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Summer would n’t be the same without fresh homegrown watermelons to revel . Although Citrullus vulgaris need plenty of room to grow , they are n’t peculiarly hard to care for , which makes them a great flora for beginner gardeners . These fuss - detached plants are fearless from zones 2 through 11 and thrive in loamy soils and full Sunday conditions . If you ’re new to growing watermelons , cognize the watermelon growing stage will assist you understand what you may ask as the plants grow and mature .
Watermelon seeds ordinarily germinate in 7 to 10 days , although they may take up to 3 hebdomad to bourgeon . Once the seedlings have developed unfeigned leaves , they ’re ready to be transplant into the garden . Within weeks , the flora produce heyday which , once pollinated , give path to small fruits . Watermelons mature in 45 days on average .
Watermelon seeds.
contain out some of our favorite Citrullus vulgaris salmagundi !
Stage 1: watermelon seeds and seedlings
mordant and tan striped watermelon seeds are shaped like tiny tear and usually evaluate ⅜ to ½ column inch in distance . Likepumpkins , watermelon are easy to mature from come . you may start your watermelon seedlings in peat seed pods filled with pot filth 3 to 4 calendar week before the last frost of natural spring . Sow the seminal fluid at a profundity of ½-inch , and water them well . Keeping the filth moist to the mite is primal as this will help the seeds germinate quickly . Just be careful not to deluge the piddling stool with H2O , as this may drown the seeds .
Set the seminal fluid pots on a sunny windowsill so they get plenty of brightness . Keeping the seedlings warm is crucial . Watermelons have intercourse the heat , so do n’t permit your seedlings get too cold , or they may die . You should see the seeds begin to sprout within 7 to 10 years if the conditions are right . However , some germ may take up to 3 week before they germinate .
On ardent daylight , when the temperatures reach the 70s and high , localize your germ in a sunny stain outside . This will help oneself them acclimate to the outdoors , so they have an loose time adapt once they ’ve beentransplanted into your garden . When your seedling emerge , they will have a pair of brilliant green ellipse seed leave of absence .
Watermelon seeds.
Stage 2: developing true leaves
Your watermelon vine seedlings bank on their seed leaves to help them survive , but those two little leaves are n’t enough to support the energy motive of a turn plant . In 5 to 10 days after your seed have spud , your seedling will begin to develop true leaf . These leaf take the material body of the plant ’s adult leaves and shoot up and out from in between the seed leaves .
True leave-taking are much larger than seed foliage . The greater surface area turn on the plants to photosynthesize more expeditiously as they grow . The accurate embodiment of your Citrullus vulgaris ’s adult leave-taking depend on their sort . However , in general , watermelons produce large , lobate leave with smooth sharpness . The leaves may feel fuzzy to the ghost , like other member of the cucurbit syndicate .
Once your watermelon vine flora have developed 1 or 2 sets of dependable leaves , they ’re ready to be moved to your garden . This is the ideal Citrullus vulgaris growing stage for transplanting when the roots are still growing . Avoid waiting too long to move your watermelon vine works , otherwise , they may become rootbound in their seed gage .
Watermelon seedlings with true leaves.
Stage 3: growing vines
Once you ’ve move your watermelons to your garden , the flora will spend a few week getting established before they start to spread out . During this Citrullus vulgaris growing phase , the plants commence to focus on producing vine . Within another month , these vines will support flowers , and , eventually , Citrullus vulgaris .
Your watermelon vine should get down producing vine 3 to 5 hebdomad after transplanting . These vines can grow up to 12 feet long , and each vine can develop additional vines . How large your Citrullus vulgaris plants will grow bet on their variety and how well their growing requirements are met . But , in cosmopolitan , watermelon plants can spread out 10 to 20 feet .
In addition to producing blossom and fruits , your watermelon vine ’s vines help oneself to anchor the plant so it does n’t blow away . The tendrils will cleave to anything to help the plant stabilize itself . So be certain tospace your watermelons far enough apartto prevent them from smothering each other or the other plant in your garden .
Growing watermelon vines.
Stage 4: flowering
After 2 to 4 weeks , your plant will accede a new Citrullus vulgaris mature stage . Vine production will slow down and stabilise as the plants shift their stress to producing bloom . Citrullus vulgaris plant produce bright sensationalistic flowers , just likecucumber plantsandsquash plants . These xanthous flowers are filled with nectar and pollen toattract beesandbutterflies .
Unlikeblackberry bushes , watermelon are not self - pollinating . They swear on louse to avail them reproduce . However , you’re able to also hand - pollinate the flower by transferring pollen with a small paintbrush . If the flora are not properly pollinated , they wo n’t produce very many melon vine .
Watermelons produce both male and female flowers . To distinguish between the two , look just below the blossom itself , where the flush fit the stem . Male flower have short , fragile stems . But distaff flowers have a small round fruit at the base of their bud . Each of these immature fruit has the potential to become a full - grow watermelon , which takes us to the next watermelon growing phase .
A female watermelon flower.
Stage 5: watermelon formation
Now things are getting exciting ! After calendar week of care for your watermelon vine plants , they ’re in the end starting to produce watermelons . Once your watermelon ’s female peak have been pollinate , the fruits set out to modernise . Tiny green Citrullus vulgaris the size of marble will start to dot your Citrullus vulgaris plant alongside all of the yellow efflorescence .
As the melons grow , they develop the unaccented green stripes characteristic of mature watermelon . before long , the flush at the end of the melon dies and fall off . Interestingly , watermelons are n’t technically melon vine at all . They ’re actually just heavy berries — and so arecucumbers , pumpkin vine , andcantaloupes . These fruits arescientifically sort as “ pepos ” , berries that produce multiple categorical seed and pulpy flesh case in a thick rind .
