Melon breeding and heat units

[johno]

Jun 29, 2011 13:34:01 GMT -5 ottawagardener said:

Extreme Gardener (site member), also in Vermont, is a big fan too (perhaps the same person?). Anyhow, I am growing a selection of melon this year, including hopefully Piel de Sapo - I'll have to check to see how it's doing. My husband is from Spain which was my part of my initial interest.

I had a quantity of 9 year old Piel de Sapo (and also Valencia) seed, which I sowed very thickly a few days ago in hopes of getting a few to germinate. Fingers crossed!

[pierre]

Piel de Sapo is just delicious. Very sweet thick flesh melting enough at full maturity, quite refreshing when weather is hot and yes to be compared then to watermelon.

[12540dumont]

Pierre, Do they slip? Is this the one that smells great when you bring it in the house and lasts a long time unrefrigerated?

[pierre]

If you mean separate at maturity: no they do not. And if it smells great you better eat asap as like most inodorus melon there is little scent before full to overmaturity.

In spain it is a "christmas melon" as if gathered before maturity it lasts a long time unrefrigerated.

[12540dumont]

This is the melon I have been looking for. A few years ago, I bought one at a farmer's market and it sat in the barn for 2 months without refrigeration. We finally ate it at Thanksgiving!

[xdrix]

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I have found a med of 15,86°C during the period between the 1st may and 30th october i have calculate 15,86°Cx180 days
i have found 2854,8GDD for a base of 0°C
For a base i have found 1054,8 GDD 10°C
1898,64GDD 50°F

For the melon may and october are a med under 15,5°C 60°F.

[xdrix]

During the period of the 1st june at the 30 Septemper, i have found 261 GDD 15,5°C
A mean of 17,675°C during this period.
But i think that the temperature is not the alone factor.
Th intensity of the light, the humidity play on the grow.

Its a false value but i have take a years estimate at the normal without cold wave and heatwave, in reality, i think that its more hot.

[flowerbug]

the extremes here have been a challenge to work around, but so far we are managing as long as i can keep the gardens watered during the dry spells. i have to change my behaviors though to cope (working outside more in the morning than i would normally do - i am not a morning person).