I'm continually amazed at the contrast in how quickly some things in nature change and how some things don't. In the past seven days, the watermelon vines have completely died off.
The melon that was growing on this ledge weighed in at a whopping 33.5 pounds! Sure, there are bigger melon types out there, but, considering that all of the others from this seed stock came in at 20 pounds or less, that's HUGE.
So, this is my harvest from my first season of growing watermelons. Not bad, if I do say so myself. I don't believe that most are ripe, though. It was just too late in the season, and melons need HOT weather to really reach their peak. FYI, watermelons originated in Africa, thus, the genetic need for heat. And I read that the melons don't ripen off of the vine; meaning, that once the vine dies, or if picked too soon, that's it. Well, they should make good compost, at least. If I had chickens, they would be feasting right now.
The gourds, on the other hand, are still vibrant. I keep having to cut off new shoots. I don't believe that the gourds themselves will get any bigger, so cutting the new shoots shouldn't stimulate their growth. I simply don't want more vines taking up walking space.
My very-late-season squash is doing amazingly well. Hope it makes it.
Suburban Hermit of Fayetteville, signing off.
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