Questions on: Watermelon Ron Smith, Horticulturist, NDSU Extension Service

Q: How do you tell when watermelons and melons are ready to pick? (E-mail reference)

A: The best way is to pick one that you think is ripe and cut into it. You will also see ground color changes and stem shrink. Depending on where you live and when you started your garden, you should be picking them by now.

Q: How long can I leave watermelons in the garage? They are South Dakota melons weighing between 30 and 40 pounds. (Jamestown, N.D.)

A: As long as the garage temperature does not drop below freezing, they should be okay for two to four more weeks.

Q. I read in a recent Hortiscope column that someone was looking for a basketball-sized watermelon that tasted sweet, stored well, and had black seeds. I believe that is the `Mickey Lee' variety, from the Liberty Seed Company. Their phone number is 800-541-6022. Hope this helps! (Fargo, N.D.)

A. Thanks for the information. I do not have that catalog in my collection, and will quickly add it. I am sure the person who is looking for this will appreciate the information.

Q: All of my squash, gourd, pumpkin, melon, and cucumber plants have begun to die. It begins with one runner wilting and yellowing and then proceeds to the entire plant. There are no bugs, ground rodents etc. visible. Plants have been sprayed and fertilized. The plants are scattered throughout the garden and were not previously planted in current locations. Any ideas? (Avon, S.D., e-mail)

A: It sounds like Verticillium wilt to me. This is a fungus of the root system that attacks plants under the right environmental conditions, and we are seeing a lot of it this year--on cukes, squash, flowers, trees and shrubs. All you can do is remove the dead plants this year, and plant resistant cultivars next year--looking for the initials VFN after the names, which indicates Verticillium, Fusarium, and nematode resistance.

Q. I am looking for some watermelon seed. Years ago my dad raised a watermelon often referred to as a winter melon. It was round, about the size of a basketball, white or cream colored on the outside with red flesh and black seeds, and very sweet. Also an excellent keeper as we ate them well into November and December after they'd been kept in the basement.

I have tried a lot of seed companies with no success. Would appreciate any help that you can provide.

Many thanks. (Hecla, S.D.)

A. That is one I have not heard of. I will keep your letter on file and see if any of our readers can help. If so, I will forward the information on to you. 

Thanks for writing.

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