The seeds germinate faster if the soil is 70-95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many varieties are available from small, round, ‘personal’ types to large heirlooms like ‘Black Diamond’.
you could also use a slow-release organic fertilizer if your soil isnt amended.
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Where to Plant Watermelon Seeds
Watermelons grow on spreading vines that each produce two to three fruits.
Vines grow rapidly and bear large, heavy fruits that don’t adapt easily to trellising.
Spacing
For the home gardener, planting in mounds is the easiest, most effective space-saving technique.
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It won’t hurt vines to overlap, as long as developing fruits don’t touch.
Vines still need space, but you could install specialized trellising with platforms to support fruits.
A nitrogen-rich formula such as 30-10-10 is sufficient.
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Place a seed in each hole and cover with loose soil.
You want to moisten the seeds but not wash them out or flatten out your mound.
Do not let the soil dry out while the seeds germinate.
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Watermelons require 1 to 2 inches of water per week.
If rainfall amounts are insufficient prepare to give your plants an extra drink.
Once the plants establish, watering with a sprinkler or spray hose attachment is okay.
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Fertilize Monthly
Watch for the vines to produce flower buds.
This can occur anywhere from four to eight weeks after planting, depending on variety and growing conditions.
Consult your seed package for information specific to your key in.
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Apply a higher phosphorous fertilizer such as 5-10-10.
Continue to fertilize once a month throughout the growing season.
This makes it easy to move vines and place them where you want them to grow.
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Heavy rain amounts may necessitate replacement if the material degrades.
check that to water frequently.
Watermelons are 92 percent water, and the plants need adequate moisture to produce.
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Harvest Ripe Melons
Look for these signs that your watermelon is ready to pick.
The stem will thin out and turn grayish brown and dry.
A pale or faint yellow spot will appear where the melon contacts the soil.
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This allows you to transplant the entire pot with the seedling without disturbing the roots.
Remember toharden offbefore planting out in the garden.
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