Lilacs:

Yes, it mystifies me too, but what really mystifies me is why you are growing watermelon seedlings at all at this point in the season. Do you plan to put them in outdoor pots, or eventually set them in the ground? They won't produce watermelons in pots, and it's a little late to be setting them outdoors in your climate zone. Seedlings always suffer a transplant shock, which sets them back a week or ten days when compared with direct seeding.

If you really want to grow some watermelons, skip the seedlings under lights and lay down some black plastic outdoors in full sun, then direct seed the melons when the soil has warmed up. You ought to be able to at least grow good Sugar Babies under these conditions even in your fairly short season.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Okay. Sorry. I'm new at this. I don't know anything.

I still wish I could find out why this seedling dried up when the others are okay.

Lilacs:

Let's not get our noses out of joint unneccessarily here. I am sure you know lots of things. But before you plant, it's best to have a plan, and all you have to do is ask here and all kinds of watermelon growers will come to your assistance.

Maybe the little seedling was overwatered. That kills the roots, then the top dries up.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

I have a watermelon plant in a large 1' deep 2'long 2' wide pot. It is doing wonderful. I planted it in organic soil and make sure it stays moist. I have 4 watermelons growing, 1 very large one and 3 smaller ones. I do not use fertilizers or pesticides. I do this every year for the past five years and have never had a problem. Whoever says you can't grow watermelons in a pot is totally wrong!!!!!! They do produce watermelons in pots. Oh yah, I also throw in 2 earthworms in early July. I don't test the soil either!! At the end of the season I usually get 4-6 good watermelons which is perfect for my family. I also grow cantaloupe, green peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers in pots! They all produce very well! I keep them in pots so I can bring them in when the farmers spray their fields. So, Lilacs of May, don't let some uppity gardner who thinks he knows it all discourage you. Trial and error is the way we learn. Your problem could be many things. Maybe the pot is not big enough, too moist, not warm enough, not enough sun, etc... And Don Yellman, I would just like to say with absolute certainty from my own experience, YOUR WRONG! Now, I don't sat this to be cruel or mean, just to inform you. I'm sure you are quite knowledgeable in many other things!

Good Luck Lilacs in May. If I hear anything I'll let you know.

Josy:

I don't mind being wrong at all, when I am wrong. The pots you are using are large indeed compared to others I have seen here among container growers. Most frequently, they are 5-gallon buckets. Your larger containers may allow enough root development to actually support several watermelons, although you don't say what variety you are growing, or describe the size and eating quality of the melons you can produce. Nor do you mention the variety you are growing. I continue to believe that, given the choice, it is far easier to grow good watermelons in the ground than in containers, although I understand that not everyone has that choice.

Even the smaller varieties of watermelon that I grow, such as Sugar Baby, have vines extending 15 feet or more in several directions from the planting hill. It must be an interesting sight to watch you bring in your containers when the farmers spray the fields, with containers weighing at least 60 pounds, trailed by vines that even in pots must be at least 10 feet long.

When you wish to emphasize a point, one exclamation point (!) is usually sufficient.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Don Yellman,

I do use larger pots as I stated the size. When we bring them in, I carry the pot and my children and husband pick up the melons and vines. It's actually quite easy. We place them in our enclosed porch till the danger passes. I have never had 15' vines, more like 8' tops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, sorry about all those exclamation points, but let's not get our noses out of joint!!!!! My melon plant this year has 3 larger vines (4')and about 4 or 5 smaller vines (2'-3'). One of the larger vines produced first and the smaller ones after. The melons are positivly delicious every year. I had seedless watermelons last year. Don't know about the years before that. Don't know about this year either. Don't much care. My children get the seeds they want, we plant them, care for them and eat them. And every year they are delicious. Mom, Dad and most importantly Kid approved! If the quality wasn't better than store bought I wouldn't waste my time. As far as the size goes, I will weigh and measure my next ripened one if you feel you really need to know!

And also, you stated that not everyone has the choice to grow watermelons in the ground instead of pots. I'll give you that one, your right. I do have the choice and I choose pots for my own reasons as I'm sure Lilacs in May has her own reasons for growing her seedlings indoors under a light.

Lilacs in May
Don't get discouraged. Trial and error is how we learn.
I use to work in a greehouse from the age 14-17 summers and learned a lot there. I also did gardening as a kid. With my garden it was learn as I go basically. Plants are funny things. When my son was 2 he was at my dads eating a cucumber out back on the porch. Off the porch is a 10'x20' cement landing level with the ground. It had a crack in it but no weeds were growing out. My son started spearing his cucumber in this crack. I took the remainder of it away and washed the porch off with the hose. A few weeks later a cucumber vine sprouted. We all thought it was funny because that is what my sons intentions were. We left it to see how big it would grow and it got huge and produced a ton of cucumbers. There was also no sunlight that hit that spot due to a large tree. My 2 year old son had the last laugh after we all told him he couldn't grow a cucumber out of cement crack.
You may not be doing anything wrong. Anyway, good luck and hopefully some of these other 'watermelon growers' will be of some assistance.
My advise would be to keep the soil warm and make sure to keep it moist/w proper drainage and to make sure the pot is large enough for the roots. You could also try direct sunlight daily. It could be the soil it's in too. Maybe try some organic garden soil for fruits and vegies. If the pot is larger try throwing a small earthworm in. I have never started seedlings in the house but would be interested in your progress.

Hello Josy, from your name I assumed it meant you'd joined GW in 2004 but I see from your profile that you just joined today.

I'd love to see a picture of the cucumber plant in the cement crack that didn't get any light. I'm sure it was such a spectacle that you must have taken some for posterity. If you need help posting I'd be glad to volunteer.

I have a couple of polaroids of this. My son is now 13. I will go through my albums and such to find them. I would love to post them. My son being so young still remembers this. My dad may have some pictures of him picking them as well. I will check. I may very well need your help to post them. Also, they did receive light just not direct sunlight except that of which peeked between leaves.

Not that it makes any difference when I joined but yes, I did just join, 2004 is in my e-mail address and that is why its in this. The name josy was already taken. josy or josy_2004 has been my screen names for many things for, well, since 2004!

There are two kinds of people who use this forum. Here is an example of one of them. Those that have been posting here for some time know what I mean. I wouldn't waste my time giving advice to them. Reminds me of a woman I ran into at the local feed and seed store who proceeded to tell me what repelled deer and that when I told her it did not work for me, proceeded to tell me I did not know what I was talking about. I left her in the parking lot and went on about my business and she was still fighting and arguing to make her point. She used a lot of exclamation points!

Hoseman,
Really, you say there are 2 kinds of people who post here. So, you gave an example of one kind. What would the other be? Would it be the people who really do know it all or people who would like to learn something new? What catagory do you fall into? See, the impressions from the threads I've read so far have been great until I got to this one. Lilacs in May clearly stated she was a newbie and asked if anyone knew why her seedling was drying up. Instead of an answer she had her intelegence insulted! VERY ROOD! Maybe you can offer reasons why her seedling is drying up.
I've learned some very useful information in other threads and will continue to use this forum.
Also, I'm curious, the woman who used a lot of exclamation points, did she sign them to you or write them down on a note pad?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!