How To Care For Crimson Sweet Watermelon
- Watering: Crimson Sweet is a drought-tolerant variety of watermelon that does not need to be watered regularly. ...
- Fertilizing: Feeding should occur just after planting and then again every three weeks thereafter with an all-purpose fertilizer like Miracle-Gro Liquid Tomato & Vegetable Plant Food at half strength (1 capful per gallon). ...
How do you grow a Crimson sweet watermelon?
Select a bright, sunny location for growing Crimson Sweet watermelons. Watermelons grow well on hills which offer warmer soil, deeper root space and irrigation opportunities that keep moisture off the leaves. Work soil at the sight deeply and incorporate plenty of organic matter.
How do you prune a Crimson sweet watermelon plant?
Cut off the plants at ground level with a sharp cutting tool. Pulling them out may damage the roots of the desirable plant. Water the crimson sweet watermelon plant by soaking it deeply every week until the vines begin to run, or grow vigorously in every direction.
How much sun does a watermelon plant need?
The location should be exposed to at least eight hours of direct sun each day. It should also be large enough to accommodate the crimson sweet watermelon plant, which will stretch up to 10 feet in every direction. The soil should be well-drained, as the plants and fruit will rot if left sitting in waterlogged soil.
How do you take care of a watermelon vine?
Water your watermelons 1 to 2 inches per week as the vines develop. Add mulch to help retain water and reduce weeds, piling it 2 to 4 inches deep as the plants grow. Side dress each of your vines with 1 to 2 tablespoons of 21-0-0 fertilizer when runners start to develop, placed at least 6 inches from the crown.
See more
How long does it take for Crimson Sweet watermelons to mature?
80-95 daysDays to Maturity: 80-95 days.
How do you know when Crimson Sweet watermelons are ready to pick?
The elongated fruit run 20 to 25 pounds and the rind is mostly green with lighter green stripes. Flesh is a lovely red and flavor is terrific. So sweet, so juicy. Watermelons are ready for harvest when the tendril closest to the fruit is dry and brown or when the bottom side of the fruit is butter yellow color.
How many watermelons does a crimson sweet plant produce?
Pollinator:Crimson Sweet is a seeded variety (diploid). It can be used to pollinate seedless varieties of watermelon. Yield: Approximately 40 fruits per 100 foot row. Fruit: Tough, medium-thick hard rind, light green with fine dark green stripes.
How much sun do Crimson Sweet watermelons need?
full sunMelons need warm weather, so don't plant them until all danger of frost is past and the soil temperature is at least 70˚ F. Watermelon is a desert plant and needs full sun. Watermelons need to produce a lot of leaves to make enough sugar to produce sweet fruit.
How many watermelons do you get from one plant?
2-4 fruitsHealthy 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.
Are Crimson sweet watermelons self pollinating?
While seedless watermelons are becoming more common, “Crimson Sweet” is a seeded type with bright red flesh. Although seedless watermelons are self-sterile and therefore cannot pollinate themselves, seeded types can pollinate themselves.
Is Crimson Sweet a good watermelon?
If you have plenty of space in your garden, Crimson Sweet watermelons are a delicious and attractive addition. What is a Crimson Sweet watermelon? It is one of the best tasting of these large melons and has many disease resistant traits. This makes growing Crimson Sweet melons easy, even for novice gardeners.
Should I prune my watermelon plant?
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.
Can you grow Crimson Sweet watermelon in containers?
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. Make sure that the container you will be growing watermelons in has enough drainage holes.
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.
What is the average size of a Crimson Sweet watermelon?
25 lbs.General Information: Crimson Sweet produces round melons averaging 25 lbs. (11 kg), with light green and dark green stripes. The inside has sweet, firm, bright red flesh.
How big is a ripe Crimson Sweet watermelon?
Crimson Sweet produces round melons averaging 25 lbs. (11 kg) with light green and dark green stripes. This melon is even prettier on the inside, with exceptionally deep red flesh that's sweet and luscious. Crimson Sweet vines need room to grow, spreading up to 10 ft.
What do watermelons look like when they are ready to pick?
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.
How big should a Crimson Sweet watermelon get?
25 lbs.General Information: Crimson Sweet produces round melons averaging 25 lbs. (11 kg), with light green and dark green stripes.
