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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.
How long does watermelons take to grow?
Watermelons need a long growing season (at least 80 days) and warm ground for seeds to germinate and grow. Soil should be 70 degrees F or warmer at planting time. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and keep well watered until germination.
What is the best way to grow 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 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 do you take care of watermelon plants?
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. Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Reduce watering once fruit are growing.
Are you supposed to turn watermelons as they grow?
When it turns yellow, it’s a sign of ripeness. Be careful not to rotate your melon too much when you check the coloring or you may damage the vine. Just tip the fruit up enough to peek under it. On ripe melons, the green, curly tendrils near the stem start to dry out and turn brown.
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.
What month do you harvest watermelons?
When to Pick Watermelon This part is simple. The watermelon you planted will be ready about 80 or so days after you plant it from seed. This means around day 75 or so, depending on how the season was, you can start watching for ripe watermelon.
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 grow watermelon in raised bed?
You can grow a watermelon plant in a small 4′ x 4′ raised garden bed – if you use a trellis. There’s no avoiding that they are large, vigorous plants. But if you select the right variety, take good care of them, and train them up a trellis, you can enjoy fresh melons from your own small garden beds.
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.
Do you have to prune watermelon plants?
Watermelon plants don’t need much pruning to grow big and juicy fruit; what they really need is space. Watermelon vines spread out in runners going in all directions from the base, often growing longer than 3 feet.
What do you put under watermelon plants?
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.
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.
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.
Can you grow tomatoes and watermelon together?
Warm-season plants like tomatoes and melons thrive together with the same temperature, sun, nutrition and water needs, but they require generous spacing for growth. Plant these crops at the same time, and with the same considerations.
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.
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 hard is it to grow watermelon?
Growing watermelons requires lots of space, lots of sun, lots of water and lots of nutrients. Watermelons are not particularly difficult to grow but because they are so demanding I don’t consider watermelons a good plant for beginner gardeners. (You can get lucky if you live in the perfect climate with perfect soil.).
