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Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Sept 15, 2010 1:32:26 GMT -5
Does anyone know any good varieties of Watermelon that might be well adapted to clay soil and could thrive in drought? Most of my yard fits that description, and is basically a small desert most of the time.
Joseph, I know you live in a similar climate as me, perhaps you have a few varieties in mind? I saw you have a nice cantaloupe patch, and while my family likes cantaloupe a lot, I've never been a fan. I've always loved watermelon though.
(The longest and healthiest vine i ever had was planted in the "woodlands" area at the edge of the fence. I guess woodlands have the best soil. There are even some wild sweet-peas that grow monstrous in between the thick trees. ......Not to mention huge dandelions.)
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Post by blueadzuki on Sept 15, 2010 6:16:48 GMT -5
No varities to reccomend specifiucally but you migh want to look around Native Seeds/SEARCH, as they're based out of the SW and only offer seeds from the native tribes around there, thier watermelons may be desert adapted.
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Post by woodsygardener on Sept 15, 2010 11:20:48 GMT -5
No varities to reccomend specifiucally but you migh want to look around Native Seeds/SEARCH, as they're based out of the SW and only offer seeds from the native tribes around there, thier watermelons may be desert adapted. Indeed. I can recommend their Hopi Red watermelon as growing better on my poor, clay soil than any other I tried. That would be about 20 other melons. The next 2 grew well: Melitopolski and Cream of Saskatchewan. Good luck!
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Sept 16, 2010 1:34:48 GMT -5
Joseph, I know you live in a similar climate as me, perhaps you have a few varieties in mind? I grow in clayish soil in the desert with extremely low humidity, but my melons never experience drought due to generous (once a week) irrigation. My season is very short (90 frost free days this year) with scalding days and cold nights, so the only melons that have ripened for my family are Charleston Gray (my family's own sub-variety that we have grown for decades), and Blacktail Mountain which doesn't seem to be well adapted to my garden but at least it ripened melons for me this summer which is the first year I grew it. I expect to have seeds to share from both later in the fall. PM me. Anyone have suggestions for growing earlier melons??? I'm patient and can wait till after harvest if anyone has suggestions. Regards, Joseph
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Post by starlight1153 on Oct 16, 2010 12:16:55 GMT -5
I don't know if these melons are too small for you to want to grow, but have seed for Sugar Baby melons. They a small melon. They small enough too you can pack one in your lunch box and open it up for a meal.
They a good producer and love clay and will take drought and even the high 125F temps and humidity beautifully.
Plant a couple of plants in the clay, they don't get mulched, fertilized, hoed or anything, just left alone and they do their own thing . Easiest melon too I have ever grown. They sweet and juicy too.
They a good producer and what I like about them is you don't have to cut open a big watermelon than worry about finding room in the fridge to store the leftover part. You can cut open one for two people or just one person.
If anybody wants some, just send me a pm or whatever it is ya call it here.
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Post by starlight1153 on Oct 16, 2010 14:01:40 GMT -5
Too, if ya interested, I just sent the morning cleaning the seed, bit they a pain, LOL, getting the gel sacks off, and they are now drying that does well in clay and same conditions is the Korean Melon. Have seed of them too if anybody wants. I have the one that turns yellow when ready and has the inset stripes down it.
Too me it sweet but not as sweet as a cantaloupe. Reminds me of eating honey dew melon sort of. Cut open scoop out seeds, then peel outside and eat, or cut into strips like a cantaloupe and eat just the white fleshy part.
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Post by cortona on Nov 1, 2010 18:19:41 GMT -5
wow starlight i'm very interested to try it! can i send you a pm?
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