Watermelon is now growing on the lawn--can I raise it now? Suggestions?

Question

We decided to try growing watermelon this year. The vine has strectched onto the lawn and I noticed one tiny watermelon on the dirt side and another on the lawn side.

At this point, can I just let it grow on the lawn? Do I need to raise it, and if so, how? Is it too late to put in some mesh fence to have it climb somewhat?

Truth be told--it's too late to believe that the watermelon will be ripe before it gets too cold here in Maryland, but it's still fun to see it grow.

Thanks for any tips or suggestions.

Answer 1

Ok, I think someone already said it, but if you can move it GENTLY over to the dirt, go for it. They are a little more durable than people realize. After I moved to the city, I started growing mine on a watermelon trellis (if anyone wants to know more about that send me an email at [e-mail] with Watermelon Trellis in the subject line) and it has been working great. You could also remove that one watermelon too if you wanted to try and pump all the plants energy into one melon to be done before the season is over. If the frost do head your way, there are a couple of things that you can do. Right now I would mulch the area under the melons and mulch it well. Trap that heat and water in while you can. Straw/hay will work find for this. Now if the frost comes unexpectedly, have a misting bottle of cold water ready. When you get up in the morning, spray the plants with the water, you might want to do it a few times. Often this can save your plants and at the very least, the fruit. The real problem with frost damage is often the rapid thaw in the morning from the sun and the misting helps make the process more gradual. If they aren't going to be quite ready before the frost, try COVERING them with straw and then putting a heavy blanket over them in the late afternoon/evening when the temps start to drop. Once the temps reach a decent level the next day, you can at least remove the blanket, see how the water levels and plant are doing (water at a cooler temp to not shock the roots or plant) and then recover again for the night. Now this SHOULD work, but of the best laid plans... What else? Oh, and as far as running out of time for the melons to finish up, start them indoors, it will make a HUGE difference! I have included a link to a question that I answered earlier about starting plants:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuEyXVhHcGoB5D3PBKF4WKzty6IX?qid=20070804060703AAPyJ5C&show=7#profile-info-EVlqzk5Naa

Hope I helped! Thanks!

Answer 2

Only a Yankee lol!

We grow lots of watermelons here in TX and we don't let any of them climb up. They all stay down on the ground because they are HEAVY and they'd tear the vine up.

Gram used to put a piece of cardboard under each fruit to avoid some kind of worms.

A farmer I heard of took a needle & thread and drew it through the watermelon plant near its origin. Then he'd set a little cup of sugar water by the thread and soak the thread in the water. It's supposed to make sweeter fruit.

TX Mom

Answer 3

Just let them grow. But don't worry about the fence. Just pick up the vine while supporting the little watermelon, and move it over to the dirt. I do it all the time with my cucumbers. If it starts getting cool, try putting a blanket over tehm at night. You daughter can help you. Tell her "Its time to put the watermelons to bed." It can be her job too. Remember, they need lots of water, that's why they're called watermelons.

Answer 4

Apparently no one told you about the proper way to grow a melon..... you are only to have 2 fruit per vine, due to the other plants fighting for the water you are putting in. If you cut the vine so only 2 fruit are on there.. you will get bigger melon's. .... I for one DON'T DO THIS..... and I have growing at this moment 5 watermelons on one vine and they are about the size of a basket ball... They are seedless... So please do what you want to do... trial and error work best. And I like to deify every-ones theory.

Answer 5

I live in Minnesota, and my mom and i used to always plant watermelons, no matter what we did they only got to about the size of a softball and then it would freeze and that's the end of that. its really doing no harm, and its late in the season, might as well just keep letting it grow and see how big it gets. good luck!

Answer 6

You can either put one of those tomato cages for it to climb on or simply pick it up and move it aside, it shouldn't hurt it if you are gentle. Good luck.