How To Water Watermelon Plants And When To Water Watermelons

Watering is very important—from planting until fruit begins to form. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged. Water at the vine's base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering.

Can you over water watermelon plants?

A watermelon plant (Citrullus lanatus) needs enough moisture to ensure proper growth and fruit development. Too much water can be detrimental when growing watermelons, reducing the quality of the fruit or causing it to burst.

How many watermelons do you get per plant?

The number of vines determines how many watermelons there are per plant as each vine can produce between two to four melons during the growing season.

Do watermelons like sun or shade?

Watermelons require full sunlight in order to thrive. The plants can tolerate some partial shade, particularly in hotter climates, but plenty of sun is necessary to develop the sugars in the melons.

What month do you plant watermelon?

Plant watermelon from late spring to early summer, once soil temperatures reach 70° F or above.
Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.

Do you water watermelon everyday?

Watering Watermelons

Give watermelons 1 to 2 inches (2.5. -5cm) of water every week (1 inch equals 16 gallons/60.5 liters.) Keep the soil moist until the fruit reaches full size then stop watering while the fruit ripens.

What's the best fertilizer for watermelons?

When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.

Do watermelon plants come back every year?

Planting a few watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) vines in your garden lets you grow your own desserts or sweet snacks. This member of the Cucurbitaceae family is related to squash and pumpkins. As a tender annual, watermelon vines will not last through winter conditions and will require re-planting each spring.

Do watermelons need lots of water?

How to Grow Watermelons. Watering is very important—from planting until fruit begins to form. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged.

Should I prune watermelon plants?

Watermelon plants don't need much pruning to grow big and juicy fruit; what they really need is space. Watermelon vines spread out in runners going in all directions from the base, often growing longer than 3 feet.

Should I cut back watermelon vines?

Pruning watermelons promotes healthier vines and increases fruit size. Look for irregular or rotting fruit to prune from the plant. Removing the less than perfect melons will enable the plant to focus energy towards growing bigger, healthier, juicier melons. ... Watermelons need both male and female flowers to set fruit.

How long do watermelons take to ripen?

Watermelons are generally planted from seeds when the ground has warmed to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. On average, it takes about 80 days for the seedlings to mature and produce ripe fruit.

How long does it take for a watermelon to grow to full size?

The time it takes for a watermelon to mature can be anywhere from 65 to 90 days after planting. Once the fruit sets to tiny marble-sized melons, it only takes up to 45 days for those tiny melons to develop into watermelons 10 pounds in size or more.

How do I make my watermelon sweeter when growing?

Sweetness Starts in the Soil

To encourage strong growth, blend 4 to 6 inches of composted manure into your melon beds prior to planting. Then add a balanced organic fertilizer (such as a mixed blood meal/bone meal product) every 3 to 4 weeks.

How do watermelons grow for beginners?

Watermelon seeds should not be planted in the garden until the soil temperature reaches at least 65 degrees F. Plant six to eight seeds about 1 inch deep in each mound. Space seeds at least 2 feet apart in mounds that are at least 5 to 6 feet wide by 4 to 6 inches high. This allows ample room for vines to grow.

How deep do watermelons need to be planted?

Watermelons need a long growing season (at least 80 days) and warm ground for seeds to germinate and grow. Soil should be 70 degrees F or warmer at planting time. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and keep well watered until germination.

Do watermelons like wet soil?

Moisture Requirements for Watermelon

Although the watermelon's deep root system makes it relatively drought-tolerant, the plant requires an abundance of water to produce healthy fruit. Keep the soil consistently moist from planting until the fruit reaches the size of a tennis ball.

Do watermelon plants need a lot of sun?

Give watermelons lots of sunlight – 6 to 8 hours a day(or more) is ideal. Aluminum foil placed under the plants will help them ripen faster by attracting more sunlight. Healthy watermelon plants will form 2-4 melons per plant. Watermelons require warm soil.

How do you increase watermelon fruit size?

To maximize the size of the melons, water the plants at the base in regular, deep-watering sessions that keep the soil moist. Side dress the watermelon plants with fertilizer designed for edible crops or compost tea to feed the plants. The fertilizer encourages growth to get larger melons.

Is Miracle Grow good for watermelon plants?

Feeding and Caring for Melons

Then, feed your melon plants regularly through the growing season with a continuous-release plant food like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organic® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules, which feeds the soil as well as your plants.

Do watermelons like coffee grounds?

Old coffee grinds really do enhance the flavor of many crops, cantaloupe, tomatoes, melons. No study to prove it, but it is said you get bigger melons if you use coffee grinds. As they break down, the grinds will release nitrogen into the soil.

Is cow manure good for watermelons?

Improper application of chemical fertilizers has negatively affected tropical soils. On the other hand use or organic fertilizers such as cattle manure have been shown to improve growth and development of watermelon plants.