The Watermelon Story or Sugar Babies
When I started to sow seeds for Sugar Baby watermelons my thoughts immediately turned to my late Uncle Shanny. He was a brilliant gardener who grew these delicious little melons just for me. So when I saw the seeds were available in our allotment seed catalogue I knew I had to try to grow some.
Now that the seedlings are up I am reminded of my little brother. When he was just a tot, we were eating slices of watermelon in our back garden. He took great delight in spitting the seeds as far as he could, usually to detriment of his little sneakers. His aim or range wasn't good, anyway....
He asked our Dad, 'will these really make watermelons?' Daddy answered in the affirmative but said they must be planted first. Little brother picked out a sticky seed from his slice of melon and with a podgy, little finger shoved it into the ground. To make sure he'd properly planted it, he stomped the seed further into the soil with his foot. 'There', he said, 'that will grow'. Dad and I exchanged knowing looks. This little seed didn't have a chance. How wrong you can be! It did grow and produced a proper melon. I can only hope I am half as lucky with these little seedlings, my first ever crop of Sugar Babies.
Now that the seedlings are up I am reminded of my little brother. When he was just a tot, we were eating slices of watermelon in our back garden. He took great delight in spitting the seeds as far as he could, usually to detriment of his little sneakers. His aim or range wasn't good, anyway....
He asked our Dad, 'will these really make watermelons?' Daddy answered in the affirmative but said they must be planted first. Little brother picked out a sticky seed from his slice of melon and with a podgy, little finger shoved it into the ground. To make sure he'd properly planted it, he stomped the seed further into the soil with his foot. 'There', he said, 'that will grow'. Dad and I exchanged knowing looks. This little seed didn't have a chance. How wrong you can be! It did grow and produced a proper melon. I can only hope I am half as lucky with these little seedlings, my first ever crop of Sugar Babies.
Ive heard that story a time or two! All the more reason for Kevin to let me have a garden! ;) Can't wait to see how your crop turns out.
ReplyDeleteHurrah! I have a witness, proves this is a true story. ; )x
DeleteI hope you have more luck than I usually do... the slugs in my garden are voracious! Haven't seen you around for a while, so good to see you again!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anita! I have been neglecting the blog lately. No excuses, I think it was just a sort of hibernation. I know I am pushing my luck with melons in this climate but I have a battered greenhouse where I am going to plant them. At least the slugs will be warm in there. : )
DeleteAs kid I used to plant various fruit kernels around our garden or in little pots, too. My Mom wondered for example that a mirabelle tree grew in our garden 'out of the bleu' and I had for many years an own mandarin tree in a pot!
ReplyDeleteAnd my Mom liked to do that either. We still have an apple tree she grew herself from a kernel.
Good luck with your little plants!