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You can sow watermelons directly into the ground when the soil temperature is above 65°F. Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep, placing two or three seeds in groups 18 to 24 inches apart. Once watermelon seedlings are established, remove two and leave the best watermelon plant in each group.
What is the best way to plant watermelon?
Sow your watermelon seeds in pots in mid-to-late May. In order to do this, fill some pots with seed-starting formula and sow each seed at a depth of 1 inch. You should sow 2-3 seeds per pot. Keep the soil moist and warm, at a temperature of 21 – 22°C.
What month do you plant watermelon?
Plant watermelon from late spring to early summer, once soil temperatures reach 70° F or above. Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
How long does it take to grow a watermelon from a plant?
The time it takes for a watermelon to mature can be anywhere from 65 to 90 days after planting. Once the fruit sets to tiny marble-sized melons, it only takes up to 45 days for those tiny melons to develop into watermelons 10 pounds in size or more.
Do watermelons need full sun?
Light. Watermelons require full sunlight in order to thrive. The plants can tolerate some partial shade, particularly in hotter climates, but plenty of sun is necessary to develop the sugars in the melons.
How many watermelons do you get per plant?
How Many Watermelons per Plant? Healthy watermelon vines produce 2-4 fruits per plant. The vines produce both male and female flowers. Both are needed to set fruit and there are fewer female flowers compared to male, about one female for every seven males.
Do watermelons need a lot of water?
How to Grow Watermelons. Watering is very important—from planting until fruit begins to form. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged.
How do you protect watermelon from pests?
How to Keep Bugs Off Watermelons Avoid planting the watermelons too early in the season when the soil is cold. Use floating row covers to keep the soil warm and to protect the plants from green peach aphids (Myzus persicae), a common watermelon pest. Prevent additional watermelon stresses, such as infertile, dry soil.
Can I plant watermelon in May?
In northern zones where the warm season is relatively short, start watermelon plants indoors and choose early varieties that mature quickly. Plant seedlings in the middle to end of June. In zones 5 and 6, begin hardening seedlings in May for planting in mid to late May.
Is it hard to grow watermelon?
Watermelons are surprisingly easy to grow as long as the plants have plenty of room to spread, good drainage, lots of sunlight, and a sufficiently long growing season. Gardeners in northern climates should choose early ripening varieties.
How many watermelon seeds are in a hole?
Place a seed in each hole and cover with loose soil. You will be able to fit 7-8 seeds in each mound. After planting, water the seeds in thoroughly. After the seedlings emerge and are a couple of inches long, you should keep the 3 most promising plants and pull the rest out of the ground.
How often do you have to water watermelon?
Watering Watermelons They require plentiful regular, even watering for quick growing. Give watermelons 1 to 2 inches (2.5. -5cm) of water every week (1 inch equals 16 gallons/60.5 liters.) Keep the soil moist until the fruit reaches full size then stop watering while the fruit ripens.
How do I make my watermelon sweeter when growing?
8 Tips for Growing The Sweetest Melons Start with the Sweetest Varieties. Sow Seeds Early. Find Your Warmest Microclimate. Accentuate the Sun’s Rays. Don’t Crowd Your Melons. Sweetness Starts in the Soil. Water Heavily – But not During Ripening. Pick at the Pinnacle of Ripeness.
How do you know when to pick a watermelon from the garden?
Answer: Harvest watermelons when the underside or belly of the fruit turns from a greenish white to buttery yellow or cream. This color change is especially pronounced on the dark green skinned varieties. In addition, the fruit tends to lose its slick appearance on top and becomes dull when ripe.
How long does it take for watermelon to bear fruit?
It takes the shortest amount of time to mature, about 70 to 75 days. A main-season watermelon is larger and takes longer to ripen, usually 80 to 90 days. Seedless watermelons are an interesting exercise in plant genetics.
What kind of soil do watermelons like?
Melons grow best on well-drained, sandy loam soils, with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Soils with a pH less than 6.0 will produce plants with yellow foliage that set few or no fruit. You can improve your soil by adding well-rotted manure or compost in spring or fall.
What is the best fertilizer for watermelons?
When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.
How many watermelons can I plant for a family of 4?
As female flowers begin to set fruit, it may appear that your crop yield will be large; however, many of these young melons will shrivel up and die off, with only the strongest fruits remaining to ripen. Depending on your needs, between three and four plants for each member of your household should be sufficient.
Do you have to replant watermelon every year?
As annual plants, watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) must be replanted every season and will not survive the winter either as seedlings or fully grown plants. Watermelons require warm weather to grow quickly and produce their sweet, juicy fruit.
What do Overwatered watermelons look like?
The hearts of watermelons that swell in this manner are often white and have little flavor because the melon’s flesh is over-saturated with water. If the rain continues, the melons will continue swelling until they are harvested and the white heart will grow larger.
Can you overwater watermelons?
Watermelons will grow best in soil that is moist but not overly wet. In any case, overwatering can result in crown and root rot, which can affect the fruit production. When watering watermelons, it’s essential to water at the base of the vine.
What climate do watermelons grow best in?
They grow best when daytime temperatures fall between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures fall between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They can thrive in both humid and semi-arid environments, but may develop fungal foliage diseases in humid areas more frequently than in dry areas.