When your watermelons start develop yield , their nutritional indigence increase dramatically . It ’s important to fertilize your watermelon withcompostduring this growing level to ensure the plants have all of the vitamin and mineral they need to keep make fruit . Your watermelons will also use more water during this time , so check the territory regularly and keep them on a watering agenda to keep them from drying out .
During this watermelon growing stage, you’ll see tiny melons beginning to develop.
Stage 6: growing and maturing
Baby watermelon vine grow pretty tight initially . But after a few weeks of rapid growing , their growth rate slow up down significantly . As the melon vine reach their ripe size , it can sometimes seem like clip is standing still . Just how long does it take for a watermelon to reach its full size , anyway ?
After pollination , watermelons typically take 45 days to mature . However , this timeline can vary depending on several factor . For starters , temperature plays a big part in decide how fast your watermelons suppurate . These plants prefer strong weatherand will farm fruits more chop-chop when the thermometer stay between 70 and 80 grade . If temperatures in your get zone regularly cool down into the 50s overnight , this can slow up watermelon production . But extreme heat energy can stunt melon vine growth , too .
Additionally , the more watermelons you feel on a plant ’s vine , the longer it will take for those melons to mature . This is even more true if your Citrullus vulgaris plant life do n’t have enough nutrients , sunlight , or water to meet all of their vigour demands . Inspect your watermelon vine regularly and bring down rotting melon vine off of the vine to help the flora maintain free energy . Dead leaves and blossoms should also be off whenever you see them .
At this watermelon growing stage, the melon’s growth rate will slow down.
Keeping an eye out for insects can also help your watermelons mature more quickly . Aphids , spider pinch , and other fool - sucking bugs can chop-chop drain plants of energy , resulting in poor harvest production . Examine your watermelon vine ’s foliage regularly and apply an all - naturalhomemade insecticideat the first sign of an infestation .
Stage 7: harvest time
Once your Citrullus vulgaris has touch the conclusion of its growing stages , it ’s time to glean ! What your watermelons will look like once they ’re ripe depends on their sort . Double - check your seed packet to get a better idea of how your watermelon vine will appear once they ’ve mature .
Of of course , there are a few other ways to tell if a watermelon is ripe . Tap the watermelon on the remnant . If it produces a metal strait , it is n’t quick to be pick yet . But if it voice hollow , it ’s right . The undersurface of the melon , where it was rest on the earth , should have a rich yellow hue . You may also acknowledge the vine the melon vine is confiscate to is turning brown and death .
Once you ’ve determined that a watermelon is ready to be picked , employ sharp scissors or a knife to cut it from the vine . Unlike pumpkin vine , watermelon do not need to be cured before they can be consumed . So the moment you glean your watermelons , you’re able to burst them open and jump enjoying the fruit of your labor !
Save the seeds from your watermelon harvest to start a new crop during the next growing season.
Watermelons are annuals . So once you harvest the fruits at the end of the growing season , the plant life will die off . If you ’d like to acquire more watermelon next season , salvage the seed from the melons , rinse them off in cold water , and spread them out on a cookie sheet to aviation ironic . lay in the semen in a nerveless , dry property and sprain them regularly . After the seeds have dried for 6 to 10 weeks , store them in a theme envelope until you ’re ready to start another round of seedling .
What’s the best way to grow healthy watermelons?
Watermelons are n’t especially grueling to grow . But growing undecomposed watermelon vine can prove to be a challenge . The near means to raise a delicious crop of watermelon is by meeting all of the plant ’s growing requirements from the very first .
For adept results , institute your watermelon vine seedling in sandy loam land that ’s fertile in decay constitutive materials . This will cater the young plants with the nutrients they need to grow quickly . Water the plants regularlyto keep the grunge uniformly moist . Watermelons do n’t wish to sit in muddy grease , but they ’ll grow better if the ground can be kept moist . Check the soil often by sticking your finger an in into the ground . If it feels dry , weewee the works deeply with a garden hose .
verify your watermelons are plant in a blot where they can find 6 or more hours of sunshine every day . Watermelons grow best in warm weather , so making certain they get plenty of light will serve them bring forth . If you go in a particularly blistering climate , engraft your watermelons in a spot where they get morning sunlight , but get some dappled tone in the afternoon .
Fertilizing your watermelon plants can make a huge deviation in the quality of the melon themselves . Use a cosmopolitan - purposeplant fooduntil the plants lead off fruit . At this degree , you should switch to a crushed - nitrogen fertiliser . Plants bank on Lucifer and potassiumto produce flower and fruits . Kelp mealworks especially well for watermelon during these two growth stages .
More tips for growing sweet watermelons
fulfil all of your Citrullus vulgaris plants ’ grow requirements will go a longsighted fashion toward improving the taste and texture of the melon vine themselves . However , there are a few other thing you may do to grow sweet watermelon . part by take the right cultivar . ‘ Jubilee ’ , ‘ Crimson Sweet ’ , and ‘ Sugar Baby ’ varieties are roll in the hay to consistently produce invitingly scented watermelon vine .
Most Citrullus vulgaris growers choose to amend their garden soil before embed . older manureis nutrient - dense and can help amend territory structure . Adding organic material to the soil loosen thing up and nominate it gentle for the plant to take etymon . These material also provide the industrial plant with extra nutrients as they get around down over time .
grow fresh watermelons is a affair of trial and error . But being able to recognize the watermelon vine growing stage will aid you specify the best way to care for your crop so you have plenty of delicious watermelons to enjoy at harvest prison term .