How to Plant Crimson Sweet Watermelon
If you plan to grow Crimson Sweet, keep in mind – it needs a king-sized garden bed. This sweet and immense beauty requires space, a long growing season to mature, plenty of warmth, and regular fertilizer. Overall, watermelons are extremely cold–sensitive. As such, they can only be grown as annuals in USDA zones 2 to 11.
How to Care for Crimson Sweet Watermelon
Crimson Sweet needs full sun. That is more than 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Less than that, they may produce inferior fruit or not at all.
Where to get Crimson Sweet Seeds
As they are a popular variety of watermelon, Crimson Sweet seeds are very easy to find. You can get them in your local nursery, garden store, and online. Here are some reputable and popular online seed sellers with links to Crimson Sweet seeds.
Final Thoughts on Crimson Sweet Watermelon
If you have enough garden space and time, try to grow your own Crimson Sweet watermelon. It is easy to grow and offers superior-quality fruit – sweet, red, firm, and juicy.
What is the watermelon rind?
Watermelon has a thick smooth outer rind and a fleshy sweet juicy interior with a high water content (it may be up to 95% water). If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Full screen is unavailable. Learn More.
How hot should melons be?
Melons must have hot (ideally 90Ż F) sunny weather if they are to make the sugar needed to produce sweet fruits. In cooler areas you need to give them as much sun and heat as possible. They should also be sheltered from cool winds.
How big is a Crimson Sweet?
Crimson Sweet has a tough, medium-thick, light-green rind with small, dark-green stripes. Its shape is blocky at 12 x 10 and weighing up to 25 pounds. Its bright, deep-red flesh is high in sugar content and has few, small seeds.
When growing large plants in containers, do you have to be particularly attentive to watering?
When growing such large plants in containers you have to be particularly attentive to watering. You will probably need to support them too.
Do watermelon need heat?
I must emphasize that if Melons don't get enough heat they won't taste very good (even if they successfully produce fruit.) Watermelon is a desert plant and needs full sun. Watermelons need to produce a lot of leaves to make enough sugar to produce sweet fruit. To do this they need a constant supply of water.
Do watermelons need nitrogen?
Not surprisingly for such a large and vigorous plant, watermelons are fairly hungry feeders. Melons don't need a lot of nitrogen as it encourages leaf growth at the expense of fruit. They do like phosphorus (give them colloidal phosphate) and potassium (wood ashes), as well as boron and magnesium.
Can watermelon grow in a container?
No. Most Watermelons are too big to comfortably grow in containers, but a few of the smaller cultivars will work if the container is big enough (at least 18" wide and deep and preferably bigger). This is sometimes done in cool climates, where the plants are grown in greenhouses.
How long does it take for a 25 lb watermelon to produce?
Producing a 25-pound fruit in 85 days – Crimson Sweet’s average time from planting in the garden to harvesting fruit – takes a lot of oomph. Help your plants along by providing regular feedings. Fine Gardening recommends preparing your soil with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer before planting, then side dressing when the vines begin to spread out and again after you harvest the first fruit. Because watermelons have such deep roots, don’t worry about watering unless the weather is very hot and dry for a long spell, according to the University of Illinois Extension.
How to tell when watermelon is ready to harvest?
One clue is if the curly tendril nearest the point where the fruit attaches to the stem turns brown. Fine Gardening suggests turning the fruit over to peer at its underside. It should be a creamy white for seeded varieties, which Crimson Sweet is.
Why do watermelons rot?
When the plants are young, they are susceptible to cucumber beetles and squash bugs, which can damage new leaves and spread bacterial wilt. Watermelons also can get gummy stem blight, which causes stem end rot and leaf spotting. It also makes the fruit rot, according to University of Arkansas Extension.
What zone do watermelon grow in?
Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are extremely cold-averse, growing as an annual in zones 2 to 11 , reports Missouri Botanical Garden.
How to help vines grow?
Fine Gardening recommends preparing your soil with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer before planting, then side dressing when the vines begin to spread out and again after you harvest the first fruit.
How to grow a sage plant?
Prepare the soil by forming planting mounds about 12 inches square and 3 inches high to improve drainage. Plant seeds or already-germinated seedlings after all danger of frost is past and when the soil is warm. If direct seeding, plant two seeds 1 inch deep in each mound; then thin to one plant after the seedlings have at least two leaves. Fine Gardening reports that they germinate best in 70 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and the seeds take about four to six days to emerge.
