melon growing experiment over

PaulF · June 12, 2007

I wanted to grow more melons and fewer weeds by covering my melon patch with weed barrier fabric. My idea sounded good and may have worked if I had used a heavy duty barrier. I opted for the medium cost stuff.

After a couple of hundred sharp hooved deer walked all over and poked deer hoof holes in the fabric followed by a week of 30 to 60 mph winds, the fabric was shredded and useless. A ten by 50 foot section of heavier weed barrier is still intact and the weeds are not growing.

In the beginning there were suggestions to use straw as the weed barrier. That cost would a lot less and easier to apply. Straw will be spread over the uncovered area. By the way, all the melon plants are doing very well.

organichris · June 13, 2007

My hippy cousin used to use old discarded carpet. He said it worked very well.

Tormato · June 13, 2007

Organichris,

"My hippy cousin used to...".

I'm curious...is your cousin still a hippy? I haven't seen one of them, in a long, long time.

Gary

PaulF · June 13, 2007

Those who were still are except with short hair (or no hair), clean shaven...both men and women, no tie-dyed clothes, regular frames on the bifocals, money in the bank managed by establishment bankers, driving Toyota Camrys, taking care of the grandkids, keeping the lawn mowed and complaining about the daggone loud crap that is a poor excuse for music these days. Well, maybe they aren't hippies any more.

Who me? I sure don't remember ever being a hippie....most of the time. The older I get, the tamer I was.

organichris · June 17, 2007

Tormato,

Yes, my second cousin is a bonified hippie. He just got his license revoked for not paying his taxes. I don't know what he's doing these days, but when I was a kid he made his "living" growing tomatoes and other goodies. He sold to local burger joints and whatnot. He's gotta be in his 60s now.

maupin · July 16, 2007

I did just as you did, only I put a deer fence up around my entire garden. Melons are doing well. I covered the weed barrier with shredded wood chips.

Fert1 · July 19, 2007

Bunnies are going after mine this year, ... and chipmunks. Anyone for rabbit stew?

PaulF · July 21, 2007

Update: I have covered the ground with straw mulch to save what little moisture we have gotten and to keep the weeds down so I can find the ripe ones. It seems to be working. There are about 50 small (from pea size to football size) melons both watermelons and muskmelons. Several weeks until the first is ready.

June 12, 2007	#1
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,295	melon growing experiment over I wanted to grow more melons and fewer weeds by covering my melon patch with weed barrier fabric. My idea sounded good and may have worked if I had used a heavy duty barrier. I opted for the medium cost stuff. After a couple of hundred sharp hooved deer walked all over and poked deer hoof holes in the fabric followed by a week of 30 to 60 mph winds, the fabric was shredded and useless. A ten by 50 foot section of heavier weed barrier is still intact and the weeds are not growing. In the beginning there were suggestions to use straw as the weed barrier. That cost would a lot less and easier to apply. Straw will be spread over the uncovered area. By the way, all the melon plants are doing very well. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

June 13, 2007	#4
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,295	Those who were still are except with short hair (or no hair), clean shaven...both men and women, no tie-dyed clothes, regular frames on the bifocals, money in the bank managed by establishment bankers, driving Toyota Camrys, taking care of the grandkids, keeping the lawn mowed and complaining about the daggone loud crap that is a poor excuse for music these days. Well, maybe they aren't hippies any more. Who me? I sure don't remember ever being a hippie....most of the time. The older I get, the tamer I was. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

July 19, 2007	#7
Fert1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7 Posts: 543	Bunnies are going after mine this year, ... and chipmunks. Anyone for rabbit stew? __________________ Holly

July 21, 2007	#8
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,295	Update: I have covered the ground with straw mulch to save what little moisture we have gotten and to keep the weeds down so I can find the ripe ones. It seems to be working. There are about 50 small (from pea size to football size) melons both watermelons and muskmelons. Several weeks until the first is ready. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

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June 13, 2007	#2
organichris Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 630	My hippy cousin used to use old discarded carpet. He said it worked very well.

June 13, 2007	#3
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Organichris, "My hippy cousin used to...". I'm curious...is your cousin still a hippy? I haven't seen one of them, in a long, long time. Gary

June 17, 2007	#5
organichris Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 630	Tormato, Yes, my second cousin is a bonified hippie. He just got his license revoked for not paying his taxes. I don't know what he's doing these days, but when I was a kid he made his "living" growing tomatoes and other goodies. He sold to local burger joints and whatnot. He's gotta be in his 60s now.

July 16, 2007	#6
maupin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern Thailand Posts: 77	I did just as you did, only I put a deer fence up around my entire garden. Melons are doing well. I covered the weed barrier with shredded wood chips.