I have no idea. I’ve been growing them, watering them, I have even given them food. Seriously how long does it take for a watermelon to ripen?
It has seemed like this has been growing for so long, but not increasing in size.
I did some research and it said if it was yellow underneath then it would be ready.
See that it is yellow underneath, so doesn’t that mean it is ripe?
So I picked it and took it inside.
I sliced it in half and this is what I got.
Yep, not ripe watermelon. It is a sugar baby one and the colour should have been a brilliant red. Well, that isn’t it.
I have no idea about some of these things. I keep telling myself it is all trial and error. I can’t expect it all to be great right now. Well, that is what I keep saying.
Other things have been happening outside too.
I have finally weeded part of the garden that I hadn’t got to before.
I also had a go at building a retaining wall. When we moved here 28 years ago there was wood there that stopped all the soil from running down. However, it all rotted and I’ve needed to do something there for a while. So glad I finally did. Still more to do.
I’ve started pulling out my tomatoes.
The black russian tomatoes were a monumental failure. I am never growing them again. They produced very little fruit and what they did produce mostly split so I had to throw them away.
Mind you the tomatoes I started growing in my greenhouse are looking good.
I was really worried about how they would be pollinated being in there. Then I saw some videos about using an electric toothbrush to do it. I don’t have one, and I immediately got online and purchased one just to pollinate my tomatoes.
So there are some tomatoes growing and I have high hopes. I just need to stop it from getting too cold in there as we head into winter.
One thing I love doing is repurposing things. We recently got rid of a heap of DVDs and I looked at the bookshelves we had bought for them. They are very narrow and were originally from IKEA.
I looked at them and thought, why don’t I turn them into pots.
So I laid them down on their backs and put them along the front of the house. Then I planted some seedlings in them. I love them. I don’t think they will last long, but I am determined to enjoy them while they do.
Lastly, I have my eggplants. I have no idea how to tell when they are ripe either. I mean when tomatoes are red you pick them, but eggplants are the same colour all through the growing period.
I might have to do more research.
We are coming to the end of our growing season. I mean the warm or summer growing period. We can grow all year round in Melbourne, but we grow different things in winter. I didn’t have a lot of luck last winter, but I hope this winter will be better.
I will follow this up with a post soon on what I’ve learned as I face the challenges of growing my own food.
Do you grow your own food? How are you finding it? I’m trying not to be frustrated.
I’m impressed you even got melons. I bought a packet of sugar baby melon seeds. The plants didn’t grow past 10 cm high. I fed and watered them, moved them in case it was too hot where they were. Then I put more seeds in – same result. Very disappointed. Your eggplants look great though.
I got some, but some others never came up. I have struggled with them and rock melons. I don’t know why. I’m disappointed too. Thank you Carol, I am going to have to pick one and see how it is.
I’ll try again next summer.
I will too, fingers crossed we get better results. I love watermelon
Hiya Leanne- to help pollinate just use a small artist brush that you twirl around the flowers from one plant to another… no need for an electric one!
I’ve read that for other plants like cucumbers but apparently, the toothbrush is very effective, and so far I seem to be good results. I already bought it so I will keep doing it and see what happens. I also think it is a bit funny too. lol. Thank you Chris.
Great gardening Leanne. My tomatoes drowned with all the rain but the pumpkin vine, from the compost, is taking over the small space initially for a herb garden. No idea about the watermelon so you will have to research. Glad that hothouse is working well. I have not heard of electric toothbrush method, will be interesting to see how you go
Sorry to hear that about your tomatoes. Funny about the pumpkin vine, sorry. I will have to research and I’m glad about the greenhouse too. I really want the tomatoes to grow. I’ve seen a few videos on it now, I will let you know how it goes. Thank you Bushboy.
Very clever use of your IKEA bookshelves, Leanne. They look great as planters.
Thank you Lois, I was thinking the same. Dave reckoned they would only last a few weeks, but they have been there a while now and so far, still good. I’m hoping for at least a year.
We grew watermelon last year as well and could not for the life of us figure out when they were going to be ready. We followed some of the advice and ours looked just like that.
It is hard to know, I have so few and I don’t want to waste them, but still, there has to be some sign. Oh well, let’s hope we can work it out. Thank you.
My niece told me that the little green curly thing at the stem turns brown when they’re ready.
Good tip, thank your daughter for me.
The Sugar Baby looks like it just needed a little more time, or perhaps a little more water?
Sometimes it is just not a good year for some produce.
Yeah, I think so too Dorothy, I water it every day and try to give it as much water as I can. I don’t know. They gives me hope, so maybe I will try again next year. Thank you.
That’s a very odd color for a watermelon but it looked good inside. Yum!
I agree John, I still ate it, but I’m sure it could have been a lot better.Thank you.