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I found a delicious 20lb. watermelon at the store last time I visited. Black seeds and sweet. I had earlier learned the black seeds are really good eating on their own. That melon it was homegrown according to the sign and so good. Any one have any luck growing melons besides bitter melon in Puna? In HA?
Somehow after all I have read here a sweet watermelon in Puna has the same survival rate as that snowball in Hell I heard about.
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I've planted melons, cucumbers, and squash. Every single time I plant them after the first year (I got lots of cucumbers the first year) some bug eats the plant before it hardly has a chance to start.
So I too would love to know the secret of growing these types of vines here in Puna.
Dayna
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Dayna Robertson
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To go off in a tangent with Dayna, kabocha squash grows REALLY well in upper HPP - as in it takes over the world!
I tried watermelon 2 years ago and actually harvested a small one, but it did not get good care. I plan to try again this year.
Cucumbers got wiped out after a few were harvested. Melons did not even get to flower. I am waiting on them until I get a screen house built. Supposedly, if you cover the plants with 3/4" mesh bird net, it keeps the adult moths away, but lets the bees in to pollinate.
Allen
Finally in HPP
Allen
Finally in HPP
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I grew a delicious honeydew melon from seeds I got out of a Costco melon. Couldn't believe it, but alas, only one before the bugs found the plant. One important thing is, bag the fruit as soon as it's pollinated; applies to all melons. I think it's the medfly that gets them. I'm in upper HPP.
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When I go back to visit Philippines I will see what melon secrets I can learn there.
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Anyone know where to get kobocha squash seedlings? The only thing I can grow is Taro...
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The Kabotcha start very easily from seed, just scoop out seeds from one you have gotten to eat... then plant. I have planted the seeds & had many starts that turn up in the compost pile...
Ive heard of these little tiny watermelons that taste like cucumbers and you can slice them like cherry tomatoes for your salad. Also heard they grow easy...anyone else ?
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They make a vine with tiny leaves and fruits. The fruits are kind of hard crunchy and are fairly abundant. Unfortunately, they also get worms inside in maybe 20%, so you have to look carefully for holes. They grew fairly well for me, but really need to be up on support like I had them. The plants were not very long lived. I do not plan to grow them again. I think the scientific name is Melochia(?).
Allen
Finally in HPP
Allen
Finally in HPP
