How to Grow Perfect Watermelons
For many people, no Fourth of July holiday is complete without a slice of watermelon. If you've tried watermelons in your own garden with little success, keep in mind that it takes a little effort to get a perfect harvest of the melons. And remember that although they can grow throughout the United States, watermelons prefer warm climates, so southern gardeners may have the best luck with the beloved summer fruit because of the extended growing season. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Find a spot in your garden that gets plenty of sun and that also has a well-draining soil.
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Plant the seeds once the soil warms in the spring and there is no longer a threat of frost. Place watermelon seeds in a small hill of soil. If you have multiple seeds, space the hills 6 feet apart. Rows should be 7 feet to 10 feet apart.
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Water the seeds immediately after planting.
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Watch as the plants begin to sprout, and thin out the young plants so only three remain at each hill, the University of Illinois Extension advises. If you do not thin them out, the seedlings will compete for resources and will not grow as large -- and tasty -- as they otherwise would.
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Spread black plastic mulch around the young plant. The mulch will help the soil retain its moisture as well as keep it warmer, allowing for an earlier harvest and better quality melons.
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Water the plants during long dry spells. Because they have a deep root system, watermelons do not frequently need supplemental water.
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Inspect the plants periodically to ensure they have not been infested with garden pests. Apply an insecticide to control pests such as cucumber beetles, aphids and mites. The Illinois Cooperative Extension recommends the use of floating row covers to prevent early season pests from damaging your melon crop. Remember to remove the covers when the plants bloom so the flowers can be pollinated.
Ask your nursery about disease-resistant watermelon cultivars to lessen the risk of plant diseases.
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Check on the plants every few says starting about 65 days after you planted the seeds. Depending on the variety, the melons take between 68 and 95 days to fully grow and ripen, the University of Maryland reports.
Signs of a perfectly ripened watermelon include a ground spot -- the lighter-colored area of the melon that makes contact with the soil -- that has changed color from a pale green to creamy or whitish in color and tendrils that have browned and dried out. You can also thump the melons to determine ripeness. A dull and muffled thump indicates ripeness, while a more metallic sound means it should sit awhile longer, the Ohio State University Extension advises.
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Tips & Warnings
You can start watermelons indoors by planting the seeds in small seed pots or a seen starting kit about three weeks before they can be set in the soil. Place two or three seeds in each pot and thin them out after the sprout so only one or two young plants remains. Starting the seeds indoors is especially beneficial in shorter growing seasons.
References
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