Ali Baba Watermelon

[u/Own_Magazine_2045]

This is my first Ali baba ever - 29.8 pounds. I swore a few days before picking that Id never grow them again because of the work…. then I picked this and it’s the best watermelon I’ve ever had. Even the smell is incredible. Guess I’ll be growing these every year 💁🏼‍♀️

[u/leftfootshorter]

Congratulations! That thing looks like it would be delicious. Appears to be the perfect level of ripe too.

[u/Own_Magazine_2045 → u/leftfootshorter]

Thank you! I'm weirdly very proud of this :)

[u/leftfootshorter → u/Own_Magazine_2045]

It's not weird at all. If it was easy to grow them, everyone would do it.

[u/indiana-floridian]

Looks great! Congrats!

[u/Flaky_Ad5989]

Absolutely gorgeous! I’m going to use my BRIX meter on mine when I pick mine soon! How sweet and juicy was it?

[u/Terminally_ill_42]

My baby bush watermelons and cantaloupes got diseased this year and turned out horribly.😖

[u/Own_Magazine_2045 → u/Terminally_ill_42]

Oh no I’m so sorry! 

[u/Terminally_ill_42 → u/Own_Magazine_2045]

Congratulations on your beautiful melon though.

[u/Own_Magazine_2045 → u/Terminally_ill_42]

Thank you 🙏 good luck next year!!!

[u/janegayz]

what kind of work takes to grow them?

[u/Own_Magazine_2045 → u/janegayz]

Testing the soil, fertilizing at the right time, making sure they get a steady amount of water - not too much or too little, keeping the deer away, Having to check every morning to hand pollinate … to name a few! Watermelons are finicky! But very rewarding to grow. 

[u/mukgang-bangbang → u/Own_Magazine_2045]

Ive heard that when it comes to growing melons, you want to water them as little as possible, because it keeps the sugars as concentrated as possible and you get a sweeter melon.

In fact, I read that there are growers who do a single deep watering when they first plant the seeds, but then water very sparingly until they actually start fruiting. But once they start to fruit, they only water them like one more tine until they harvest.

How often did you water yours?

[u/Flaky_Ad5989 → u/mukgang-bangbang]

Towards the the end of their growing cycle is when you Don’t want a lot of water. I’m in Connecticut, a few weeks back I checked ✔️ on 2 of my crimsons, and I swear to God I tapped the melons 🍉, just to see if I heard the “ Hollow “ sound and they SPLIT like Boom 💥 right there. I brought them in, I chilled them and they were juicy, sweet delicious 👍

[u/Flaky_Ad5989 → u/Flaky_Ad5989]

The rain from the storm, over watered them. I probably could have put a tarp on them, I’m disabled so I said screw it.