Plant watermelon seeds throughout the garden when the soil temperature reaches 70°F (21°C), generally 2 to 4 weeks after the remaining frost in spring. Watermelon is a tropical plant and requires a longer, warmth, dry emerging season with temperatures between 70° and 80°F (21-26°C) during the day and 60°-70°F (16-21°C) at night. Watermelons require 75 to 90 days to succeed in harvest.
Watermelon seeds can be started indoors with bottom heat and a soil temperature of 75°F (24°C). On the other hand, watermelons started indoors isn’t going to increase the deep taproots of direct-seeded plants. The unnatural root development on transplants method further irrigation it will be required once transplants are set throughout the garden.
Broaden watermelons in delicate, fertile, deep loam, or sandy soil. The soil must be well-drained. Add aged compost or well-rotted manure to the soil and turn the soil to a depth of 8 inches (20cm) or further. Watermelons are heavy feeders. Add bone meal, greensand, or granite dust to the planting hole.
Planting watermelons on mounds or hills is a technique to ensure the soil is adequately warmth for watermelons. The higher the mound the warmer the soil. Vines may also be trained down and around the hill relatively than permitting them to run all through the garden. Vines again and again expand 6 to 12 toes (2-4m)long. Some small varieties can be grown in a container or trained to a trellis.
Watermelons are ripe when they make a “punk” sound when struck by way of knuckles. A “pink” or “pank” sound method the melon is not ripe—in line with Mark Twain.
Melon planting dates
(The ones dates are for the Northern Hemisphere)
| Reasonable date of the remaining frost | Planting dates |
| Jan. 30 | Feb. 15-Apr. 1 |
| Feb. 8 | Feb. 15-Apr. 15 |
| Feb. 18 | Mar. 1-June 1 |
| Feb. 28 | Mar. 10-June 1 |
| Mar. 10 | Mar. 20-June 1 |
| Mar. 20 | Apr. 1-Jun3 1 |
| Mar. 30 | Apr. 10-June 15 |
| Apr. 10 | Apr. 20-June 15 |
| Apr. 20 | Would perhaps 1-June 1 |
| Apr. 30 | Would perhaps 10-June 1 |
| Would perhaps 10 | Would perhaps 20-June 10 |
| Would perhaps 20 | June 1-20 |
| Would perhaps 30 | |
| June 10 |
Watermelon planting details
- Sowing depth: ½ -1 ½ inches (12mm) or somewhat further
- Space between plants after thinning: 2-6 toes (30-45cm)
- Days to sprout: 4-10
- Days to harvest: 75-90
- Storage duration: 1 week refrigerated
- Seeds in step with 100-row toes: 1 ounce
- Steered varieties: Black Diamond (90 days), Charleston Gray (85 days), Red Sweet (80 days), Sugar Kid (75 days).
Related watermelon articles:
Tips about Broaden Watermelon
Easiest 10 Watermelon Varieties for Space Garden
