Best Watermelon Companion Plants
- Radishes. Radishes are beneficial watermelon companion plants because they repel insect pests that attack watermelon.
- Lamb’s Quarter. Lamb’s quarter, also known as Chenopodium album, is a weed, but we would call it a beneficial weed at...
- Bush or Pole Beans. Planting bush beans or pole beans alongside watermelon can have a good...
What is the best fertilizer for watermelons?
The Top 7 Best Fertilizer For Watermelon
- Miracle-Gro Continuous Release Plant Food: Best Overall. ...
- Osmocote Smart-Release Plant: Best For Smart Crops. ...
- Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Citrus: Best For Being Eco-friendly. ...
- Dr. ...
- Fox Farm Instant Concentrate Grow Big Liquid Fertilizer: Best For Plant Size. ...
- Earthworm EarthPods Premium Fruit & Citrus Plant Food: Best For In- and Outdoors. ...
What is a good companion plant for watermelon?
Watermelon Companion Plants
- Legumes and Watermelons. Members of the legume family including peas and beans. ...
- Alliums and Watermelons. ...
- Radishes and Watermelons. ...
- Marigolds and Watermelons. ...
- Oregano and Watermelons. ...
- Nasturtiums and Watermelons. ...
- Borage and Watermelons. ...
- Zucchini (courgettes) and Watermelons. ...
- Winter Squash and Watermelons. ...
- Sweetcorn and Watermelons. ...
How to grow watermelons successfully?
How to Grow Watermelons Successfully
- Plant watermelon seeds one to two weeks after the last frost date in your area when soil temperatures have warmed to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Build up soil into 4- to 6-inch-tall mounds. Space each soil hill 3 to 6 feet apart in rows spaced 7 to 10 feet apart.
- Keep the soil consistently moist, but never soggy, until the watermelon seeds germinate. ...
What to plant near watermelon?
Plant corn nearby only if it does not tower over the growing watermelons. Pole or bush beans are beneficial when planted close to watermelons because they increase the soil's nitrogen.
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What plants do watermelon grow well with?
Watermelon Companions Cultivate flowering plants — including members of the aster family, like sunflowers, cosmos, coneflowers, and coreopsis, and herbs in the mint family, such as mint, oregano, thyme, and rosemary — to attract sweat bees and other pollinators.
Can you plant anything in with watermelon?
4 Plants to Grow With Watermelon Herbs: Pungent, aromatic herbs like mint, catnip, tansy, and basil are also excellent insect repellents. Radishes: Fast-growing crops like radishes are a good way to take advantage of garden space before watermelons—which have a longer growing season—really begin to spread out.
Can tomatoes and watermelon be planted 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.
Can you grow cucumbers and watermelon together?
Worst Companion Plants Because other members of the Cucurbitae family are all attacked by cucumber beetles, planting watermelons next to these crops is not recommended: Cucumbers. Summer squash/zucchini.
What can you not plant near melons?
Plants that don't do well with melons include other cucurbits such as pumpkins, squash, summer and winter, and cucumbers. Also, avoid planting potatoes with your melons. Tomatoes and peppers don't thrive with melons because melons take up so much space they crowd them out.
Do cantaloupe and watermelon grow well together?
No, you shouldn't plant watermelon and cantaloupe vines close to one another because of the space requirements and shared pest and disease concerns, but you can plant them in a larger bed in different areas with good cultural practices.
Can I plant watermelon and zucchini together?
Squashes and Zucchini Squash and zucchini shouldn't be grown near watermelon as they often compete for the same soil nutrients and sunlight. These vegetables also tend to attract cucumber beetles, which can spread to your melons' vines.
Can you plant strawberries with watermelon?
Melons. Summer melons such as cantaloupe, muskmelons and watermelons, or winter melons like casaba, crenshaw, honeydew, and Persian can be planted with strawberries. They require a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day.
Should you trellis watermelon?
Once the plants set fruit, support the burgeoning melons with slings, which can be made with cheesecloth, nylon stockings, or old T-shirts. If the sling completely covers the fruit, it provides protection from insects. In addition to saving space, trellising improves air circulation and helps prevent disease.
How far apart should cucumbers and watermelons be planted?
