Allotments 4 All

Hi,
I just thought I would say, coz I am so pleased with myself.
My dad gave me three melon plants, and I thought they would come to nothing, or at the most a lot of leaves and no friut, (i'm such a pessimist!)

I checked the 'lottie yesterday and I have 10 yes 10 fruits growing.
How chuffed am I!! ;D

Wow :-)  You should be chuffed.

I have 7 plants and only 4 definite fruit at the moment!  I can't wait to try them :-)

I planted 10 plants, lost one and now have 8 fruit on 9 plants......(Cantaloupe)

;D

Well done the three of you... I don't even bother after a couple of attempts..
:)

Better than me - I killed loads of melon seedlings this year managed to get one past the 4" stage and that has only got 1 bulge in the plant that may be a fruit ... it may also drop off! :-\

I also have 4 water melons that refuse to grow bigger than a large(ish)grapefruit

My watermelon has stopped at grapefruit size too, although I don't think this variety is supposed to get much bigger.

sweat pea
I cant remember where I got mine from - pssible T&M and I think they are smallish varieties. I can remember them having a yellow flesh inside.

I need to take the plunge and taste one but dont want too waste it. Have you eaten any of yours yet or do you know when they are ripe?

I'm not picking mine yet, (Passport) although they do look ready. I've been told that they start to smell good and also sound a bit hollow when tapped if they are ripe. Last time I grew them in 2003, I picked then too early, but ate them anyway, they tasted like sweet cucumbers.

Mine are 'Black Mountain' grown from seed Vaca sent me.  I'm the same with regard to picking it and tasting.  I'm scared of picking it to early especially as I only have one, so if I get it wrong I haven't got any others to fall back on.  Good to know that they are still edible if picked too early though.
I've been reading up on how to tell when they're ripe, this might help (http://www.almanac.com/food/watermelonripe.php) I also posted another link  herehttp://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,72/topic,23149.0
Mine feels pretty heavy for it's size, but I can't decide whether it sounds hollow or not.  I think I'll probably leave it a while longer before taking the plunge!