When should you plant watermelons?
When to Plant Watermelons
- In cool climates with short growing seasons, start seeds indoors 2 to 3 weeks before your last frost date. ...
- In warmer climates with long growing seasons, sow seeds directly outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your last frost date, as long as the soil temperature has warmed to at ...
- Young watermelon plants can also be bought from nurseries. ...
What is the best month to eat watermelon?
What is the best time to eat watermelon? Watermelons are a summertime treat. Watermelons are available year round but peak season runs from May through September. In the United States, watermelons are harvested between June and August. Can you eat watermelon for diabetes? Watermelons are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and folate.
How long does it take to grow watermelon?
Watermelons can grow as annuals in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 11 and need 70 to 90 days to reach maturity, depending on the variety. Soil temperatures must be at 60- to 65-degrees Fahrenheit at the 4-inch depth, or watermelon seeds will not germinate. Average air temperatures must be between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
When can you plant watermelon?
You should plant watermelons when the soil has reached at least 70°F. If you live where you have a shorter growing season, it’s a good idea to start your seeds indoors. However, directly sowing them is recommended as it will give you the best watermelon harvest.
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What month do you plant watermelons?
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 I plant watermelon in May?
Watermelon seeds need warm soil to germinate. The best time to sow the seeds directly in your garden varies depending on climate, although in many locations, the ideal planting time is in May and June. In warmer climates, you may be able to plant as early as March.
How late can I plant watermelon seeds?
Planting. The best time to plant watermelon seeds is from late spring to early summer, or when the soil temperature reaches 70 degrees or above. Watermelon seeds germinate easily and quickly, and seedlings don't usually transplant well, so there's no need to start them in a pot or seed tray.
How long does watermelon take to grow in months?
Watermelons require 80-90 days from seed sowing to grow a full-size watermelon. Some smaller-sized watermelons (like Sugar Baby) can reach maturity in closer to 70 days.
How long does it take watermelons to grow?
between 70 and 100 daysAbout Watermelons However, gardeners in colder climates can still have success in growing watermelons by starting seeds indoors or purchasing young plants from a nursery, and by growing shorter-season varieties. Depending on the variety of watermelon, it can take between 70 and 100 days to go from planting to harvest.
How many watermelon seeds do you plant in one hole?
Sow seeds in the garden. If sowing watermelon seeds directly, place four to six seeds in a one-inch hole at the top of a mound—once the seeds begin to sprout, they can be thinned back to the strongest two to three seedlings.
Should you soak watermelon seeds before planting?
Avoid Soaking the Seeds However, watermelons are an exception to the rule. Soaking the seeds before planting increases the risks of various fungal diseases, such as anthracnose caused by the Colletotrichum lagenarium fungus.
How do you prepare soil for watermelon?
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 watermelons need full sun?
Regardless of what variety you grow in your pots, be sure to site the containers in a location where they receive a minimum of 8 hours of full sun per day. Watermelons will not form flowers or fruits if they don't get enough sun. 'Sugar Pot' and 'Bush Sugar Baby' are the best two choices for container growing.
Do watermelons need a lot of water?
Do Watermelons Require Lots of Water? Watermelons do not require lots of water, but they do thrive in consistently moist soil. To dial in your watermelon watering tactics, follow these tips: Give your vines 2 inches (5 cm) of water per week until the first fruits appear.
How do you make watermelon grow sweeter?
According to Modern Farmer, you should add four to six inches of composted manure to the planting bed before you plant for maximum sweetness. They state that watermelon is at its sweetest point when the vine shrivels at the fruit or the fruit detaches on it's own.
What is the best fertilizer for watermelons?
When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.
Is it too late to plant watermelon seeds in July?
If you're thinking it's too late to grow watermelons, you're wrong. Mid-June is the perfect time to plant them, now that the soil and air is warm. For quick success, look for short season varieties that will mature fast such as Sugar Baby.
Can you plant watermelon seeds directly in the ground?
You can sow watermelons directly into the ground when the soil temperature is above 65°F. 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.
Can watermelon grow in rainy season?
Melons are grown only when the weather is warm and dry during fruit development, all through year can be planned with above growing conditions. For rainy season, grow only those Watermelons which can tolerate rains. In southern and central India, can be grown throughout the year.
How long does it take watermelon seeds to sprout?
Sow watermelon seeds ½-inch deep. Water seeds into the hills after planting. Time to Germination:Seeds will germinate in 4–12 days. Special Considerations: While it is simple to direct-sow watermelon seeds, you can also start watermelon seedlings indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost date.
How long does Watermelon take to grow?
After about 80 days, your watermelons should be ready to eat! Once they are at this crucial stage, pay attention as they only have about a two-week window to be picked.
How long does it take for watermelon to grow?
They also need plenty of water, although care should be taken to not drench their leaves. After waiting up to 80 days , your watermelons will finally be ready.
What does it mean when watermelon is hollow?
