Hi guys
I grow mini red watermelons. Every year I lose most of my watermelon’s. This year I lost all of them and only have three left. Lost about 10 to a fox or dog, despite taking precautions with coverings. The remaining 20 have all split prior to being ripe. I’m assuming this is because it’s very sunny and hot and dry for a few days and then we’ll get a downpour of rain. I’ve heard this can be cured by adding an irrigation system. There’s no water system near my garden, and I have a hard enough time carrying buckets from the ditch across the street when there’s water in it, or keeping the rain bathtub full. I can’t be up there three times a day dribbling water on them.
Is there any other way to save the melons? Maybe put jugs of water with aquarium hose dripping water in? Whatever the solution, it has to be pretty cheap and low tech.
Thanks
Have you heard of ollas? Basically, is an unglazed ceramic pot that you bury and fill with water. The water leaches out into the surrounding soil slowly, giving you pretty consistent moisture levels. You could probably come up with a way for the heavy rains to at least partially fill them for you.
I’m assuming you’re using mulch? If not, you should definitely consider it. Mulch really helps moderate wild swings in soil moisture. Adding organic matter (compost) to the soil also helps.
Hello, Just curious as to which cultivar(s) you are growing? Randy/GA
Watering a little between rains isn’t going to help. You’ve got a very difficult situation or so it seems with everything you grow.
What I’d look into is varieties that are split resistant. Resistance does vary.
So a pro irrigation system would solve the problem?
I have landscaping fabric.
Fruitnut is spot on. New Hampshire Midget is much less subject to splitting. I’ve used 55 gallon drums to store water for occasional watering.
I don’t think I can get that variety here in Japan.
I don’t know the official name, it’s just a small red watermelon that’s popular to grow here in Japan. About the size of a rugby ball
Would a steady drip irrigation system cure the problem?
I don’t think so. But that’s not something most people would try. It’s not good for melon quality and might cause root rot.
So A different variety is the only hope?
It’s one hope.
Always plant my garden in Black Plastic, cutitng holes where I want to plant the seeds. Tends to keep an even moisture in the soil. You can even spread mulch on top of the plastic to cool it down if it is getting too hot. Then just continue to water as you always have directly around the base of the stem.
That’s what I’m doing with landscape fabric. This year I haven’t been as regular on the waterings, which may be contributing to the problem.