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 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.
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.
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.
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?
Grow melons faster by starting with young plants from Bonnie Plants®. Plant melons when ground temperatures are above 70 degrees F. Before planting, add nutrients to native soil by mixing in a 3-inch layer of Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose In-Ground Soil.
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.
Why do watermelons not taste good anymore?
Depends on growing conditions. Watermelons require the right temperature, and the right amount of precipitation. If it rains too much, the watermelon becomes soggy. If the field is too dry, the roots pull sugar out of the fruit.
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.
How do you make watermelon taste better?
A small sprinkle of salt doesn’t just offer a salty-sweet kick, it also brings out the sweetness in the watermelon, making this the perfect hack for when you dig into a lackluster slice. Trust me, I’ve had people FREAK over this simple trick; it’s a game-changer.
How do you know if a watermelon is sweet?
Look for an orange creamy field spot. The darker yellow field spot usually means it was on the vine longer and is full of flavor. If the field spot is white that’s a sign that the melon is not quite ripe. Larger “webbing” or “sugar spots” means that the melon is seeping out sugar and is usually the sign of sweet melon.
Why does watermelon become sweeter in the fridge?
As the moisture drains and evaporates from the cut melon, the sugar content rises. The more moisture lost, the sweeter the melon.
Does borax make watermelon sweeter?
Q Last year we started a melon, supposed to be supersweet, from seeds. Spraying with a solution of Epsom salts and borax when the vines start to run and again when crown-set fruits are between one and two inches in diameter will sweeten them. May 15, 1984.
How do you use Epsom salt on watermelon plants?
For home garden use, use about 6 1/2 tablespoons of Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons of household borax, all added to five gallons of water. Spray the plants when the vines start to run and again when the fruits are between one and two inches in diameter. Weather can also affect flavor.
How often should you fertilize watermelon plants?
Fertilize the watermelon plant once per week with liquid soluble fertilizer. Start with a 20-10-20 measurement of fertilizer until the flowers of the plant bloom. Then switch to a 20-20-20 fertilizer for the rest of the season.
What do you put under watermelon?
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.
Should you trim watermelon vines?
Pruning watermelons promotes healthier vines and increases fruit size. Look for irregular or rotting fruit to prune from the plant. Removing the less than perfect melons will enable the plant to focus energy towards growing bigger, healthier, juicier melons. Watermelons need both male and female flowers to set fruit.
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.
