Exploding melons

bob — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:53:37 GMT

my watermelons are cracking and roting and my cucumbers are wilting and dying some one said to much water i water daily for appr: 1hour with a soaker hose please advise

RE: Exploding melons

palmsgirljan — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:17:44 GMT

I agree, I think they're getting too much water. I've grown both in NH (more wet than dry, not extremely hot) and TN ( hot and dry ), up north I rarely watered, only if it got real dry. In TN, I had to water every other am, because July and Aug. are extremely dry and hot. If you're watering an hour every day, that's too much.....

RE: Exploding melons

Drahkk — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:21:12 GMT

Roots need water, but they need air too! Watermelons especially don't like wet feet for too long. How often you'll need to water will depend on your climate and soil type. I'm in the lower Mississippi delta, with very sandy soil, so there are times in June and July when I really do have to water daily to keep things alive. My friends a mile down the road have a lot of clay in their soil, so during those same months they may only water twice a week.

If you're unsure when to water, dig a small hole in the dirt near your plants with your finger. If the soil an inch below the surface feels even slightly moist, your plants are fine. You only need to turn on that soaker if your soil is starting to get dry and dusty.