Watermelon

No idea which cultivar this is (other than a commonly available short season small fruited one). It has around 15 fruit forming on it.

How long does their fruit, once it has formed, normally take to mature???

Stay away f*r*o*s*t!!!



edited to say I think it is 'Cream of Saskatchewan' (rings a bell) - Small round fruits, around 10 inches in diameter. Really thin, light green with dark green striped rind. Sweet white flesh and black seeds. Can grow in cool climates. It was brought to Saskatchewan, Canada by Russian imigrants. 80-85 days from planting to harvest.

It has definitely gone over 85 days but like many plants there it too seemed to sit and sulk when both our days and nights were in the 90's for so long.



This message was edited Aug 27, 2006 4:16 PM

Ignore weeds please.........I read the watermelons hate having their vines disturbed so I just keep topping the weeds around it.

I think you should be slurpin and spittin sometime around American Thanksgiving, Pam, given it stays hot everday, the days stay long and Jack F stays far away. Hope somone has a more encouraging opinion.

I kinda have that sinking feeling myself echoes (but I do know we've had a least one year where frost was that slow coming). Even with my threats it seemed to sit for a month and 1/2 before it decided growing was an option. :( I really thought it would like the higher summer temps that were forecasted (and came) for us.

Guess I should've paid attention to "Can grow in cool climates." Will watch out for that next time.

I love watermelon Pam and hope you get to taste the ripe fruit. I've bought only the small ones this year and I think they're sweeter. yum yum

Have you thought of starting them indoors under lights in peat pots? I believe most vines will not toerate having their roots disturbed. It would give you a head start.

Joan

Good for you Pam. I would suggest good sized peat pots so the roots have plenty of room.
I'm looking forward to having one shipped to me. he he

Joan

LOLOLOL C.O.D of course? ;)

Will be keeping an eye open for really good sized ones (may even be on sale now ?)

Pam if they don't ripen in time, maybe you could use them for some art. VW art - of course.

This message was edited Aug 28, 2006 9:44 PM

LOLOL VW (in my most fervent dreams ;)

I keep checking our long range forecast and am praying (c'mmon I'm not asking much it's just got to make it to 1/3 the size of the one above).



The Sept 1-3 was originally predicted to go down to the sickening low of +3 (so far it looks like we will have a reprieve).

Now they will just have to get past Sept 9/10th. *Please, please, please!!!!*


Two plants that I've always gotten the biggest kick out of.........gourds and watermelon (whether I've grown them or not). Prolly cause seeing them (even just planted) but esp when they make it to maturity (without any special measures........ie black plastic below and clear above).

Inanda
I love your 'bug'. It looks like you are a great kitchen mechanic.

Pam I'll wait for you news. I haven't done water melon but I did get two small cantelope one year but I needed to use a cold frame at the end of the season to get them ripe. I think it warms them just enough.
Ann

I picked a cantelope yesterday, so big it started spitting at the bottom end. DH says it's the best he's ever tasted. I started them indoors, to give them a better chance and the weather sure obliged us this year. Pulled out my birdhouse gourds, though. They looked further behind than Pam's watermelons.

Hi Annabell,

Must say didn't design that VW bus. Have used it as a template for a VW gathering though.

Echoes, amazing that your cantalope ripened. Glad it was yummy.

inanda

Anybody want zuchini??????????????????

ROFLMBO.........I've got 4 plants (insane I know;) how many do you have Carol? By the way walking over to every neighbour with one and a recipe helps (as does taking it to work and putting a sign *Up for Adoption" (with recipe) on the staff room table (you could take yours to the dog meets ;).

Zuccini is great for adding moisture to the compost pile. A lot less work than a cake.

Ibid the ROFLMBO above (and leave it you to come up with that solution echoes! ;)

Well I just have 2 plants but that is one to many! And I havent been paying attention so those nice little ones are suddenly giants. Out of one( and I have about 4 more giants) I made 2 choc zuchinni loaf and 2 doz muffins! I cut out the seed when they are that big and they go in the compost.
I figure I will just keep making muffins and give them away - probably be more acceptable than asking if they want zuchinni! Oh there is a dog trial this weekend and no concession. Maybe I could take a few dozen muffins!

And Echoes it may be less work but it doesnt taste so good!

carolvan

Until this spring I had an elderly neighbor who would take any garden produce I could not use. She had 4 grandchildren, loved to cook and was always having the family over for meals. She used to take the zuchini and stuff and bake it.
Unfortunately she had a massive stroke this spring and died. We sure miss her. I was always coming home and finding a bag of muffins hanging on the door knob or a big slice of applesauce cake sitting on the fence post! She picked all my neighbors apples and made applesauce and we all got some!

carolvan

For all you zucchini people: Heres' a great recipe:

Lemon Zucchini Loaf

Combine: 4 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 ½ cups sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 package lemon instant pudding.