Spacing Considerations Curcurbits perform best when grown on well-drained hills 4 to 8 feet apart, depending on variety, with two or three plants per mound.
Can you plant pumpkins near watermelon?
Watermelons and pumpkins belong to the plant family Cucurbitaceae, a group of plants commonly referred to as cucurbits. Since they share similar cultural requirements, cucurbits will grow harmoniously in the same bed if provided with plenty of sunshine, supplemental nutrients and water.
What can watermelon cross-pollinate with?
Watermelons and citron both belong to the same genus: Citrullus and, therefore, will cross-pollinate each other. Muskmelon, cantaloupe and Casaba melons will cross since they are both in the genus Cucumis and in the same species melo.
What is the best plant to grow with watermelon?
Nasturtiums, popularly known as garden nasturtiums and scientifically known as ‘Tropaeolum majus,’ are useful companion plants for watermelon and a wide range of other garden plants. Nasturtiums, when planted alongside melons, help keep insect pests away from the plant by repelling insects like aphids and squash bugs.
What are some good companion plants for watermelon?
Potatoes. Potatoes are useful companion plants to watermelon. Potatoes have tremendous effects on watermelon when they (potatoes) are mulched with straws. Straws help in lowering soil temperatures and increasing soil moisture. It (straws) also helps in controlling weed growth and pest invasion.
What are alliums in watermelon?
Alliums are a family of garlic, chives, shallots, leeks, and onions. Alliums, when planted around the watermelon, help improve the health and vitality of watermelon by repelling insect pests that attack it.
Why can't I plant zucchini and cucumbers with watermelon?
Some vegetables like cucumbers and zucchini are not supposed to be planted alongside watermelon, because they attract pests to watermelon. They attract pests like cucumber beetles and aphids to watermelon.
Why are radishes good for watermelon?
Radishes are beneficial watermelon companion plants because they repel insect pests that attack watermelon. Cucumber beetles are significant pests that attack watermelon, and when they are left untreated, they go ahead to transmit bacterial wilt to watermelon.
How big do watermelon plants grow?
Watermelon Size And Sunlight Requirement. You must understand that watermelon needs lots of space, except you want to grow a bush-type. Their vines can reach up to 20 feet in length, and both the small varieties of watermelon such as Sugar Baby and large varieties like Crimson Sweet can spread up to 6 to 8 feet.
What is the effect of black walnuts on watermelon?
Black walnut trees are detrimental to watermelon, especially when watermelons are trying to produce fruits. The black walnut tree contains a substance known as ‘juglone’ that stunts the growth of watermelon and other low root vegetable plants like cabbage. Juglone also stops watermelon seeds from germinating properly.
What are some good companion plants for watermelon?
Marigold, lavender, and borage are good companion plants for watermelons because of their continuous or intermittent blooming. Make sure that the plants have not been treated with any insecticides or pesticides. And keep in mind that the flowers of highly hybridized cultivars are generally less attractive to pollinators than heirloom varieties.
What plants deter aphids from eating watermelon?
Catnip. Dill. Mint. Nasturtiums. Cucumber beetles, both the spotted cucumber beetle and the striped cucumber beetle, feed on watermelons.
What are the pests that can be found in watermelons?
Best Companion Plants for Deterring Pests. The two main pests that affect watermelons are aphids and cucumber beetles. Not only do these insects feed on the plants but they can also transmit viruses from plant to plant, which is often more damaging than the insect’s feeding. There are many different aphid species.
How big do watermelon vines get?
Unless you are growing a bush-type watermelon, the plants need a lot of space. Their vines reach 20 feet in length , and the spread is not connected to the size of the fruit—both small varieties such as Sugar Baby and large ones such as Crimson Sweet have a spread of six to eight feet.
Can you plant watermelon with other plants?
Watermelons are good neighbors for many other crops, which makes them one of the most compatible plants for your garden. That is probably also why they often don’t show up in companion planting lists (they do in this chart ). Even though there are no clear no-noes for watermelon companion planting, there are still a few things to consider ...
Do watermelon plants have pollen?
Best Companion Plants for Pollination. Watermelons have both male and female flowers on the same plant. The pollen is quite sticky and requires insects, mostly bees, to move it from the male to the female flowers for fertilization and fruit production. Seedless (triploid) watermelon varieties need regular (diploid) watermelons, ...
