Watermelon advice needed.

[Tom'sson]

I've never grown watermelon before. This spring I started some seeds I saved from a big and tasty watermelon given to me two years ago by my parents long time cleaning lady . She has passed away but the reports I have are she saved seeds and she planted those. An (hopefully) OP watermelon that works so well in zone 3 is to good to pass up.

I got two of 6 seeds to germinate and lost one plant to damping off. The survivor was planted in a 30 - 40 gallon black ceramic pot filled with a mixture of 1/3 compost and 2/3 potting mix and a handfull of moisture retention crystals (12 or so quarts of the potting mix is the Miracle Grow with slow release fertilizer & supposed moisture retention). I'm in zone 4.

Much to my surprise the plant seems to be thriving and has set a number of melons. I've gone from , "if it works it works" to "Oh my goodness this has to work!" attitude; hence my call for help.

1. We have creatures eating our green tomatoes, probably raccoons. I've set out a game camera in hopes of identifying the villains. I fear for my largest mellon & I've slipped it inside a Q2 size panty hose leg. Will this be sufficient protection & will it interfere with rippening?
2. The melons that have set are hanging off the ground. My biggest one, softball size, is sitting on a piece of concrete for now and I can probably mound up soil for it to rest on. Can I support the others with a panty hose sling until the end of the melon can rest on the ground or should I start looking for chairs or benches for them to lay on?
3. How many watermelons will one vine support? I have 3 or 4 set now.
4. I've been told I should cut off the growing tips of the vines to concentrate energy into the melons, accurate?

Any and all advice is welcome and much appreciated.
It's nice to be back on Tomatoville after a long absence.
Again, thanks in advance.