Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Southwest Virginia is not your typical growing area for watermelons, but a Blacksburg couple was determined to beat the odds.
They definitely did that with one special melon.
This took several special steps, even cuddling it in a comforter.
“Our area is not your ideal setting for watermelons,” said Gwen Harris.
All of this effort to grow one watermelon, yes, one watermelon. But the two were determined to grow their own “giant” melon.
Information from the Virginia Extension Service points out watermelons are warm-season crops requiring a long growing season of 80 to 100 days from seed to fruit. Thus, meaning the odds were against the local variety, but Gwen said they took a special approach most like tending to a baby.
Consistent care practices, such as watering, fertilizing, and pest management, are crucial for healthy watermelon plant growth and fruit development.
The Blacksburg couple originally planted two watermelon plants, but one did not survive.
So, it turned into an uphill battle and all-consuming. “We set the alarm to go check on it at different hours,” Gwen said.
When they brought their “baby” to the State Fair of Virginia’s Giant Veggie Weigh-Off last month, they weren’t expecting a blue ribbon.
“I never expect a winner—I don’t like to get my hopes up,” Gwen joked.
David’s fascination with the fair’s giant watermelons inspired Gwen, a giant pumpkin grower, to share her passion with her husband. She gave him his first giant watermelon seeds for Christmas, and the couple began cultivating their hefty watermelon and pumpkin entries side-by-side.
“It was really nice to do this together,” she reflected.
Their watermelon plant showed promise from the beginning—resembling “a brick” in weight and shape at just one week old.
The Harris’ watermelon claimed first place with a whopping weight of 232.6 pounds—earning the couple their first blue ribbon. Their 744-pound pumpkin captured sixth place despite a challenging growing season.
This year’s top pumpkin weighed in at a new fair record at 1,983 pounds.
New fair records abound as growers showcased giant produce of all shapes, colors and sizes, including Jarosh’s 22.8-pound rutabaga; Tony Corbin of Culpeper County’s 7-pound eggplant; and Jason Loris of Rappahannock County’s daikon radish weighing 5.6 pounds, carrots stretching 32 inches long, and his 7.2-pound beet.
Gwen Harris said this year’s melon will not be their last.
