Question on Boca Bob's lay flat bags for watermelons

Ok, I went to Walmart today and picked up 3 Jubilee watermelon plants and 3 Sweet Crimson watermelon plants. I have my other melons in lay flat bags of coconut coir and one in what was supposed to be a hanging bag with Jungle Grow in it, the coconut coir one is doing the best thus far. So; I decided to plant the new 6 watermelon plants in the lay flat bags. Now, the coconut coir has been removed from the bags as I had tomatoes in them at one time. Here is what I was planning to do, add lime and fertilizer (10-10-10) to the coconut coir and then add it back to the lay flat bags and then plant my melons. Now, today I was reading on melons and they didn't mention fertilizer and they also said to water every 3 days? I've been watering every day with this heat.

Questions: Should I continue to water every day, and should I do as I mentioned and how many melons per lay flat bag?

Joy

I'd be interested in knowing this too. I've been watering my melons every day... quite a bit too in our dry heat. The melons look great, but I'll be really disappointed if they're watery and flavorless when I pick them. :-(

Watermelons are actually an arid plant. They like it dry for the best resulting fruit.

Qinx: So; how often do we water them? And if we only water them every 3 days won't the leaves burn up and die? Of course, with them planted in the coconut coir lay flat bags they should retain moisture pretty well I would think. So; where oh where is Boca Bob????
joy

Amount of water = depends on the location!

Of course you don't want them to dry up, but you should cut back on watering at least a few days or a week+ before harvesting. It's probably a fine line of when to reduce watering.

Excerpt: "Watermelons should be kept free from weeds by shallow hoeing and cultivation. The plants have moderately deep roots and watering is seldom necessary unless the weather turns dry for a prolonged period. In cooler areas, experienced gardeners may find floating row covers, drip irrigation and black plastic mulch advantageous in producing a good crop in a short season." from http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/watermelon1.html

I've grown my melons in EBs for years and they get as much water as they want! The resevoir is always full except for the last week or more when the melons get large and the vines start to wither that is when I cut back to watering every other day but only for a few minutes. I never let them go dry and I've grown some fine melons as per Farmerdills advice.

This is a Mickeylee. Delicious.

TPlant: I'm growing mine in Boca Bob's layflat bags in coir, I planted them tonight, I added dolomite lime and epsom salts to the coir, and then put 3 per bag. I then watered them in real good, it's been hot and dry here lately, so watering twice daily on most plants and water the melons every evening. The bags have good drainage and the coconut coir will absorb any excess water I believe.
joy