What soil type supports deep root growth?
Sandy soils also support deep root growth, and watermelon has some of the deepest roots of all vegetables. If your soil is clayish, consider using raised beds and mulch with black plastic film to raise soil temperatures. Get the Best Mortgage Rate for You | SmartAsset.com. Loading.
How to grow crimson watermelon from seed?
Plant crimson watermelon seed 1/2-inch deep after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If you plant the seed too early, germination will be delayed, but it will sprout when the soil temperature is suitable. Place a small wooden stake where each plant will be growing and plant three seeds 2 inches apart near the stake. The stake serves as a marker so you know where the center is when the the plant gets large and you lose track of the center. That way, you can water the roots of the plant without getting all the leaves and fruit wet. Space watermelon plants 6 feet apart.
How long does it take for a crimson sweet watermelon to mature?
With a relatively short maturity date of 85 days, it is considered a good choice for most gardens in the United States. Like all watermelon varieties, the crimson sweet is not tolerant of cool or wet growing conditions.
What is the color of a crimson watermelon?
The crimson sweet watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has a thick rind with alternating dark green and light green stripes. It is valued for its sweet flesh, with a sugar content as high as 12 percent. The crimson sweet watermelon also contains fewer seeds than some other varieties.
What is the pH of watermelon?
The soil pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5. For assistance with a soil test, contact your local county agricultural extension office. Clear an area to plant crimson sweet watermelon plants a month or two before your last average frost date.
Can fruit rot in waterlogged soil?
The soil should be well-drained, as the plants and fruit will rot if left sitting in waterlogged soil.
Who is Jay Golberg?
Jay Golberg is a certified Texas nursery professional and professional project manager. He has 30 years of business and farming experience and holds bachelor's degrees in English writing from St. Edward's University and finance from Lamar University.
How to tell when a crimson watermelon is ripe?
A more reliable way to determine when to harvest a ripe Crimson Sweet watermelon is to look at the color and form of the stem. When the stem connecting the melon to the vine is green and plump, the plant is still moving water and sugars into the fruit flesh and developing the seeds. Once the stem begins to naturally shrivel and turn beige to brown, the melon's seeds are mature and the flesh surrounding them is fully colored and sweet. The curly tendrils on the vine closest to the melon also shrivel and turn brown.
How long does it take for a crimson sweet watermelon to grow?
Crimson Sweet watermelon plants need approximately 85 days of warm growing conditions to be productive in the vegetable garden. It takes that many days for sown seeds to sprout, develop leafy vines, bloom and then produce fully ripe melons ready for harvest.
Why do watermelon thud?
The garden axiom of thumping a watermelon to determine ripeness has been passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately for Crimson Sweet watermelon growers, thumping is an unreliable indicator of when to harvest, and provides inconsistent insight. Presumably, a dull and low-sounding thud means the melon is ripe, but a higher-pitched, ...
What is a Crimson Sweet?
The variety Crimson Sweet produces rather rounded, but slightly oval melons with a striped green skin and seeded, sweet red flesh. Faster melon development occurs when watermelon vines bask in all-day sunshine and the soil is evenly moist but fast-draining.
What does a thud sound like on a watermelon?
Presumably, a dull and low-sounding thud means the melon is ripe, but a higher-pitched, metallic sound means to leave the melon on the vine. Once they're picked from the vine, watermelons do not further sweeten or improve their flesh texture. Advertisement.
What does it mean when a melon is green?
When the stem connecting the melon to the vine is green and plump, the plant is still moving water and sugars into the fruit flesh and developing the seeds. Once the stem begins to naturally shrivel and turn beige to brown, the melon's seeds are mature and the flesh surrounding them is fully colored and sweet.
How many days of rain is needed for a plant to grow?
If the weather is cloudy or rainy and cool, more than 85 days may be needed. Temperatures in the range of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and nighttime lows in the 65- to 70-degree range promote timely plant development.
What is an all sweet watermelon?
What is an All Sweet watermelon? All Sweet is a direct descendant of the Crimson Sweet watermelon, and it may very well be what you picture when you’re asked to imagine a watermelon.
Why are watermelons good for kids?
Because yields are so high and the fruits are so large and sweet, this is considered a good variety to grow with children. Plants need moderate watering, full sun, and temperatures above freezing in order to grow. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 02/22/21. Read more about Watermelons.
