Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Watermelons
When to Plant Watermelons
- In cool climates with short growing seasons, start seeds indoors 2 to 3 weeks before your last frost date. Plan to transplant seedlings into the garden about 2 weeks after that date or when the soil has warmed to at least 65°F (18°C).
- 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 least 65°F (18°C).
- Young watermelon plants can also be bought from nurseries. Plant these after there is no longer a chance of frost occurring; they are very tender. Watch the local forecast and err on the side of caution! Consider laying black plastic over your planting area in order to warm the soil even more.
- Tip: Starting with young plants can result in an earlier harvest (usually up to 2 weeks earlier), so consider buying young plants particularly if you live in a cooler climate.
Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site
- Amend soil with aged manure, seaweed, and/or compost before planting. Watermelons are heavy feeders, meaning they need soil that is fertile and has a high nutrient level. Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.
- Watermelons do best in loamy, somewhat-sandy, well-drained soil. They can struggle in soil that contains too much clay and doesn’t drain well.
- Watermelons prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5 (âslightly acidic to neutralâ).
- Watermelons need A LOT of spaceâup to 20 square feet per plant. Their vines need room to sprawl, so plant them in a place where they won’t crowd out other crops.
- Growing the vines in raised rows, known as hills, ensures good drainage and will hold the sunâs heat longer.
- Plan to space the plants 2-3 feet apart in a 5-foot-wide hill.
- If you’re growing in traditional rows, space them at least 6 feet apart.
How to Plant Watermelons
- Sow seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep outdoors or 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in seed-starting pots indoors.
- Tip: To allow for more root growth, use larger starting pots than you would for most seeds. Also consider using compostable pots that can be cut away or planted directly in the garden, as this will minimize the risk of damaging seedlingsâ tender roots during transplanting.
- If direct seeding outdoors, sow 4 to 6 seeds per hill, eventually thinning to 2 to 3 seedlings.
Transplanting Seedlings
- Handle watermelon seedlings with extreme care when you transplant. Their roots are very fragile, so try not to disturb the soil when removing them from pots.
- After transplanting, cover the plants with row covers to keep pests at bay. Remember to remove the row covers when you see both male and female flowers on the vine, as pollinators will need to access the flowers.
- Find even more tips for planting melons in your home garden.
How to Grow Watermelons
Watering
- Watering is very importantâfrom planting until fruit begins to form. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week.
- Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged. Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Reduce watering once fruit are growing. Dry weather produces the sweetest melon.
Fertilizing
- If you choose to fertilize (and many do), make sure it delivers more nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium, as this will encourage leaf and vine growth. However, after flowering begins, use a fertilizer with less nitrogen to instead encourage flowers and fruit. We like to use a seaweed-based fertilizer.
Flowering and Fruiting
- Vines produce male and female flowers separately on the same plant. They often begin producing male flowers several weeks before the females appear. Do not be concerned if the male flowers fall off. The female flowers (which have a swollen bulb at the base) will stay on the vine and bear fruit.
- Blossoms require pollination to set fruit, so be kind to the bees! Learn how to support pollinators in your garden.
- As fruit is ripening, prevent rotting by gently lifting it and putting cardboard or straw between the fruit and the soil.
General Care Tips
- Mulching with black plastic or straw around the plants will serve multiple purposes: it will warm the soil, hinder weed growth, and keep developing fruits off the soil.
- Pruning generally isn’t necessary for watermelon plants, but vine productivity may be improved if you do not allow lateral (side) vines to grow and stick to the main vine. When the plant is young, just cut off the end buds as they form (before the side shoots become vines). You can also pinch off some blossoms to focus the energy on fewer melons (though it’s a challenge to kill off a potential fruit).
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I planted watermelon last two weeks,it started germinating this weeks pls advice me what can I do to make it save from pests
Diatomaceous earth is the best! It is a natural silica rock that is ground into a fine powder. It is non toxic to humans or pets. You can sprinkle it right on the base of the plant or around the plant. Bugs have to walk on it to kill them and don't let it get wet, it is not effective when it is wet. You can also spray pests with soapy water, but it is more labor intensive.
Hi guys. I've been using salt around my plants to keep out pest. I also make one a bucket full of water with a cup or so of peroxide. That gives the roots strength and it keep s the pest away as well. I don't know if it helps but I also sprinkle the mix lightly on the leaves. To prevent leaf disease. I also make a reason mix for them with coffee, tea, and banana peels lol. They love it. Finger crossed for this year's crop!
Last year I had a patch of watermelon. It did not do well because it didn't get watered. This year, the area where the watermelon grew is thick with plants that look like watermelon plants but I did not think they regrew. I know we did not have much of a winter so I was wondering if it is possible that these are watermelon plants--or, just weeds that look like watermelon. Any advice?
These are weeds. Watermelonsâ biggest issue is actually weed control and it’s important to pull the weeds so that your watermelon is not forced to compete for necessary water and nutrients. Perennial grasses that grow in the watermelon patch can be difficult to control so you need to stay on top of them. Before you plant, dig up all weeds with a hoe. You can’t do this later or you’ll damage the vines of the melon. Also, put mulch between the plants to keep the weeds down. Finally, plant multiple melons far apart so you can get between the plants to weed easily.
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