Now To Keep The Bugs And Critters Away

Look what we have growing. Small as they are, great hopes abound! The variety is called Big Beef with a projected fruit size of 12-16 ounces. Provided the cutworms, marauding small animals or heat don't get to them first :)

This may present more of a challenge in guessing what we have growing. Don't you just love the "natural" mulch put down to help hold the moisture in the ground. I sure hope these things like decaying oak leaves. Not to mention they were planted in a spot created from having a pine tree cut down and the stump ground out...

We could begin "thumping" for ripeness around the 4th of July. Then again, my calculations may not be the best. It's been some time since last I grew any watermelons (and never this variety). Something called "black spot" did a number on more than a couple of my plants the last time I played melon patch farmer as I recall. I best check in to that now and get prepared. We're trying to stay as chemical free as we can.

As a kid growing up in Missouri, our Uncle Salty, (not where Salty Dog got his name) grew championship size watermelons. We're talking State Fair competition size melons. I feel very confident in saying Uncle Salty, while proud of our effort, would not exactly be shaking in his boots when weigh in time comes around here... We'll keep you all updated.

Which reminds me. I wonder how the Lemoncello is coming along?
peace
fm