Question
Hey Kindred Beisinger,
I had my very first garden this year and all in all everything has grown really well expept my watermellons and cantalopes.  I had a 1'-2' base with some good ole aged horse manure mixed in.  The yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, green beans, okra, and egg plants produces like crazy but I got rot on the ends of my watermellons, my cantalopes are really small with no taste and my cumcumbers never grew normal size.  I have read that overhead watering is bad for watermellons, and that was my watering method, is that part of my problem? I have averaged 2-3 waterings a week for about 30 to 43 minutes with 2 overhead sprayers mounted on 4' poles to cover my aprox. garden size of 40' x 20'.  But we have also had really hot weather here in Alanta area. Help!

~Carolyn~
Thanks in advance from one expert to another.
Home Improvements/Plumbing Expert
http://www.allexperts.com/expert.cgi?m=1&catID=1735&expID=4634

Answer
Dear Carolyn,
Yes, overhead watering is tough on melons.  Also, with the size garden you have, you may have experienced some cross breeding or unwanted hybrid results from all the "related" vining plants in a small area.  I always plant the squash in all the corners, so they don't mix, then cucumbers right in the middle of the garden.  That seems to protect them from too much water, and too much exposure.  
Glad everything else was so plentiful.
Kind Regards,
Kindred
www.eingedi.us