| I am growing Million Dollar Watermelons, and my question is, how many melons should I leave on each vine to ensure I get decent sized melons? |
| To get large melons make sure they have a steady supply of water up until the time the fruits are ripening, but when the fruits are at the ripening stage hold off a bit unless the soil is very dry because this holding off of water in the last week or two gives the melons a much better flavor. Also, as the fruits are forming, give the melon vine some liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion or manure tea. It is also a good idea to top dress your melon plants with lots of composted cow manure. For large melons, remove all but two to four melons per vine. Watermelon vines usually don't produce more than two fruits anyway, but if you want a whopper, leave only the one closest to the roots of the vine. After midsummer, remove all blossoms and tiny fruits. They won't ripen in time and will only draw energy away from the melon(s) you are trying to develop. Pinch off the tips of the vines at this time as well. |
