How to Plant Watermelons


Growing watermelon in your garden can be a great summertime treat and money saver. Watermelon is a classic and favorite summertime treat.Watermelons are quite easy to grow with the right preparation. You have to have some knowledge and willingness to perform some basic levels of maintenance so your watermelons grow. The maturation cycle and sheer size of the fruit require that you do some planning to accommodate it. Here are some easy tips you can follow to plant your own watermelon patch.

Procedure:

Things You’ll Need:

  • Powered tiller, shovel or hoe
  • Manure and compost
  • Rake
  • Fertilizers (nitrogen-based and phosphorous/potassium-based)

Step 1

Plan the right spot for your watermelon patch. Watermelons need the full strength of the sun to grow properly. Watermelon plants are known to require a good area where the long vines can spread out. Make sure the soil is not high is clay content because watermelons prefer soil that is drained.

Step 2

Plow your soil with a shovel or hoe at the location you want to plant your watermelon. Make sure the soil is not too wet. You can also use a power tiller to expedite the process. If you come across stones or any other materials discard them. You can home made compost, leaves and even manure to help you in your growth process. Use your rake to make sure the top soil is even and smooth.

Step 3

Make sure the cold weather is past. Now, let’s choose how you want to plant your new watermelon patch. You can grow your watermelon in row formation or hill formation. If you opt for the hill method, mound soil into a small hill shape and drop 3-4 watermelon seeds inside. Cover the seeds with soil. Space the hills 8-10 feet apart on all sides. If you choose the row method, watermelon can be as close as 4-6 inches apart. Drop the seeds inside the earth and cover them with soil. Water the area well.

Step 4

Fully grown watermelons make take up to 100 days to mature. Thin your seedlings one week post germination. If you opted for the hill formation, choose the twp healthiest looking seedling in each hill. Discard the rest. If you opted for row formations, thin the seedlings down to 10-12 inches between each plant.

Step 5

Make sure you remove weeds as they appear. Water your watermelons sufficiently. They can not stand to have no water while they are in the growing stages.

Step 6

You may add a nitrogen-based fertilizer to the soil until the watermelon blooms. After that, you can start to use fertilizers that are high in phosphorous and potassium.

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About the Author: Greenery always attracts Arthur Kunkle. He has a big garden where he plants many fruits and vegetables. His passion for gardening motivates him to write and share different tips on gardening.

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