My Square Watermelon

I believe it was in 2003 when I first read about Japanese farmers growing square watermelons commercially.  It was a sensation and the news was all over the place – in newspapers, radio, and the internet.

Over the next two years the thought occasionally entered my mind about how they could take a naturally round watermelon and make it square.  It was not a burning curiosity but, rather, I was amused by the thought of getting a watermelon square.

Then in 2005 after planting tomatoes and watermelon in a small backyard garden, I decided to take the challenge to make my own square watermelon and also to make square tomatoes.  I knew I could also do it, and was convinced that it was going to be a lot of fun.

In the garden (and also in sporting activities) I’m a doer – as Nike’s slogan says… Just do it!  I take action not knowing what the outcome could be.  The process itself is as important as the outcome.

In this home garden I planted a few tomato and watermelon plants.  They were plants that I bought from a local general hardware store (it’s amazing how just about all types of retail outlets get involved with gardening at springtime.)

In my research I found out that the Icebox variety of watermelon was one of a few that fitted the local Canadian climate – we have a short growing season and limited sunlight intensity.  I prepared the soil (elevating beds to give better water drainage) and planted the newly-bought plants.

 As expected, they grew very well and I kept a close eye to keep them healthy.  It was not too long before my attention paid off with flowers, then baby fruits.Growing things and nurturing them have always interested me.  Although I have done it many, many times before, planting, and watching fruits appear and mature is like a miracle happening before my eyes.  I could literally spend hours in a garden observing plants, flowers, the fruits, and even the insects which are all part of the dynamics of nature. 

As the fruits were forming, the creative part of me started kicking in, allowing me to come up with different ideas of how I may be able to make the fruits square.  That is, how I should be able to imitate the Japanese farmers, using a humble home garden budget.

I experimented using different materials – from transparent plexiglass and solid opaque plastic, to corrugated plastic and wood. 

I tried to get info from research centers where I thought they were experimenting on growing square watermelons.  One such place was the agricultural center of Mississippi State University .  The article I saw that led me to them was at http://msucares.com/news/print/agnews/an03/030616.html

Despite my attempt to get specific information – writing to the horticulturalist at the university, the watermelon promotion board searching the world wide web, and many other places, I was not able to learn how it was actually done, expect that a “box” was used to turn the watermelon square.

I was a little frustrated but I also accepted that this was part of the challenge, which I’ll talk about in the next post.

‘til then,
Maurice | Grow Your Own Square Watermelon

In this heritage series of My Square Watermelon posts I am going to concentrate in the actually “doing” and having fun with the hobby.

I would first like to say that although I got lots of satisfaction observing and planting bamboo, the most set of enjoyment came from interacting with people in a network in which the American Bamboo Society play an important part.

This association is quite active, at least the Pacific Northwest Chapter, holding conferences and meetings in many cities and regions – from Oregon to British Columbia.  In one of my earlier years with the association I took the opportunity to import the giant bamboo, Robert Young (Phyllostachys viridis) from growers in Oregon who deliver them on their way to a Vancouver meet. 

It was an exciting time because there weren’t many giant bamboos in the Vancouver area and that I was curious to know if will grow in this far north region.  But it did!  It took a few years to mature and reach its full state of growth.  I am told by my sister who still lives in the property where it was first planted, that it’s about forty five high and about three and a half inches in diameter.  It could very well be one of the tallest and largest bamboos in B.C.

The plants were planted within 20 feet of a stream in the backyard on a slight slope where there is a constant flow of water.  Although I don’t believe the soil is best-suited for bamboo (which prefers a sandier makeup) it still does a good job nourishing and aerating the plants.  On one occasion I observed a bamboo shoot grew 9 inches over a 24 hour period.   Yes, they grow very fast.  Unlike most trees, the shoots grow to their full height fairly fast then the structure matures, becoming very hard even though it remains relatively light in weight.

Closer to the stream was a small grove of black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra).  The matured canes were very hard, sturdy, and jet black.  It is amazing how intensely black it can get.  I tried a couple times to “tame” this variety by putting them in pots to be made into indoor plants but didn’t succeed, to my disappointment.  I know it can be done because I see them in plant stores.  Oh, well, perhaps I’ll get the opportunity to do it again some day. ?

