Table of Contents
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 I make my watermelon sweeter?
Use a knife to slice a lemon or lime in half and squeeze about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of juice over sliced or cubed watermelon. Some people find that a boost of acidity makes the melon taste sweeter. Try adding salt and pepper to round out the flavor. Or, if you like spicy foods, add some cayenne or hot sauce!.
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 do you grow the perfect watermelon?
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. Watermelons need soil that is well-drained and sandy. They also need a pH level between 6.0 and 6.5, a very narrow range.
What nutrient makes watermelon sweet?
Boron for Watermelons An element called boron is known to help make watermelons sweeter. Boron for watermelons helps increase sweetness of the fruits when given as a dose of 1 tablespoon in 1 gallon of water. Spray this mixture on the foliage and the base of the plants, says Burpee.
Why are my watermelons not sweet?
If you have a watermelon that is not as sweet as you like, sprinkle it with a little bit of salt to bring out the fruits natural sweetness.
What can I do with a tasteless watermelon?
According to Chowhound Pipenta, if you cut into a watermelon only to find that it lacks sweetness and flavor, the surprising solution is gin! Simply splash the cubed fruit with gin, then cover it and refrigerate for a few hours.
Is Epsom salt good for watermelon plants?
For sweeter watermelons and cantaloupes when the plant starts vining and again when small 1-inch melons appear, spray with 6 1/2 tablespoons Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons borax in 5 gallons of water. For more fruit on your pepper plants, fertilize the plant by burying an open one-half pack of book matches near it.
Is Miracle Gro good for watermelons?
Feeding and Caring for Melons Then, feed your melon plants regularly through the growing season with a continuous-release plant food like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organic® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules, which feeds the soil as well as your plants.
Are coffee grounds good for watermelon plants?
Coffee Grinds as Melon Fertilizer? Old coffee grinds really do enhance the flavor of many crops, cantaloupe, tomatoes, melons. No study to prove it, but it is said you get bigger melons if you use coffee grinds. As they break down, the grinds will release nitrogen into the soil.
What do you put under growing watermelon?
Prevent soil contact. In order to grow great watermelons, you’ll need to put a barrier between the watermelons and the ground. This is to reduce the risk of rot and disease. Good ground barriers are straw, or even cardboard.
Can watermelon be grown in pots?
Yes, you can grow watermelon in pots. But there are some important guidelines you’ll want to follow to set yourself up for success. Watermelons are fun to grow in pots, but they must be cared for properly.
What month is the best time to 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 for a watermelon plant to produce fruit?
Watermelons require 80-90 days from seed sowing to grow a full-size watermelon. Some smaller-sized watermelons (like Sugar Baby) can reach maturity in closer to 70 days.
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.
How do watermelons grow for beginners?
They require warm soil for germination and growth. Ideally, watermelons should be planted in 70 degrees F. This crop is needs consistent watering until germination. For those wanting to plant a little earlier than the spring season, protect watermelons by covering the planting area with black plastic.
Why are watermelons so tasteless?
The taste of watermelon depends on a number of things: Depends on growing conditions. Watermelons require the right temperature, and the right amount of precipitation. If it rains too much, the watermelon becomes soggy.
What can I do with melons that are not sweet?
The salt brings out what little flavor a bad melon has and compensates for any lack of sweetness. It works, truly—trust me. Since, I’ve introduced this idea to the office, and it turns out there are even other ways to gussy up an otherwise drab melon. Some swear by a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice.
Does watermelon get sweeter over time?
Melons don’t ripen as they age like other fruit. She says that cantaloupes, honeydew, and watermelon are all non-climacteric fruits, which means that once they’re harvested, they won’t continue to become tastier or sweeter like peaches or bananas will.
Why are watermelons not good this year?
Heavy rains at the wrong time can waterlog melons, which thins their Brix count and the redness of the fruit and causes their outer layer to turn white, Anciso said. “This year was a challenge early with the freeze and late because of the rain,” he said.
How do you make watermelon moist?
A sweet and ripe watermelon should feel heavy for its size. This usually means that it’s full of water and therefore juicier. In fact, water and fiber content seem to determine a healthy weight in fruits, including watermelon ( 7 ).
How do I stop watermelon from being mealy?
To avoid buying an under-ripe, mealy-textured watermelon, stick with these three simple steps: See if it feels heavy. Lift up the watermelon and see how heavy it feels. Look for the spot. Watermelons have a spot where they rest on the ground. Tap it. Give the underside of the watermelon a good thump.
