Heat-loving watermelons can be a challenge to grow in cooler regions. To increase success, choose short-season varieties,start them inside, warm soil with black plastic or IRT mulch,and protect young plants with fabric row covers.
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| Water melon farm |
Growing Guide
Indoor - As they require a long growing season, watermelons are best
started indoors approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the last frost
of the season. Sow seeds 1/4" deep in flats or small pots,sowing 3 seeds per pot.
Indoor - As they require a long growing season, watermelons are best
started indoors approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the last frost
of the season. Sow seeds 1/4" deep in flats or small pots,sowing 3 seeds per pot.
-Keep medium moist while awaiting germination. Additionally, watermelon seeds will show better
germination rates with heat.
germination rates with heat.
-Keep the soil between 80-90 degrees, using a heat mat if necessary. Seed should begin to
germinate within 3-10 days.
germinate within 3-10 days.
-Once seeds start to germinate, lower soil temp slightly to the mid 70s, for 1-2 weeks, also decreasing water.
-Thin to one plant per cell or pot. Once the first set of true leaves has developed, reduce waterings once more, but do not allow
-plant to become desiccated.
-plant to become desiccated.
-Harden plant by gradually exposing to outdoor conditions.
-Transplant to permanent site in late spring after the last frost
has passed.
has passed.
-If possible, transplant on an overcast day to minimize wilting and create a more amenable environment for your young plant.
Outdoor - If you have long, hot growing seasons, melons can direct-seed
into garden.
into garden.
-To ensure ripening in areas with shorter growing
seasons and cooler weather, choose fast-maturing varieties,
start plants inside, use black or IRT plastic mulch to warm soil
and use fabric row covers to protect plants.
seasons and cooler weather, choose fast-maturing varieties,
start plants inside, use black or IRT plastic mulch to warm soil
and use fabric row covers to protect plants.
-Plant 1 inch deep, 6 seeds per hill, hills 4 to 6
feet apart; or 1 foot apart in rows 5 feet apart. Can plant at
closer spacings if trellised.
-Thin to 2 to 3 plants per hill.
feet apart; or 1 foot apart in rows 5 feet apart. Can plant at
closer spacings if trellised.
-Thin to 2 to 3 plants per hill.
Choosing a Site
-Prefers warm, well-drained, soil, high in organic matter with
pH 6.5 to 7.5.
-Prefers warm, well-drained, soil, high in organic matter with
pH 6.5 to 7.5.
-Consistent, plentiful moisture needed until fruit
is about the size of a tennis ball.
is about the size of a tennis ball.
-Soil temperatures below 10°C slow growth.
-Consider using black plastic and fabric row covers to speed soil warming.
-Sandy or light-textured soils that
-warm quickly in spring are best.
-warm quickly in spring are best.
-In many areas, successful crops require starting plants indoors, using plastic mulch to warm soil, and fabric row covers to protect young transplants.
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| Water melon fruit |
Planting
-For transplanting, sow seeds indoors ¼ inch deep in peat pots
(2-inch square or bigger), 2 to 4 weeks before setting out.
-For transplanting, sow seeds indoors ¼ inch deep in peat pots
(2-inch square or bigger), 2 to 4 weeks before setting out.
-Plants should have one or two true leaves when transplanted.
-Transplant at same spacings as direct-seeded crops - 2 to 3
plants per hill in hills spaced 4 to 6 feet apart, or 1 to 2 feet
apart in rows 5 feet apart.
plants per hill in hills spaced 4 to 6 feet apart, or 1 to 2 feet
apart in rows 5 feet apart.
-Transplants are delicate and roots are sensitive to disturbance. If you need to thin, use scissors.
-Keep soil intact around plant when transplanting.
-Mulch plants after soil has warmed to help maintain consistent moisture and suppress weeds.
-If using fabric row covers, remove at flowering to allow
pollination by bees.
pollination by bees.
-Good pollination is critical to fruit set.
-Plants require consistent moisture until pollination.
-Plants require consistent moisture until pollination.
-Once fruits are about the size of a tennis ball, only water if soil is dry and
leaves show signs of wilting.
leaves show signs of wilting.
-To prevent insect damage to developing fruits, place melons
on pots or pieces of wood.
on pots or pieces of wood.
-If growing melons on a trellis, support fruit with slings made from netting, fabric, or pantyhose.
-Trellising improves air circulation around plants and can help reduce foliar disease problems.
-Choose small-fruited varieties and reduce plant spacing.
-For large plantings, leave a strip of rye cover crop every second or third row perpendicular to prevailing winds to protect plants from damaging wind.
-To reduce insect and disease problems, avoid planting cucumber family crops (melons, squash, pumpkins) in the same spot two years in a row.
-Do not let your melon plants get dried out during the growing season.
-They are not tolerant of drought. Additionally, be cautious not to over-water plants as this can negatively impact the taste and flavor later on.
Keep soil moist but not soggy
Pests and diseases;
1.Alternaria Leaf spot
2.Anthracnose
3.Cercospora Leaf spot
4.Downy mildew
5.Fusarium wilt
6.Gummy stem blight
7.Powdery mildew
8.Cucumber mosaic
9.Bacterial fruit blotch
10.cabbage looper
11.Flea beetles
12.Aphids(peach aphid, melon aphid)
13.Cutworms
14.Thrips
15.Cucumber green mottle mosaic
16.Vericillium wilt
17.Alternaria leaf blight
18.Angular leaf spot
19.Aster yellows
20.Watermelon mosaic
21.Zucchini yellow mosaic
22.Blossom-end rot
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