State record giant watermelon

[kurt]

Nice work!What kind was it?Seedless?And the main question... how did it taste?Are seeds availiable?We go thru at least four a week,two for watermelon juice,and two for eating.

[Farmette]

Wow!!! If I could ever grow one that large, it would keep my granddaughter happy for days. Can't wait to hear all the details.

[Barbee]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

Wow! well done, Barbee. My largest was about 30 pounds this summer, but that was large enough. I can't even begin to imagine growing one this size. Congratulations! BTW, how much larger was it than the previous melon?

The old record was 270.5. The man that had the record also broke the state record this weekend and had 272.5. I weighed after him and broke the new record. Quite an exciting time

[Barbee]

Originally Posted by Mark0820

That is one impressive watermelon. What is the secret to growing a watermelon that big?

How long does it take to eat a 300 lb. watermelon? And, how do you fit it in the refrigerator?

First, we grow a variety called Carolina Cross. It seems to be the best variety for size out there.

Second, we grow only the biggest and best of the best. We save seeds out of the biggest melons and grow those. Always trying to push the genetics bigger and bigger. For instance, this watermelon will be labeled as 296.5 Barber. That means the melon was 296.5 lbs, and the grower is Barber (me).

Third, this is called extreme gardening for a reason LoL. Everything we do is extreme. Soil is completely dialed in on all nutrients, not just the NPK. I do a soil test in the fall and spring, plus a tissue test after the melon is set to make sure my soil is perfectly tuned in to what the melon needs to grow as big as it can. Each plant here is 300 sq ft and 1 melon is grown on each plant. All babies are picked off daily.Average amount of babies is 20-40 daily per plant. Plant is kept at 300 sq ft daily by pruning. No weeds are allowed anywhere near the plants. I pick every weed out of the growing area and I hoe around the raised bed weekly. I spray pesticides and fungicides weekly. I spend an average of 2-3 hours a day doing plant maintenance on 4 plants.

Sorry to say I don't eat them. These are grown for size only and the melon will grow long after it's ripe. By the time I am ready to weigh it, it is usually too overripe to taste good. This melon was 92 days old and most of them are ripe at about day 60. You can imagine how overripe the heart would be at that point.

[Barbee]

Originally Posted by kurt

Nice work!What kind was it?Seedless?And the main question... how did it taste?Are seeds availiable?We go thru at least four a week,two for watermelon juice,and two for eating.

This was a Carolina Cross and not seedless. Giant pumpkin clubs sell seeds that growers have donated and raise money to help pay for prize money at their weigh offs. Growers will also trade seeds with each other and swap and what have you. There are a few websites that do sell seeds such as P&P seeds, Hollands Land of Giants, World Class Gardening and probably more that I am not aware of. Most growers are happy to send seeds to anyone for a self addressed stamped bubble. The only time a grower might not be able to honor a seed request would be if a fruit had a low seed count. It is rare with watermelons, but it does happen sometimes. I'm sure if the seed count was low they might have other seeds they could send you from a different watermelon.

[Redbaron]

Congrats Barbee. That one is both huge and beautiful.

[loudog]

Congratulations!!! Your hard work was well rewarded. When you prune to you bury the cut end into the ground? Louie

[Old chef]

What a beautiful watermelon basket that would make. Congrats

Old chef

[Worth1]

How did you guys move the thing?
In a big nest in the back of a pickup?


Worth

[MissS]

WOW Barbee, what a gorgeous melon you grew. I love seeing the giant fruits and vegetables and hearing about how people have done it. I go to our local weigh-offs just for the fun of it all.

I am so thrilled that your efforts paid off so very well for you.

Congrats!

[Barbee]

Originally Posted by loudog

Congratulations!!! Your hard work was well rewarded. When you prune to you bury the cut end into the ground? Louie

No, I just go along with scissors and cut it along the edges of the bed. The more you prune, the faster the other growth explodes LoL

[Barbee]

Originally Posted by Worth1

How did you guys move the thing?
In a big nest in the back of a pickup?


Worth

Lifted it with a ring and straps with the bobcat and set on a pallet into the truck bed. After it was in the truck, we packed bales of straw around it to keep it from moving

[Barbee]

Originally Posted by MissS

WOW Barbee, what a gorgeous melon you grew. I love seeing the giant fruits and vegetables and hearing about how people have done it. I go to our local weigh-offs just for the fun of it all.

I am so thrilled that your efforts paid off so very well for you.

Congrats!

Patti I am not sure how close you live to Stillwater Mn, but rumors are flying that there will be 4 HUGE pumpkins there this weekend

[BucksCountyGirl]

Amazing, Barbee! Congratulations

[taboule]

Congratulations Barbee, that is one serious watermelon.

Thanks also for the extreme gardening info, it resonates.

So are we going to see a new avatar from you?

;-)