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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 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.
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.
How do watermelons grow for beginners?
Watermelons require a large vegetative-free space located in full sun and with well-drained soil that’s reached a minimum of 65 degrees Fahrenheit for proper germination and growth, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Because they are heavy feeders, amend the site with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
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 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.
Where is the best place to plant watermelons?
Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site Watermelons do best in loamy, somewhat-sandy, well-drained soil. They can struggle in soil that contains too much clay and doesn’t drain well. Watermelons prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5 (“slightly acidic to neutral”).
Is it hard to grow watermelons?
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 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 you grow watermelon in a container?
Successfully growing watermelons in pots starts before you even plant your watermelon seed. You need to choose a pot that will be large enough for your container watermelon to thrive. Watermelons grow rapidly and require plenty of water, so it is recommended that you go with a 5-gallon (19 kg) or larger size container.
Can you plant watermelon seeds directly in the ground?
Buy your seed, and if possible buy an open pollinated heirloom variety. Start your watermelon seeds in the ground, right where they are supposed to grow. The soil should be at least 18°C/65F for them to germinate. Unless you have an extremely short growing season, do NOT start your watermelon seed in a pot or punnet.
Do you soak watermelon seeds before planting?
Many types of plant seeds benefit from pre-planting soaking to soften the outer seed coating and hasten germination. However, watermelons are an exception to the rule. Soaking the seeds before planting increases the risks of various fungal diseases, such as anthracnose caused by the Colletotrichum lagenarium fungus.
Do watermelons come back 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.
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 water watermelon everyday?
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?
Heat brings out melons’ sweetness, so make sure to plant them in a location that warms up early in spring and stays hot through the end of September. The south side of a fence or wall is ideal as the structure will absorb heat and light from the sun and reflect it back onto the melons.
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.
How do you know when to pick watermelon?
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.
