Watermelon plant

Facebook Tweet Pin The watermelon is a tender, warm-weather annual. Watermelons along with muskmelons and cantaloupes are sometimes called summer melons. They thrive in hot weather. Watermelons are easy to grow. They need plenty of sun, nutrient-rich soil, and plenty of water. Get watermelon started in the home garden after all danger of frost has passed and your harvest of sweet, juicy watermelon will come in late summer. Watermelons need warmth, water, sun, and space. But if you are short on warmth–you live in a short-summer region–or space, not much yard, you can still grow delicious, sweet watermelons in a home garden. Here is your complete guide to growing watermelon. Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Watermelon growing quick tips • Sow watermelon seeds in the garden or set out transplants 3 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date in spring. • Start watermelon seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting seedlings into the garden. Start seed indoors in 4-inch or larger biodegradable peat or paper pots that can be set wholly into the garden so as not to disturb the roots. • Harvest will come 65 to 90 frost-free after seed sowing depending on the variety of watermelon you are growing. Watermelons nearing harvest in late summer Watermelon growing requirements Large watermelons require 4 months of frost-free, very warm weather to come to harvest, and they can gobble up as much as 144 square feet (13 sq. meters) of space. But if ...

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Most people love watermelon, but it’s hit or miss to bring home a ripe sweet melon when you buy them at the grocery store. The good news is that it’s incredibly straightforward to grow watermelon plants. With careful planning, proper care, and the right growing conditions, you can grow and harvest your very own sweet watermelons. Besides being sweet and juicy, watermelons are super nutritious. At the end of this article, we share some nutrition facts about watermelon and unique recipe ideas for making the most of your watermelon harvest. 17.6.1 Davin Eberhardt Preparation and planning is the key to an abundant watermelon harvest. When to Plant Watermelons Depending on the watermelon cultivar you grow, you need to know the number of days it will take for your plants to reach maturity. Along with knowing the This number is essential because you will need to choose cultivars that work with your growing season. Also, you need to know whether to start seedlings inside or sow seeds directly into the ground. Watermelon plants thrive best when the seeds are sown directly into the ground because the roots of watermelon plants are somewhat sensitive. Nevertheless, direct sowing doesn’t work in every climate or watermelon variety. Watermelon Plant Varieties There are three types of watermelons: • Early watermelons (70-75 days to harvest) • Main season watermelons (80-85 days to harvest) • Seedless watermelons (80...

Learn how to grow watermelon and add this favorite summertime treat to your garden . Homegrown watermelon picked at the peak of sweetness tastes so much better than one bought at the store. Watermelon needs plenty of space and at least 80 days of warm temperatures to grow well. If you have both, learn how to grow watermelon with these tips. In warm climates, most varieties do well. Some favorites include and In hot summer climates like the low desert of Arizona, choose short-season varieties or types adapted to the heat of the summer such as and . In cooler climates, choose short-season varieties such as and . Smaller growing space? Choose shorter-vining varieties such as Mini- , or . Watermelon does best when directly sown once soil temperatures reach 70℉ . Plant outside 2-3 weeks after your last frost date. Sow 3-4 seeds 1 inch deep, 4-5 feet apart. Water well with after planting. Thin to the strongest plant when plants have 3-4 leaves. If using and plan on one plant per 2-3 squares. The best time to plant in the low desert of Arizona is from February 15th through . In cooler climates, start seeds indoors in 1 month before planting outside. Watermelon is very frost tender; wait to plant if there is any danger of frost. Knowing when a watermelon is ripe is often the most challenging part of growing them. Here are a few things to look for: • Three tendrils along the stem (going back to the root) end are brown, dry, hard, and curled. • The underside of the watermelon turns ...

Deb Wiley's goal as a writer and editor is to bring the joy of gardening to readers by cultivating their relationship to growing and planting. After 20 years as a newspaper reporter, Deb melded her lifelong passion for gardening with her writing and photography experience when she became the garden editor for Midwest Living magazine. Since starting her freelance career in 2008, she has been a highly sought-after writer, editor, and creative project manager for a wide range of magazines, books, and online garden articles. where she brings personal experience as well as deep connections to specialists in the world of horticulture. Biting into a juicy slice of fresh watermelon is an essential part of summer. You can hardly so refreshing on a hot day. But if you've always picked your watermelons from the supermarket, you're seriously missing out on flavor. Growing your own and letting them ripen in the sun is a must for any true watermelon fan; they'll have better flavor, and you can take one straight from your garden to your table. All you need to get started is a How to Grow Seedless Watermelons Seedless watermelons may not germinate as well as other watermelons, so start more seeds than you need indoors in peat pots. Once they're transplanted into the garden, follow the same directions as for seeded watermelons. Seedless watermelons need pollen from a seeded type to produce, so you need to plant both kinds near each other. • One of the best clues is to look at the spot wher...

• Facebook • Pinterest • Email Download Printable Watermelon Growing Guide » Almost everything homegrown in the garden tastes better than its grocery store counterpart, but watermelon might take the cake as the most improved. It’s packed full of so much more juicy, layered flavor than anything you can grab at a supermarket—you don’t know watermelon until you bite into your own homegrown melon that’s still warm from the sun! The great news: watermelon is relatively easy to grow! It takes a long season and thrives in hot weather, but give it some space to sprawl, and it’s mostly maintenance-free! Let’s get you growing some melons. Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Are watermelon easy to grow? If you can grow a cucumber or a zucchini, you can grow a watermelon! Watermelon plants are remarkably prolific, and as long as your climate is hot enough (or you can fake it with poly tunnels or cold frames), watermelons are a breeze to get going. When should I plant watermelon? Watermelon requires a relatively long growing season (about 80-90 days from sowing the seeds), and it wants absolutely nothing to do with cool weather. 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. How long does it take for a watermelon to grow to full size? Watermelons require 80-90 days from seed sowing to grow a ful...

• Facebook • Pinterest Growing watermelons isn’t too difficult, and much of it depends on the climate and weather conditions. One thing that can really help you fulfill this plant’s needs is becoming familiar with the watermelon growing stages. Before we get carried away by the details, let’s look into some basic specifics about watermelon plants: Scientific name: Citrullus lanatus Native habitat: Africa Ripening time: 70-90 days after planting Fruit size: Cultivated varieties may be over 2 feet (60 cm) long Vine size: Average vines spread up to 10 feet (3 m), but some can be 12-15 feet (3.6-4.5 m) long Those are just the basics about watermelons, and there is so much more to learn about growing this delicious fruit (or vegetable, it’s an ongoing debate!). This article contains a detailed presentation of the watermelon growth stages so you know how you need to care for it every step of the way. We also included a care guide for growing watermelons and some common issues you may encounter along the way. It’s best to be prepared for everything! Let’s get started. 6 To Sum Up The 9 Watermelon Growing Stages There are nine watermelon stages of growth, and we’ll examine each of them more closely in this section. It’s important to understand these stages as they are vital for the proper care of this fruit. For example, they don’t require the same amount of water immediately after planting and right before harvesting. Also, zucchinis, cucumbers, cantaloupes, and pumpkins belong t...