Also in the backyard was the common (but beautiful) golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aureo).  Its grove provided a cool shade during the hot summer months, and the wavelike swaying of the leaves in the wind created a soothing, relaxing sensation in the mind.  Our elderly neighbor, Arthur, admitted he sat for long periods of time in his backyard enjoying the peaceful motions of this grove in the breeze. 

Kudos to the environmental movements in B.C.  They have fought (and are still fighting) to preserve the natural environment of the streams so that various Pacific salmon species can find clean rivers in which to spawn, as they have been doing for millennia.  Dividing Arthur’s property and the bamboo groves was a small stream where we can still find spawning salmon – the smaller Coho type.  However, three blocks away bordering Bear Creek Park (Surrey, B.C.) we can find 10-25 pound salmon varieties.  It’s truly amazing how in the heart of very populated neighborhoods we can still observe nature at work.  Long live a healthy environment!

‘til then,
Maurice | Grow Your Own Square Watermelon

Not even the idea of square watermelon was on my mind in the early nineties, because my focus was on bamboo and all its beauty.  It’s pretty, exotic, hardy, and we can grow it in the outdoors.

This unusual plant commands attention because it has served us well over the ages and in many cultures.  After I pleasantly found out that it can grow in the Canadian west coast, I began looking at the various species that are suited for the area.  One thing I was sure of was that I wouldn’t find any of the tropical types that I know.

Part of my research led me to the American Bamboo Society.  Again, I was pleasantly surprised that there was even a world class association that represented bamboo enthusiasts.  After all, I was not the only weirdo so passionate about a grass.  I joined the group and was introduced to many local members and their activities.

 One such member, Mike, led the Vancouver group at the time and was very knowledgeable about the various species that suited our climate.  I learned a lot from him and really appreciate his help in getting me started with my new-found hobby.

He introduced me to jet black bamboo (Phyllostachy nigra), a caned species that grows up to 15 feet and is suitable for potting.  Those I grew in the back yard matured within a year and the color of the cane was totally black, a real beauty and an excellent decorative plant.  Young shoots are green but gradually turn black when the plant matures.  I now see them relatively often in plant stores in the city, but they usually go for a hefty price - $75-$160 for 3-4 feet high plants.

Another of my favorite variety was the Robert Young (Phyllostachys viridis).  It’s a yellow cane with green stripes running the entire length of the cane.  It’s one of the larger species to grow in the Pacific Northwest, reaching up to 45 feet in height and can grow to 3.5 inches in diameter.

‘til then,
Maurice | Grow Your Own Square Watermelon

My fascination and interest in bamboo is a big part of my square watermelon heritage.  When I moved to Vancouver, B.C. one of the sights that immediately grabbed my attention was a small bamboo grove growing outdoors.

Now, my interests in this plant (actually, a grass) was life long.  In the tropics they can grow to over the height of a 10-storey building and up to a foot in diameter.  They are used for local building materials, making rafts, etc.  My fun memories of this wonderful plant are, as teenagers, we “burst” bamboo around the Christmas holidays.

“Bursting” bamboo is the name we gave to creating canons out of bamboo lengths (5-6 feet long).  Booming sounds can be heard as the various neighborhood teens competed to create the loudest sounds.  You may say that it’s the equivalent to today’s firecrackers and neighborhood fireworks – only ours was “organic.” ?

It is an extraordinary plant.  Here are some facts:

• The strongest growing woody plant on earth.  Its weight-to-strength ratio is compared to that of steel and graphite.
• It is the fastest growing plant – some species can grow up to 48 inches in 24 hours.
• Its shoots are used as vegetables in cooking in many Asian cultures.
• Modern uses involve making of flooring (that compete with hardwoods such as oak) in strength and appearance.

For more info, you may use a search engine - google or yahoo – and search using keywords as “bamboo uses”, “decorative bamboo” or “bamboo facts”.

For the more serious reader (yes, bamboo could be a serious sub-industry as well as it could create many fun-growing ventures) you may want to look at the American Bamboo Society web site (http://www.americanbamboo.org/ ) which is very comprehensive on this topic – its uses, ornamentation, as an indoor or outdoor plant, etc.

On another post, I would like to go a bit deeper into this subject because, really, it is a wonder plant.  In my next post I’ll talk a little more about my experiences with bamboo in the west coast of Canada.

‘til then…
Maurice | Grow Your Own Square Watermelon