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Watermelons and melons are summer crops. The seeds need warm soil (15C or 60F) to germinate. You can start seedlings inside Houston around early March is the right time.
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.
Can you grow watermelon in Houston Texas?
Spring temperatures in Houston are the perfect growing weather for the watermelon plant, and the fruit that follows. Sow the seeds one inch deep with four to six seeds in a mound. Space the mounds six feet apart. According to the Watermelon.org, the United States ranks fourth in production of watermelons.
What is the best time to plant watermelon in Texas?
Plant melons when the soil warms up in mid spring. This would be about mid April in north Texas, late March to early April in central parts of the state and mid to late March along the coastal region. Prior to planting work 1 to 2 cups of a complete fertilizer into the soil per 50 square feet of garden bed area.
How long does it take to grow a watermelon in Texas?
Best Varieties For North Texas Most watermelons mature in 85 to 100 days, while some need up to 130 warm days to ripen. (Days to maturity measures the average number of days from seed germination until harvest.)Aug 15, 2020.
How long does a watermelon take to grow?
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 long does it take for a watermelon to fully grow?
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.
What melons grow well in Texas?
Melons most commonly grown in Texas include honeydew, muskmelon and watermelon. Muskmelons are often mistakenly called cantaloupes, but the true cantaloupe is a small, warty fruit and is not usually grown in the United States.
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 is the watermelon Capital of Texas?
Hempstead, known as the watermelon capital of Texas, was the main supplier of watermelons to the United States until the 1940s. The city’s location, close to Houston and along Highway 290, enabled Hempstead to share watermelons with customers near and far.
Does watermelon 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.
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.
What month do you plant melons?
Start melon seeds indoors before transplanting to your garden outside. Sow seed indoors at the end of April, about 2 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost date. Use peat pots or other biodegradable containers that you can place directly into garden soils. Use larger pots than you would for other vegetables.
What month do you plant watermelon seeds?
Watermelons need about 100 days of warm weather to produce an edible melon. If the warm, late fall and winter weather of recent years continues, you may get a watermelon for Christmas. The best times to sow seeds for watermelons are early March and early August.
How easy is it 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 long do you leave watermelon on the vine?
Ideally, you want to harvest it within two weeks of it reaching peak ripeness. Once harvested, you can keep it for 3 weeks whole or eat it immediately.
How do you make watermelon grow faster?
To maximize the size of the melons, water the plants at the base in regular, deep-watering sessions that keep the soil moist. Side dress the watermelon plants with fertilizer designed for edible crops or compost tea to feed the plants. The fertilizer encourages growth to get larger melons.
How do I know when my watermelon is done growing?
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.
What is the life cycle of a watermelon?
Life Cycle:Watermelon is an annual crop. It will complete its full life cycle—including germination, reproduction, and death—in one growing season. Recommended Isolation Distance:When saving seeds from watermelon, separate varieties by at least 800 feet or hand pollinate several fruits.
How do you tell when a watermelon is ripe on the vine?
A key indicator of a watermelon’s maturity is the tendrils or pigtails on vines change from green to brown. A ripe watermelon will easily be picked from the vine.
Can I grow cantaloupe in Texas?
Cantaloupes are planted in Central Texas starting in March to April (when the soil temperature is 75-89oF and can be harvested from June to November. There needs to be at least 110-140 frost-free days for cantaloupes to fully mature.
Can watermelon grow in Texas?
Watermelons are an annual crop in Texas. Harvest starts in early May in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (South Texas), June in the area west of San Antonio (Wintergarden), June – July in East Texas, late summer – early fall in the Cross Timbers area, and in September and October in the High Plains.
Can you grow cantaloupe in North Texas?
Preparing to grow cantaloupe in North Texas Non-hybrids that thrive in North Central Texas include TAM Uvalde and Perlita. Cantaloupes prefer a neutral pH of 6 or 7, so if the soil is too acidic, the plant will drop blossoms and you won’t have any fruit.