Do watermelons need sun?
Also, watermelons require full sun so they should not be planted next to any tall crops that can cast shade on them. Taking those two requirements—space and sunlight—into consideration will already narrow down the possible spots in your garden that are suitable for growing watermelons.
Did you know?
Watermelon plant leaves contain a lot of calcium, so they're a great addition to your compost. Click here for more information on composting!
What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is the intentional planting of two or more plants in close proximity to each other for mutual benefit. Companion plants can help improve soil quality, cycle nutrients, deter pests, and attract beneficial insects. Using companion plants in your garden can help to improve yields, and reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
Best Watermelon Companion Plants
Alliums like onions, garlic, chives and more can help to repel watermelon's natural predators - the aphid! These fragrant plants also help to deter larger pests, like foraging rodents and deer.
Worst Watermelon Companion Plants
Unfortunately, cucumbers are the main dinner for cucumber beetles, so planting them near any other crop that is susceptible to the same insect pests is like putting a menu board out front that says, "Free food here!"
Final Thoughts
Companion planting is a great way to keep your garden healthy and free of pests, while also adding some beautiful blooms. The best plants to companion with watermelons are herbs, lettuces, marigolds, nasturtiums, and radishes. Avoid planting cucumbers, squash, and potatoes near watermelons to help reduce the risk of pests. Happy Gardening!
What is the best herb to use for watermelon?
The flowering herb oregano (Origanum) offers general pest protection, as well as a pleasant scent and leaves to flavor cooking. Actually a weed, lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album), rich in a number of minerals, improves the vigor of watermelon when allowed to grow near it in the garden.
What are the pests that attack watermelon?
Cucumber beetles are the main insect pests attacking watermelon and, if not controlled, they may transmit bacterial wilt to the melons, causing them to suddenly wilt and die at the time fruit production begins. Radishes repel cucumber beetles, as does corn. Plant corn nearby only if it does not tower over the growing watermelons. Pole or bush beans are beneficial when planted close to watermelons because they increase the soil's nitrogen. Interplanting melons with potatoes can have good effects, particularly if you mulch the potatoes with straw.
What plants deter cucumber beetles?
Marigolds (Tagetes) and nasturtiums (Tropaeolum) excel as companions in the vegetable garden for almost every edible plant. In the case of watermelons, these two flowers both deter the dreaded cucumber beetle. The flowering herb oregano (Origanum) offers general pest protection, as well as a pleasant scent and leaves to flavor cooking. Actually a weed, lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album), rich in a number of minerals, improves the vigor of watermelon when allowed to grow near it in the garden.
Why is vertical melon growing important?
Vertical melon-growing maximizes garden space, allows more surface exposure to sunlight, makes pest management easier and raises the fruit off the ground so it does not rot. Therefore, you can conquer many potential watermelon problems by training the vines up a support.
Can watermelon be planted close to plants?
But because they need full sun to thrive, be sure not to plant your melons in the shadow of any tall-growing plants.
What is the growing conditions for watermelon?
Watermelons. By: Kathee Mierzejewski. Printer Friendly Version. Image by Andy Melton. Growing conditions for watermelons include lots of sunshine during the day and warm nights. Watermelon is a warm season fruit loved by just about everyone.
How to tell if a watermelon is ripe?
Another way to know if the melon is ripe is to pick one up and turn it over. If the bottom where it sits in the soil is yellow, the watermelon is probably ripe. Printer Friendly Version.
Can you grow watermelon in the north?
When considering how to grow watermelons, know that it is not that difficult. The plant does all the work. They grow great in the south during warmer seasons, but if you live in the north, there are tips for growing watermelons that can be followed so you are successful in your endeavors.
Do you cut off watermelon shoots?
You do not want to disturb the roots, and you certainly don’t want to cut any shoots off the main plant. Another thing to consider as part of your basic watermelon plant care is that they need plenty of water. You should especially give them water when it gets dry, as it often does in the dead of summer.
Can you use watermelon rind in salad?
They are great sliced, in fruit salads, and the rind is even used hollowed out as a serving basket or bowl. On a hot summer day, nothing tastes better than a nice slice of watermelon. Understanding the best growing conditions for watermelons will help you grow this wonderful fruit.