Watermelons are a delicious and refreshing fruit that can be grown in your own backyard with the right knowledge and care. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner looking to try your hand at growing watermelons, this guide will provide you with valuable information on the best practices for growing watermelons, the best time to grow them, how to grow them, the best varieties to choose from, and tips on how to tell when they are ready to be picked.
Location
The best advice I can give for any watermelon farmer is location is key. Watermelons can be a finicky crop and thrive in warm climates with plenty of sunlight. Choose a sunny spot in your garden with well-draining soil. Speaking of the soil watermelons prefer a rich loamy soil that is composed of mostly sand, silt with very little clay. A good loam soil can be made by using topsoil mixed with organic matter. This is the perfect time to go back and look at our fantastic article on compost if you missed it.
Prepare the soil by adding organic matter like compost or aged manure and test the pH level. Watermelons love soil with a pH level of 6.0-6.8 which is just about neutral, having little alkaline or acidic levels.
Care
Watermelons need consistent watering, especially during hot weather. Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged to prevent issues like blossom end rot. Water deeply at the base of the plants to encourage strong root development. Are you seeing a trend here, watermelons seem to like everything perfectly balanced– too much of any one thing and we end up in disappointment.
Now even though we sampled our soil for PH level, watermelons need a balanced fertilizer high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium according to the recommended schedule on the product label. Avoid over-fertilizing as it can lead to excessive foliage growth and poor fruit development. Here is something that most novice watermelon farmers might not know- Watermelons require pollination to produce fruit. Bees are the primary pollinators of watermelon plants, so it’s essential to attract bees to your garden. Yes, you heard that right, among your watermelon patch or at least near it plant some pollinator plants like sunflowers, lavender, marigolds and others. This will attract bees and birds that will make sure each of your buds develop into fruit. While we want to attract pollinators, we need to keep out pests including dogs. — Funny story my Belgian Malinois absolutely loves watermelon and practically destroyed half of last year’s harvest helping himself right at the source. Monitor your watermelon plants regularly for signs of pests, such as aphids, cucumber beetles, or powdery mildew. Use organic or chemical controls as needed to manage pest and disease issues.
Keep the area around your watermelon plants free of weeds, as they can compete for nutrients and water. Regularly remove weeds by hand or use mulch to help suppress weed growth. On top of that, for best growing results you need to prune your watermelon plants. Watermelon plants tend produce long vines that can spread out extensively. Consider pruning the vines to control growth and improve air circulation around the plants, which can help prevent diseases.
Best Time to Grow Watermelons
The best time to grow watermelons is during the warm summer months when the soil temperature is above 70°F. In most regions, this means planting watermelon seeds or seedlings in late spring to early summer.
How to Grow Watermelons
Watermelons can be grown from seeds or seedlings. If you choose to grow them from seeds, plant them directly in the ground once the soil has warmed up. If you opt for seedlings, transplant them carefully into your garden after the last frost date. Watermelon plants require plenty of space to spread out, so make sure to plant them at least 3-4 feet apart in rows that are 6-8 feet apart. Provide support for the vines to climb if growing a vining variety. Growing watermelons from seeds allows you to choose from a wider variety of cultivars; while starting with seedlings gives you a head start and ensures a more predictable harvest time.
Varieties of Watermelons
Variety may be the spice of life, so too are watermelons. My recommendation would be to pick a goal of what you want for your watermelon patch. Especially if you are a beginner some varieties might be better for you. On the flip side if you want great big fruit, other varieties are better for your needs.
- Best for Beginners: “Sugar Baby” and “Black Diamond” are popular varieties that are relatively easy to grow and produce sweet, flavorful fruit.
- Sweetest Varieties: “Sugar Baby,” “Crimson Sweet,” and “Charleston Gray” are known for their exceptional sweetness.
- Largest Varieties: “Carolina Cross” and “Orangelos” are famous for their massive size, with some fruits weighing over 100 pounds.
Watermelon Harvesting
To determine if a watermelon is ripe and ready to pick, look for these signs:
- The tendril closest to the fruit turns brown and dries up.
- The underside of the watermelon turns from light green to a creamy yellow color.
- Thumping the watermelon produces a deep, hollow sound.
Seeded vs Seedless
Now we get into one of the most controversial areas around watermelon farming. Like water and oil, the two camps don’t mix and think the other is wrong.
The main difference between seeded and seedless watermelons lies in their seeds. Seeded watermelons contain mature, fully developed seeds, while seedless watermelons may contain small, underdeveloped seeds that are soft and edible or no seeds at all. Seedless watermelons are produced through a process called crossbreeding, where plants with a specific genetic makeup are bred to produce fruit without mature seeds.
In terms of taste and texture, seeded and seedless watermelons are quite similar. However, some people prefer seedless watermelons for their convenience and ease of eating, as they don’t have to deal with the hassle of spitting out or removing seeds.
When it comes to cultivation, seedless watermelons can be a bit more challenging to grow compared to seeded varieties. Seedless watermelons often require specific pollination practices to ensure fruit set, as they typically produce sterile seeds that cannot be used for propagation. This means that growers may need to plant both seeded and seedless watermelon varieties in close proximity to facilitate pollination by bees or other pollinators.
In terms of which one is better or easier, it ultimately depends on personal preference and your gardening goals. Seeded watermelons are traditional and may be preferred by those who enjoy saving seeds for future planting. On the other hand, seedless watermelons are convenient for those who prefer not to deal with seeds while eating.
If you are a beginner gardener, you may find seeded watermelons easier to grow due to their straightforward cultivation requirements. However, with proper care and attention to pollination practices, growing seedless watermelons can also be a rewarding experience.
Watermelons are basically the crotchety old man of gardening; they never seem happy and are always complaining about something. While they don’t require constant attention, they do require continued care. By staying on top of these maintenance tasks and providing your watermelon plants with the care they need, you can increase your chances of a successful harvest. When I think of summer, I also think of watermelon. A delicious, sweet treat that was a natural dessert at many a summertime gathering. A huge slice where the kids gathered to eat and spit seeds at each other. It’s amazing the memories that a simple fruit can bring, and that’s the reason I continue the passion of growing my own new memories in the form of watermelon.
