Doesn’t this picture just make your mouth water? We were so excited to have a watermelon on the vine, but it was so small, I just knew we had to wait and let it grow some more.
Sigh.
Not as mouth-watering now, huh?
Yes, My DH told me so. Yes, he said we should pick it. And no, I didn’t think we should.
WHAT do I know?
Clearly, nothing. Because last weekend we went to harvest it and were not just disappointed, but totally grossed out.
So, I am not just dumb, but dumber. I only get the thrill of growing it, not eating it. Won’t be the first time that’s happened, either intentionally or unintentionally.
But this time, I’m really sad.
I’m a bad gardener.
Oh, don’t feel too bad, Diana. Who knows when to pick ’em? I never even know which one to pick at the grocery store.
Pam – thanks – I don’t either. I thump em but I’m not sure how the thump is supposed to sound! Couldn’t thump this one!!!!
Oh dear, that would be disappointing. 🙁 But you did grow a lovely one!
I feel your pain. We had about ten on the vine at one point, now it looks like we won’t have any. The tapping and all the other tricks didn’t really work. DH picked them when they weighed 17 lbs, they’re supposed to weigh 35.
Oh heck Diana, don’t feel so bad. The worst thing is that your DH can say I told you so. A lesson learned. Next time you will know what to do. We ALL make those mistakes, or as I might say, learn those lessons well.
Nancy – it was pretty, wasn’t it? I once grew artichokes and let them go to seed just so I could see their beautiful blooms!
Lzyjo – Oh – my sympathies that you lost so many. That would be heartbreaking.
Lisa – Yeah – I hate it when I give him cause to say I told you so!!!!
I can’t believe what happened to the melon. I had some like that in my garden( the shriveled brown thing) but it was because I was gone for so long. All that was left when I got home was a dried brown thing and a pile of seeds by the back door, with every single seed germ removed. The cotton rats or the squirrel?
lancashire rose – Ah, I have no such excuse! I was home the whole time, just forgot about it because it is in the farthest hidden corner of the side yard – no where near the garden. The seeds you found by your door are hilarious. They left you a gift!
Hi Diana.
I always have a good laugh when this sort of thing happens to me. My tomatoes this year were so, so funny! a genetic experiment. I still have two of them left for a final “fall” posting, if I can stop laughing long enough to write it!
Don’t feel bad, it is the failures that define us…What?
I love Ambrosia cantalopes and try growing them here every year but they just wont grow. I gave a few seeds to a friend that is not a gardener who didn’t plant them but threw them in the grass by the air conditioner drain at his house. He has harvested over thirty and has brought me several. As with your melon, life just isn’t fair.
My Dad’s wisdom was to pick them when the closest leaf to the melon wilted. Always seemed to work for us.
East side – yep – you’re right. Just another reminder that I am not in charge!!!
Bob – That isn’t fair at all – you’re so right! I’ll have to try the closest leaf wilting technique because darnn tootin I’m gonna plant one next year now!
Ahh, that is too bad. I am sorry you missed out of a tasty summer treat. Double shame that the spouse gets an I told you so…even if he doesn’t say it;)
gail
Gail – it is a shame — and believe me, he said it!!! And I guess I will listen to him next time, if grudgingly!!
So, go to the Farmer’s market and don’t sweat the small stuff. I learn more from my mistakes than successes and you will never wait to pick again! It was a very pretty melon wasn’t it?
Layanee – you’re so funny! I actually thought of buying one of those tiny ones at the grocery today and telling my husband that another one grew on the vine!!! (But I didn’t 🙂