden Master
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
12,961
Reaction score
20,355
Points
437
Location
Long Grove, IA
Stubbornhillfarm said:
Jared, at least you have some size going there! Sorry it wasn't ready yet though. That is disapointing. My one and only sugar baby is smaller than a golf ball. It may be a "one bite" melon come fall!
We got a TINY melon last year.
8098_008.jpg
[/url][/img]
8098_009.jpg
[/url][/img]
8098_013.jpg
[/url][/img]
 

Latest posts

Top