How to Grow Watermelons From Seeds

Nothing beats the taste of sweet, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. And if you live in a warm climate, growing your own is easy. You’ll need at least three months of hot, sunny weather to grow watermelons from seed to fruit. The average daily temperature during those three months should be at least 70 to 80 degrees, though warmer is better. Follow these planting, care and harvest tips to learn how to grow watermelons in your backyard garden this summer.

Planting

• The best time to plant watermelon seeds is from late spring to early summer, or when the soil temperature reaches 70 degrees or above.
• Watermelon seeds germinate easily and quickly, and seedlings don’t usually transplant well, so there’s no need to start them in a pot or seed tray.
• When the weather gets warm enough, select a spot with full sun to plant your watermelon seeds.
• To give your plants plenty of room to grow, space seeds 3 to 5 feet apart in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.
• Sow seeds 1 inch deep and keep them well watered until they germinate.
• Sow twice as many seeds as you need, then thin the weaker seedlings when the plants begin to grow.

See more: How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Strawberries

Care

• Making sure your watermelons have enough water is critical. Water the soil consistently but avoid getting the plant’s leaves wet.
• You can also apply mulch to ensure that the soil doesn’t dry out.
• Watermelons take a long time to mature, so feeding them regularly with a premium-quality continuous-release fertilizer is recommended.
• When the fruit is about the size of a softball, place it on a piece of cardboard or a bed of straw to prevent rot.
• About a week before the melons are ripe, water only as much as necessary to prevent the plant from wilting. This will help the sugars concentrate in the fruit for a tastier watermelon.

See more: What Is Yellow Watermelon?

Harvest

• To know when your watermelons are ready for harvest, you can keep an eye on the tendril closest to the melon’s stem (the stem in the shape of a spiral coil). When it turns brown and dries up, the melon is ripe.
• You should also check the color of the spot where the melon sits on the ground. When the spot turns from white to yellow, it’s ready for harvest.
• After harvest, watermelons will keep two to three weeks unrefrigerated. Place them in a cool, dark place to increase their holding time.
• After slicing your watermelon, refrigerate the leftovers or freeze for frozen desserts and smoothies.

Watermelon Recipes

Looking for some creative ways to enjoy your homegrown watermelons? Try a few of these tasty summer recipes.

• Greek Yogurt Chicken-Watermelon Flatbread
• Watermelon Whip
• Coconut Watermelon Icy
• Kung Pao Watermelon Shrimp
• Watermelon Gazpacho
• Watermelon Basil Ice
• Watermelon-Lavender Sorbet
• Melon Cakes with Rosemary Lavender Syrup