How Big Do Sugar Baby Watermelons Get

Seeds or Seedlings

3 to five days, 60F to 95F

iv years

High Fertility

Full Sun

12" autonomously

four' to vi' apart

65 to 86

Growing Guide
GROWING NOTES

Indoor Starting
As they crave a long growing season, watermelons are best started indoors approximately 3-iv weeks prior to the last frost of the season. Sow seeds one/4" deep in flats or small pots, sowing iii seeds per pot. Keep medium moist while awaiting formation. Additionally, watermelon seeds will testify better formation rates with heat. Keep the soil betwixt 80-xc degrees, using a heat mat if necessary. Seed should brainstorm to 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 prepare of truthful leaves has developed, reduce waterings once more, but do non let institute to become desiccated.

Harden plant by gradually exposing to outdoor conditions. Transplant to permanent site in late spring later on the last frost has passed. If possible, transplant on an clouded day to minimize wilting and create a more acquiescent environment for your immature plant.

Outdoor Starting
If you accept long, hot growing seasons, melons can direct-seed into garden. To ensure ripening in areas with shorter growing seasons and cooler weather, cull fast-maturing varieties, start plants inside, use black or IRT plastic mulch to warm soil and use cloth row covers to protect plants.

Direct-seed 1 to 2 weeks after average last frost when soil is 70 F or warmer. Found 1 inch deep, 6 seeds per hill, hills 4 to 6 feet apart; or i pes apart in rows 5 anxiety apart. Tin can establish 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.v to vii.5. Consistent, plentiful wet needed until fruit is virtually the size of a tennis ball. Soil temperatures below 50 F slow growth. Consider using blackness plastic and fabric row covers to speed soil warming. Sandy or calorie-free-textured soils that warm speedily in spring are best.

In many areas, successful crops crave starting plants indoors, using plastic mulch to warm soil, and textile row covers to protect immature transplants.

MAINTAINING

For transplanting, sow seeds indoors ¼ inch deep in peat pots (two-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 loma in hills spaced four to half dozen feet apart, or i to 2 feet apart in rows v feet autonomously. Transplants are delicate and roots are sensitive to disturbance. If you need to thin, use pair of scissors. Keep soil intact effectually establish when transplanting.

Mulch plants afterwards soil has warmed to aid maintain consistent wet and suppress weeds.

If using fabric row covers, remove at flowering to let pollination past bees. Expert pollination is disquisitional to fruit set.

Plants require consistent moisture until pollination. Once fruits are nearly the size of a tennis brawl, only h2o if soil is dry and leaves show signs of wilting.

To preclude insect damage to developing fruits, place melons on pots or pieces of woods.

If growing melons on a trellis, back up fruit with slings made from netting, textile, or pantyhose. Trellising improves air apportionment effectually plants and can assist reduce foliar disease problems. Choose small-fruited varieties and reduce plant spacing.

For big plantings, leave a strip of rye encompass ingather every 2nd or third row perpendicular to prevailing winds to protect plants from damaging current of air.

To reduce insect and affliction problems, avoid planting cucumber family unit crops (melons, squash, pumpkins) in the same spot two years in a row.

Do not let your melon plants go stale out during the growing season. They are non tolerant of drought. Additionally, be cautious not to over-water plants equally this can negatively impact the taste and flavor later on. Keep soil moist but not soggy.