I bought a packet of baby watermelon seed from Lidl.
Does anyone have experience of these in this country? Will they grow outside or do I need to keep them in a cloche? Or have I wasted 29p? :o
I managed to raise a "sugarbabe" under glass last year... and have just sown "Blacktail" mountain... I think you need to get hold of some black plastic to start warming the soil and some old windows to make a "light frame" for it...
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e190/Plot52/DSCN2322.jpg)
cut this one too soon...
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e190/Plot52/DSCN2389.jpg)
but this was later on... (September)
Thanks Saddad, the packet is Sugar Babe. Look good in your pics. I had some double grazing recently and have four lovely glazed panels. I also have four great little greenhouses each about a meter square and half meter high, bought them very cheap from Woollies, shall miss there end of season bargains.
Might give them a bag of Wiltshsire's best compost. It only costs £1 for a bag and is still warm when you buy it.
Oh wow! Methinks a little trip to Lidl to see if they have sugarbabe here is in order. That looks fab & has to be worth a shot at 29p! ;D
How many did you get off each plant Saddad?
Only one plant and three fruit... I damaged the stem and the plant collapsed so the last couple didn't swell.... :-[
mmm only 3 not sure if its worth it. Think i'll stick to Toms, peppers and cucs.
Three fruits from one plant seems good to me.
Not sure whether Lidl still have many seeds left, they go like hot cakes in some of their stores.
It's not worth it in any real sense Northerner, but sometimes one has to do these things, just for the S*D factor.... ;D
i grew these last year from lidl seed in the conservatory in a pot ea, got two watermelons one ea plant, i don't think i fed them enough and a serious attack of red spider mite weakened the plants. may not be worth it to some but the taste of these cricket ball size fruit :-\ were delicious ;D
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/thifasmom/The%20Vegetable%20Garden%20and%20its%20produce%202008/IMG_0351.jpg)
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/thifasmom/The%20Vegetable%20Garden%20and%20its%20produce%202008/IMG_0345.jpg)
I know they are called Babe but I must say I expected them a bit bigger than cricket balls. Mind you the normal ones are far too large. They often do not taste of much so hopefully home grown ones will be better.
yep they should have been bigger but like i said maybe i didn't feed or water them enough :-\ should have seen how the five of us fought over a taste of them ::).
coming from the west indies i will have to say the big ones sold over here are rank :-X simply because thy are probably picked to early. if you had the opportunity to eat a sun ripened huge watermelon you would be licking your elbows cause the juice would be so sweet and so much it would most likely run down your arm, yum ;D ;D.
No No No............. now you've made me want those seeds............oh and my addiction was coming on so well :-[
Are you addicted to seeds or melons?
mostly seeds, but sun ripened melon sounds good ;D