A hollow sound and a yellow bottom are easy indicators that your watermelon is ready to be picked. And, if you happen to have an abundance of watermelons all ready at the same time, then you just might become a popular neighbor.
How to grow seedlings in the spring?
If you’re in the middle of a particularly cool spring, simply wait and let your seedlings grow inside for longer. Once the temperature is warmer, it’s time to get your soil ready. Choose a patch of your garden that is in full sun. Then, make sure there are plenty of nutrients in your garden.
What kind of watermelon has yellow spots?
Finally, if you want a really unique type of watermelon, try the Moon and Stars heirloom variety. Instead of characteristic stripes, these melons have tiny yellow spots a few large yellow spots against a dark green skin.
What pH level should watermelons be?
Finally, test your soil for its acidic levels. Watermelons thrive in conditions where the pH level is between 6.0 and 7.0, which is considered slightly acidic.
How big do moon and stars watermelon get?
Inside, you’ll find a dark red flesh. Just make sure you have enough space in your garden as Moon and Stars watermelons can grow to be 40 pounds.
Knowing the Right Time to Start Planting
When you start planting the seeds will depend on the environmental conditions you face. If you are putting them outside, it’s best to do it during the spring. It will need to be when the weather has already started to warm up. Often, it will need to be a few weeks after the last frost of the winter has occurred.
Preparing the Soil for Watermelon
When the weather is ready for you to start planting, you’ll need to ensure that you have the right soil conditions. There are a few things that you should look for include:
When Will Watermelon Bloom?
It can take a while for the watermelon seeds to start to grow. You’ll need to wait around two weeks before you start to see flowers appearing. At first, it will be the male flowers, but the females will follow soon after. It is these female flowers that will turn into fruit.
How Long Does it Take for a Watermelon to Grow to Full Size?
It will usually be around three months before your watermelons will be ready to harvest. However, you should double-check this. Some species will grow smaller, so they can be harvested sooner.
Other Tips for Growing Watermelons
There are a few other things that you should bear in mind when you are growing watermelons. These include:
Final Thoughts
March and April are the best months to plant your watermelon. This will allow it to grow during the warmth of the summer. Once planted, you just need a little maintenance to make sure that it grows strongly and bears plenty of fruit.
What temperature should watermelon be planted?
Average air temperatures must be between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Only plant watermelons well after the danger of frost has passed. Advertisement.
How long does it take for watermelon to ripen?
Early ripening watermelons grow well in areas with a short warm season or as a second crop in areas with a longer season. Early varieties mature in 70 to 75 days and include Sugar Baby, a sweet red-fleshed watermelon with a green rind, and Golden Crown that has a yellow rind at maturity, and Yellow Baby and Yellow Doll that have yellow flesh. Main season and seedless varieties take 80 to 85 days to reach maturity and include Sangria, Madera, Honey Heart and Tiffany watermelons.
How big do watermelon vines grow?
Watermelon takes up a lot of space. The vines alone can reach up to 20 feet in length. If you plan on planting multiple watermelons, make sure to have plenty of room. Grow the vines in raised rows, or also known as hills, which will allow for efficient drainage and hold heat from the sun longer.
When do watermelon plants flower?
They flower in the late spring and produce fruits throughout the summer season. Advertisement.
How long does it take for watermelon seeds to grow?
The seeds can be started indoors up to three weeks before planting in the garden; do not start sooner as large watermelon seedlings do not transplant well. This will give you a small jump on the growing season.
What is a watermelon?
Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Watermelons in the Garden. Watermelon, known botanically as Citrullus lanatus, is a tender vegetable that is related to the cucumber and native to Africa.
When should I plant watermelon?
Plant your watermelon when the soil has warmed to around 70ºF and there are no longer any cool nights in the forecast. For many people, this is actually two to three weeks after their last frost date in the spring.
What watermelon varieties should I grow?
The fun thing about growing watermelon is that there are so many options beyond the standard red watermelon you see at your grocery store—you can grow yellow, orange, and even white-flesh watermelon ! These are some of our favorite varieties:
Should I grow watermelon from seeds or plants?
Like all cucurbits, watermelon prefers to stay put and not be transplanted. In most climates, you’ll do best to directly sow watermelon seeds in warm soil in the bed they will grow in.
How do I grow watermelon from seed?
You’ll have a hard time tracking down watermelon seedlings at a garden center because watermelon plants perform so well from seed! So grab yourself a seed packet, and let’s get growing.
How do you prepare soil for watermelon?
The most important thing to remember when preparing your soil for watermelon plants is that they need the soil to be very warm to grow. Soil needs to warm to at least 70°F before watermelon plants can thrive.
How do I transplant watermelon seedlings?
Like we mentioned above, we don’t recommend doing watermelon transplants for most folks, but if you are transplanting watermelon seedlings, the key is to disturb the roots as little as possible.
Do watermelon plants need a lot of sun?
Yes! Watermelon plants require full sun (8 to 10 hours daily) to produce melons.