Mix and add to dry ingredients:
4 eggs
1 cup oil
1 1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon lemon extract
juice of 1 lemon
grated rind of 1 lemon

Add 2 cups grated zucchini, unpeeled.

Makes 2 loaves or 1 Bundt cake. Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Watch so it doesn't dry too much while cooking.

I usually make a bit of a glaze for the top with icing sugar combined with lemon juice.

We have the same problem here in the Southern Interior. The Fruit is ripe and very abundant. I try and find a neighbor with lots of kids and doesn't have, plum, pear, peach or apple trees and give as many as I can to them. I also take them to work, but often others have had the same idea, and our lunch table looks like a fruit stand. LOL

Don

Glenda THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Getting someones fav tried and true recipe is such a wonderful gift! Ü

LOL Don that truly is an awful problem to have. ;)

What a difference three days makes (& still have at least 14 that look pretty good :)

Edited to say the tomato is a larger sized cherry.

This message was edited Aug 30, 2006 10:05 PM

My pride and joy........

Made that Lemon Zuchini loaf today - very nice Glenda. Also a lemon coconut loaf I found in Company's Coming. Tomorrow it will be muffins and Chocolate Zuchini Loaf. And I have only used up 1 zuchini!

LOL Carol. You'd better get baking some more, as I'm sure that you have not grown JUST ONE zucchini!!!!!! I have recipe for zucchinni chocolate cake. Would you like that???

Glenda

Thanks Glenda - I have choc.zuchini that I really like, I make it as muffins too. Have you ever made the lemon loaf as muffins?

Nope not just1. Probably have about 6 big ones and then all the little ones too!

Next year I will be sensible and only have 1 not 2 zuchini plants and remember to check a little more closely so they dont get so big! Then I wont have to spend a couple of weeks baking zuchini things!

carolvan

I'll take your chocolate cake recipe Glenda (always looking for another good one :).

Here you go Pam:

Chocolate Zucchini Cake


1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup oil
1 & 3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cups flour
4 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups grated zucchini
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cream butter, oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Mix in the zucchini and chocolate chips. Bake in greased 9X13 pan at 325 for 45 minutes!!!! Enjoy!

Hey Pam: Apologies for turning your watermelon thread into a zuchini thread! LOL!
Would you believe - after everything you saw me buy this spring, that I am still buying plants? Lots of good sales on - cant resist - and next weekend is the Hort Society plant exchange!

I have just ordered this little fountain and I am going to put it in the front yard bed on the right side just as you come thru the side gate to the back yard. Of course I have to move some more plants too!

Here is my Chocolate Zuchini recipe:

3/4 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour (1 1/2 white, 1 WW)
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tsp B.Powder
1 1/2 tsp B Soda
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 cups grated zuchini
1/2 cup milk (sometimes I use sour milk)
1 cup raisins.

Cream butter/sugar/vanilla, add eggs beat well, add dry to wet alternating flour mix with zuchini and milk. Add raisins and mix well

Makes 2 loaves, standard loaf pan, greased. Oven 350 for about 1 hour.

Thank you ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Ü :) Both are a little different then mine and I'm going to have lots n' lots of opportunities to make Chocolate/Lemon Zucchini cake (I just brought home 4 more monsters.......and 12 little guys). :S I find it so amazing that we check the zucchini 3 times a week and yet some still get missed. Thank you from one who will be shortly buried by them (I'm afraid to open my fridge now) if I don't get baking again soon.

WARNING to those that aren't growing them.........keep your car windows up at this time of year!!! Course I'm not saying this to anyone who lives by me. ;)

Doesn't matter to me about the change of discussion.....we used to do it all the time to have a conversation (however some don't like their threads being hijacked). I always think if the thread has run the subjects course then it really doesn't matter if it goes off. Trust me I'll be starting a new thread when the major pick just before frost happens anyways (or if by miracles of miracles any of my watermelons actually ripen ;)

Spiced Zucchini Soup..........I'm getting desperate

you don't actually need a recipe for this one. sliced zucchini is sautéed with finely chopped shallots in olive oil just until wilted; add prepared vegetable stock, some leftover cooked white rice, a scant teaspoonful of curry powder, then simmer. run through a food processor until it reaches a consistency you like, then hello! a fantastic vegan soup--vegetarian if you add a dollop of sour cream like i did. of course you can add whatever stock you prefer, and other vegetables or other spices, if the curry seems overwhelming.

Will also be digging out a zucchini recipe book at the library once we have the kids moved to their respective dorms.

Here's one that looks good. Takes 8 cups of zucchini! That shoudl get rid of a bit for you.

http://recipes.allrecipes.com/Utilities/PrintRecipe.aspx?RecipeID=20320&servings=25&Format=Full

LOLOLOL

Go for it Pam!!!!! One less monster for you will be good!!!! Electric veggie grater-I don't think so!!!!!! Although, a good food processor will make short work of a monster!!!!

Well yes but - the trouble is - it serves 25!

If I didnt have a food processor I wouldn't grow zuchini!