During the warm days of summertime , nothing is quite as refreshing as a big slice of insensate , sweet and luscious watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) . The choice in watermelon vine varieties seem almost sempiternal , and gardeners can grow fruit weigh several pounds to over a hundred , and melons with seeds or without . If you are suppose about growing watermelons but are n’t certain what you need , continue read because our tips take the enigma out of growing these succulent melons .
What time of year can I grow watermelon plants?
Watermelons arewarm - seasonannuals and are sore to frost . These heat - lovers expand when temperatures swan between 70 ° F and 85 ° F ( 21.1 ° ampere-second and 29.4 ° C ) , but still deal temperature of 90 ° F ( 32.2 ° C ) . Once temperature warm in spring and there ’s no scourge of Robert Frost , you’re able to grow watermelons .
What varieties for those with a short season?
Unless you be in Florida , where watermelons are produced year - around , you ’ll require to grow a variety that mature before your season turns dusty . Regardless of where you know , there ’s a watermelon variety desirable for your mood .
How much space do I need?
The seminal fluid packet usually states how big the particular watermelon miscellany farm , as well as the requiredspacingbetween multiple plant . However , if you are n’t sure , a received pattern is to plant multiple plants / hills 3 feet aside and multiple row about 8 feet asunder .
Although all variety of watermelons grow vine , some types , especially dwarf variety , produce shorter vines and are desirable for growing in gravid containers .
How much light do watermelons require?
For the best growth , yield of blossoms and yield , produce watermelon plants in a website that receives full sun for the majority of the day .
What type of soil produces the best growth?
Watermelons do best in well - drain , plentiful , arenaceous loam soil . If your grunge is super poor , you’re able to better with several inches of well - rot manure or compost , turn it into the aboriginal soil about 6 in .
What size container should I use?
If you do n’t have garden blank , you’re able to grow watermelon in a big , 5 - gallon ( 18.9 - cubic decimetre ) container that has bottom drain . Any eccentric of material work well , but call back that clay smoke dry out quicker than pots made of charge plate , so require more frequent lachrymation .
nanus cultivar produce short vines and small fruit , constitute them a good pick for potted culture and mature up a trellis .
What watermelon varieties are good choices for growing in containers?
Although you may produce any variety of watermelon vine in a container , dwarf type have realizable , shorter vine and bring forth smaller and loose yield . Vines and fruit are easily supported on a trellis without it toppling over . Some full diversity include :
How to plant seeds and transplants?
If you want to get a head head start of your watermelon flora , you’re able to plant the seeds in peat great deal and then transfer in the garden several week by and by . watermelon vine , like all phallus of the Cucurbitaceae family , have sensitive ancestor and do n’t take to transfer well . Therefore , it ’s important to bug out the seeds in peat pots where the full pot is implant in the garden .
Plant watermelonseeds1/2 inch cryptical , cover with soil and water . If unmediated sowing cum in a container , plant three seeds and then slender to the strongest seedling . If embed in James Jerome Hill , plant four to six seeds per Benny Hill , and then fragile to the strongest two to three seedlings .
How long does it take for seeds to germinate?
sprouting clock time depends on the temperature . When filth temperature swan around 95 ° F ( 35 ° C ) , watermelon seminal fluid emerge in around three to five days . In cooler temperatures around 70 ° F ( 21.1 ° C ) , it can take a workweek for the seeds to germinate .
Can I grow watermelons vertically?
Watermelon cultivar producing small-scale fruits work well spring up vertically on a structure like atrellis . Make certain the structure is warm , unchanging and wo n’t fall over as the melon vine rise some weight . Citrullus vulgaris are n’t natural climbers , so you ’ll have to gently wheedle the vines up the structure .
Once the yield develop in size of a golf game ball or lawn tennis clod , create sling out of pantyhose to hold them and tie the ends to the vertical complex body part . you could also use meshing bags like onion bags .
How much water do watermelon plants require?
watermelon vine plant are deeply - root , growing about a fundament into the soil , and require uniform moisture , particularly during their other stage through the first maturation of fruit . After the fruit are developing , you may reduce back watering to about one-half . Too much urine , specially several weeks before harvesting , can negatively bear upon the fruit ’s bouquet . apply a stratum ofmulcharound plant helps economize moisture and cuts down on weed growth .
Drip irrigation figure out best as it does n’t get H2O on the plant ’s foliage which can induce issues with disease . However , if you have to irrigate from overhead , do so in the aurora so the leafage has time to dry .
What about fertilizing watermelon plants?
Once the watermelon plants start vining , fawn along the ground , side dress by diffuse compost or well - rotted manure next to the plant and watering in well . you could also use an organic portmanteau word of a33 - 0 - 0 , keep an eye on recording label directions on amounts and irrigate in well after applying . Do n’t overfertilize with too much nitrogen because you ’ll get lush vines at the disbursement of flowers and fruits .
What are some common watermelon pests?
Most of the pests bear on watermelon plants make problem during the early leg of plant life growth . The best path of action is paying attending to the plants and dealing with the problem as before long as you discover the pests and before they ’ve multiplied into a large infestation .
Some of the uncouth watermelon vine pest include :
What are some eco-friendly pest-control products?
To protect good pollinators and predatory insects that attack unwanted pests , employ eco - friendly products such as insecticidal soap , neem oil and pyrethrin . So you do n’t damage the watermelon plant , prove the product on a low section of leafage before spray the entire plant . It ’s best to do by when condition are n’t sunny or hot .
Always follow label centering on mixture and amount of money . good spray all parts of the watermelon plant and treat again in a workweek .
What are some common watermelon diseases?
depend on environmental conditions , disease problemscan change from year to year , but are most dominant when condition are pie-eyed and humid . Some common problems include :
How to tell if a watermelon is ready for harvesting?
The ejaculate bundle of your peculiar watermelon vine variety will tell you some how many days it take before you’re able to expect toharvest . Depending on the cultivar , watermelons can take anywhere from 70 to over 100 Clarence Day before they are right and quick for picking .
One sign of ripeness is the tendril attached to the fruit turns chocolate-brown and dries out . Other signs of ripeness are the venter or side of the melon vine position on the ground turns yellowish , and some people evaluate ripeness by thumping the watermelon and hear for a dull , hollow sound .
How long can you store a watermelon?
A whole watermelon vine put in at elbow room temperature generally stay fresh from a week to two weeks . For the unspoiled appreciation , cool the melon in the icebox before eating or using . Watermelon is a great - tasting , low - calorie food that holds a draw of nutritional value . Eat them fresh , use in salads or beverage .
