If youve only picked watermelons from the supermarket, youre missing out on peak flavor.
Learn how to grow watermelons and let them ripen in the sun for a sweeter, juicier taste.
With a sunny spot and a few seeds, you could easily go from garden to table.
Credit: Blaine Moats
There are three main kinds: Early season, main season, and seedless watermelons.
Within those categories, you might choose red, pink, yellow, or orange flesh.
Where to Plant Watermelon
Plant watermelons in an area that receives full sun.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Watermelonsneed rich soil that is well-drainedand sandy.
After the watermelon seedlings are established, thin them to the three strongest on each hill.
Keep the seedlings warm and moist until outdoor temperatures consistently stay above 50F or warmer.
Credit: Blaine Moats
Dont start watermelon seeds too early because large plants transplant poorly into the garden.
After they are planted, watermelons dont like their roots to be disturbed.
Avoid Insecticides
Once watermelon vines begin producing blossoms, the key to fruit set ispollination by bees.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Avoid spraying for flying insects; chemicals can kill the beneficial bugs your plants need.
Light
Watermelons needfull sunpreferably 8 to 10 hours of direct sunto thrive and produce the sweetest melons.
Soil and Water
Watermelons grow best in rich,well-draining soilwith a pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
Credit: Randall Schieber
Water your watermelon plants regularly when theyre young.
If youre not getting enough rain each week, give your plants an extra drink.
Temperature and Humidity
Watermelons grow best in long, hot summers that reach 80F or higher.
Credit: Craig Buchanan
Where summers are short or cool, lay black plastic over the soil for insulation.
Make several holes in the cover to allow moisture to reach the plants roots.
Watermelons grow equally well in any humidity level as long as the soil is well-draining.
Credit: Bill Hopkins Jr.
Fertilize two more times during the growing seasonwatermelons like a small amount of fertilizer over an extended period.
Use a product with a balanced ratio, such as 5-5-5.
Apply granular fertilizers every six weeks orliquid fertilizersevery two weeks, following the product instructions.
Credit: Peter Krumhard
Pruning
There is no need to prune watermelon vines.
However, removing damaged or rotten fruit allows the plant to direct more energy into producing healthy fruit.
Select a compact watermelon variety that produces small fruit.
Credit: Peter Krumhard
Dont attempt to grow large watermelon varieties in a container.
In areas with limited space, erect a teepee or trellis to support the vines.
Youll need to train the vines up the support as they grow.
Credit: Peter Krumhard
After the fruits form, they also need support, such as a fabric sling under each watermelon.
The plant dies at the end of the season, so no repotting is necessary.
Avoid plastic, which traps moisture.
Dont use any pesticides on a plant with fruit you plan to eat.
If insect pests are a big problem, cover the young plants withrow covers.
Remove the row covers when watermelon vines begin blooming because the covers can prevent pollination.
Seeds dont continue to mature after a melon is harvested.
Retrieve the healthy seeds and rinse any remaining pulp off them.
Put the seeds on a paper towel in a sunny area for a week to dry.
Then, plant them in the garden after the weather warms or start them indoors before the spring frost.
An exceptionally cool growing season can also affect watermelon quality.
How to Grow Seedless Watermelons
Seedless watermelons are an interesting exercise in plant genetics.
Once theyre transplanted into the garden, follow the same directions as for seeded watermelons.
Seedless watermelons need pollen from a seeded pop in to produce, so plant a seeded variety nearby.
Harvesting Watermelon
Watermelons will not ripen off the vine.
So, how do you know when a watermelon is ripe?
Its best not to rely on the time-honored thump method because it simply doesnt work.
Just tip the fruit up enough to peek under it.
Plan on eating a watermelon soon after it is picked, when its flavor is best.
After you cut it, store it in the refrigerator, where it will last a few days.
If you have a cool room, uncut watermelons may last one or two weeks.
The flesh is dark red and firm.
The plants are resistant to anthracnose and fusarium wilt.
It has excellent anthracnose and fusarium wilt resistance.
It is especially well-suited to the Southeast.
One or more large golden patches make up the moon, and numerous smaller dots are the stars.
The flavorful red-fruited melons weigh 25 to 40 pounds.
They weigh 8 to 10 pounds each.
The plants are compact, stretching only 3 to 4 feet long.
The sweet red flesh has a superior flavor.
Fruits are borne on semi-upright vines that grow up to 3 feet tall.
Tiger Baby Watermelon
Citrullus lanatusTiger Baby bears striped round fruits that weigh 7 to 10 pounds.
The pinkish-red flesh is dense and sweet.
It has good resistance to fusarium wilt.
Yellow Doll Hybrid Watermelon
Citrullus lanatusYellow Doll Hybrid has unique yellow flesh.
It produces 3- to 6-pound green-striped fruits on a compact vine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Florida grows the most watermelons in the United States.
Four statesFlorida, California, Georgia, and Texasgrow 80 percent of the countrys watermelon crop.
The white seeds are not seeds at all.
They are empty seed coats that never developed seeds.
Feel free to eat them; they are harmless.
Trellising helps improve air circulation, making the fruits less prone to rotting or diseases.
