Melons can be sown directly outside, but some gardeners report better germination with pre-sprouted seeds. If nights are cool, use hot caps to protect the plants. The soil must be warm and the weather settled with warm days and nights, as the plants are sensitive to cooler weather. To get a head start on the long growing season, start plants indoors 4 to 5 weeks before outdoor planting time. Look for dark appearance overall and a golden yellow spot where the rind was resting on the ground for the most reliable indication of ripeness. Before planting, work in compost or rotted manureĪpply balanced fertilizer or compost when vines are 12-18' long and again when fruits form.ĭetermining when a watermelon is ripe is more of an art than a science. As a side note: melon rinds are excellent compost material and would make a good base for such a mound. After one year, this mound makes an ideal place to plant your watermelons. In the past, we have layered both green and brown garden wastes into a small mound and covered that with dirt to make a miniature compost mound. A well-finished compost would also be a good substitute. Since the vines are generally planted in hills, better yields can be realized by working in a spade full of well-rotted manure and fertilizer such as bone meal into each hill before planting. The soil should be slightly acidic, pH 6. Soil for Watermelon GrowingĪ sandy, light loam deeply enriched with manure and compost is ideal. Sugar Baby New Hampshire Midget and Lollipop. The newer refrigerator-size small hybrid watermelons are more satisfactory for the average home garden, especially in the Northeast, where the growing season is shorter. There are compact varieties that produce tasty and prolific fruits. Watermelons generally take up enormous space, and should not be considered for the small vegetable garden. Plan an average of 2-6 plants per person. Watermelons are a warm-season crop, very tender to frost and light freezes. Watermelons also prefer warm nights, above 70 degrees Fahrenheit is preferred. Watermelons need at least 80-100 consecutive days of very warm summer temperatures, at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Home gardeners in cooler regions can usually do fairly well with watermelons if they start seed indoors a month or more ahead of planting outdoors, but the vines need consistently warm days and nights to thrive.

Where to Grow Watermelonsīecause watermelons require a long, warm growing season, their best production in the United States occurs in the South and Southwest regions, where there is ample growing time and warm weather. In addition to tasting great, watermelons are a leading source of lycopene (commonly found in tomatoes), in addition to being a very good source of vitamin A and C. There is nothing quite as refreshing as a cool slice of watermelon in the hot summer days of July and August.

Watermelons are a summertime treat enjoyed by young and old alike.

Where the watermelons grow book