Watermelon
is a refreshing and juicy summer fruit. Everybody likes this fruit worldwide.
Now it is grown throughout the year. Can you grow the watermelon plant
in your home garden? Yes, you can grow it easily indoors in pots with little
care. It is a vine-like plant. Usually, it grows well in warm climates. Today,
in this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about growing
watermelon plants. If you want to grow this watermelon plant in your home
garden, continue reading the article carefully.
Watermelon Plant
Best Time to Grow Watermelon Plant
The best
time to grow watermelon plants is late spring or early summer. Before planting
watermelon plants, you must germinate watermelon seeds or collect watermelon
plants from the nursery. If you want to germinate watermelon seeds, you should
have an idea about soil temperature. Usually, you will sow watermelon seeds
when the soil temperature is around 70°F (21°C). Don't sow watermelon
seeds before or after the mentioned time. If you sow seeds too late or early,
you won't get a good harvest.
Choose the Right Variety of Watermelon
There are
many varieties of watermelon. Each variety has different shapes, colors and
unique characteristics. Some of the popular varieties of watermelon are
mentioned below:
Sugar
Baby: This variety is small and sweet. It is
suitable for small gardens.
Crimson
Sweet: It is sweet and very large.
Charleston
Gray: This variety has a firm rind. It is suitable
for storage.
Yellow
and Orange: This is a unique variety of watermelons. Its
flesh is yellow or orange. It has a distinct flavor.
Choose a
watermelon variety according to your region, climate, and choice.
Preparation for Growing Watermelon Plant
You must take a preparation to grow watermelon plants because their vines need a
lot of space and sunlight. Now let's learn how to grow watermelon plants step
by step:
1. Select an Ideal Place
Watermelon
plants grow well in warm and sunny places that get at least 8 hours of full
sunlight a day. They need well-drained soil to grow well. So, don't grow
watermelon plants in the areas where water accumulates. However, choose a place
where the vines can spread out because watermelon plants need plenty of space.
2. Prepare the Soil
Watermelon
plants grow well in sandy loam and slightly acidic soil with a pH level of
6.0-7.0. To improve the soil quality, add compost or well-rotted manure and 10%
sand to the garden soil. It will enrich the soil and retain moisture which is
necessary for watermelon growth.
3. Sow or Plant Watermelon Seeds or Plants
Sow
watermelon seeds or plant watermelon plants in containers or garden beds
indoors. Sow or plant them 1 inch deep and 4-6 feet apart. If you sow seeds or
plant plants in many rows, space each row 6-8 feet apart. Then, water them
properly.
4. Care for Watermelon Plants
To grow
watermelon plants well, take care of them regularly. But now let's see how to
take care of your watermelon plants:
5. Water the Watermelon Plants
During
flowering and fruiting, watermelon plants need regular moisture. So, water
deeply during this time. Don't get the leaves wet because it can cause fungal
diseases. Besides, excessive water can cause waterlogging and the roots of the
watermelon plants to rot.
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6. Fertilizing Tips
As
watermelon plants grow, apply them to a fertilizer rich in phosphorus and
potassium to improve flowering and fruiting. However, don't apply them to
excessive nitrogen because it increases more leaves than fruit growth.
7. Clean Weeds and Apply Mulch
Because
of the excessive watering of watermelon plants, a lot of weeds grow in the
watermelon field. So, clean the weeds from the watermelon field every few days.
And, to retain moisture and keep the soil warm, apply a layer of mulch around
the watermelon plants.
8. Help in Pollination
Quality
watermelon fruit needs good pollination. Insects like bees help in pollinating
watermelon plants. So, for good pollination, plant flowers around watermelon
fields. It will attract more bees and other pollinators to your watermelon
field and pollinate your watermelon plants. Besides, don't use pesticides in
the watermelon field that harm bees or other pollinators.
9. Protect Watermelons from Pests and Diseases
Some
insects and diseases can harm your watermelon plants. Now let's see how to
protect your watermelon plants from their harm.
Prevent Pests
Aphids:
These tiny insects harm watermelon plants by sucking the sap from the leaves.
Use insecticidal soap to prevent them.
Cucumber
Beetles: These insects carry bacterial wilt in watermelon plants. To protect
watermelon plants from these insects, use row covers early in the season.
Squash
Bugs: Kill these bugs by hand. Always keep the watermelon field clean to protect
the watermelon plants from harm.
Prevent Diseases
Watermelon
is affected by powdery mildew, downy mildew and fusarium wilt. To control these
diseases, provide good air circulation in the watermelon field, avoid water
logging the plants and rotate crops every year.
10. Harvest Watermelons
Over-ripening
watermelons cause great harm economically. So, you should recognize the right
ripe watermelon. Now let's know how to recognize ripe watermelon or when to
harvest watermelon. Usually, the underside of the ripe watermelons turns creamy
yellow. It makes a hollow sound when tapped. Besides, the tendrils closest to
the fruit turn brown and die back.
11. Store Watermelons
After
harvesting watermelons, you can store them at room temperature for up to a
week. For longer storage, store them in a cool and dry place. However, notice
that the temperature does not drop below 50°F (10°C).
Additional Ideas about Watermelon Plants
Watermelon Plant Leaves
The
leaves of the watermelon plant are large and bright green. They cover the plant
and protect vines from sunlight. Their shape resembles a jagged oval. They give
shade to the watermelon and retain moisture in the soil. These leaves produce
food for photosynthesis.
Finally,
growing watermelon plants in your garden is very easy. If you grow the watermelon
plant in your home garden, you can enjoy sweet, juicy, and fresh organic
watermelons during summer with proper care and attention. By choosing the right
variety, preparing the soil, providing adequate water, and protecting your
plants from insects and diseases, you can get good yields of watermelons. So,
without any delay, decide to grow watermelon plants in your garden.
Do you
want to grow watermelon plants in your garden? If you want, collect the seeds
today, find the perfect place, and start planting watermelon plants. If you
have any questions, share them in the comment box below.
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