How Watermelon Seeds Grow
Watermelons were discovered growing wild in Africa and have been cultivated in the United States since the 1600s. The plants are most often started from seed placed directly into the garden soil when growing conditions are right. Seed is readily available in the nursery trade for a variety of watermelons, such as the small icebox size suitable for growing on a trellis. Does this Spark an idea?
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Site Location
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Watermelon seed grows best where the resulting plant has exposure to eight hours or more of sun each day. The site should be well-drained so the roots of the watermelon plant are not sitting in waterlogged soil. Clear the site of all weeds that can compete with the watermelon plant for water and nutrients. The seed planting site should be near a water source so supplemental water can be given to the watermelon plant as it grows.
Soil Testing
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Watermelon plants are heavy consumers of nutrients and moisture. A soil test provides you with the information you need to grow a successful watermelon crop. For example, a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8 is important, as well as high levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. However, adding too much of any soil amendment can damage the soil and prevent the plants from growing. Contact your local county agricultural extension office for assistance with a soil test.
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Preparing the Site
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Add the soil amendments required by the soil test along with a 2-inch layer of compost over the planting area and work into the top 6 inches of soil. Create raised hills or rows if there is a chance water will stand where the plants are growing.
Planting the Seed
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Plant the seed 1 inch deep when the temperature of the soil is between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at a depth of 4 inches. Watermelon plants take up to 85 frost-free days to produce ripe fruit from the time the seed germinates, or sprouts.
Seed Germination
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The soil around the seed should be kept only slightly moist until the first leaves, called the cotyledon leaves, appear above the ground. The tiny new root that comes from the seed under the soil surface is called the radicle, the part of the seedling between the radicle and the colyledon is called the hypocotyl. Too much water before the cotyledon leaves appear slows or prevents germination by drowning the expanding embryo inside the seed. Increase the water application once the first set of true leaves is visible.
Watermelon Plant Care
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Continue to keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet, to a depth of 6 inches around the root system of the watermelon plant. Do not allow the fruit, leaves or flowers to get wet while watering. The vine will begin to grow rapidly, or run, after about two weeks of growth. Watermelon vines can reach over 20 feet long.
Harvesting Watermelons
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Harvest watermelons when there is a dull sound when they are tapped or thumped. The place where the watermelon is resting on the ground should have a yellow or golden color, and the tendrils located closest to the stem should be completely brown and shriveled.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit watermelon image by ewa kubicka from Fotolia.com
