You will want to transplant your watermelon seedlings when they have at least two sets of true leaves. Be very careful with the roots—they resent being disturbed. Space them about 2 feet apart in rows that are 6 to 8 feet apart, or plant them in threes on hills.
What happens if you plant watermelon too close together?
In the case of spacing watermelon plants, those set too far apart waste valuable garden space while those set too close together compete for light, air and soil nutrients, resulting in a potentially compromised crop.
Should you separate seedlings?
Some gardeners carefully separate the seedlings and replant the extras in other pots. Thrifty, yes, but it’s easy to damage the tiny plants. If you decide to transplant any of the seedlings, loosen them carefully from the soil, using a table knife.
When should you split seedlings?
When the seedlings have developed their second set of true leaves, it’s time to transplant or thin them. If you don’t need many plants, you can thin them in place: just pinch or snip off the excess seedlings, leaving the remaining ones spaced about 2 inches apart.
Do watermelon seedlings transplant well?
Large watermelon seedlings do not transplant well. Watermelons need a long growing season with relatively high temperatures—between 70 and 80°F during the day and between 65 and 70°F at night.
Can you plant leggy watermelon seedlings deeper?
Generally, yes, you can plant leggy seedlings deeper in the soil to help compensate for the extra-long stems! However, avoid the temptation to plant them deeper right away, when they’re still very young and tender. Weak, thin, small stems may rot once they’re buried in damp soil.
What can I do with watermelon seedlings?
Transplanting Seedlings
- Handle watermelon seedlings with extreme care when you transplant. Their roots are very fragile, so try not to disturb the soil when removing them from pots.
- After transplanting, cover the plants with row covers to keep pests at bay.
- Find even more tips for planting melons in your home garden.
How do you separate seedlings without killing them?
Wiggle the knife as you oh so gently tug on the seedling to help loosen it. It will pull free and have a beautiful little root. Sometimes you will get more than one to come out, just gently untangle the roots from each other. If you are careful it won’t do any harm to either seedling.
What happens if you don’t thin out seedlings?
When left un-thinned, seedlings that are in tight quarters will compete with one another for nutrients, water, air, and root space. Those are not things you want to deprive your seedlings of! In addition to concerns about competition, crowding seedlings also increases the risk for disease.
How big should seedlings be before transplanting?
about 2-3 inches high
Before you Transplant. As noted above, make sure that your seedling is about 2-3 inches high before transplanting. We also recommend transplanting a seedling after its two “true leaves” first come out. True leaves are the leaves that grow after the initial seed’s cotyledon leaves come out.
How far apart do you plant watermelon seedlings?
Give watermelon vines plenty of room to roam, which usually means spacing plants 3 to 5 feet apart. After planting, cover seedlings with floating row covers to keep out insects and trap warm air near plants. Watermelon vines bear male and female flowers.
What should not be planted next to watermelon?
The best plants to companion with watermelons are herbs, lettuces, marigolds, nasturtiums, and radishes. Avoid planting cucumbers, squash, and potatoes near watermelons to help reduce the risk of pests.
What is the lifespan of a watermelon plant?
3-4 months
How many watermelons per plant? About 2 to 3 melons can be obtained per plant in its single lifespan of 3-4 months. Usually, gardeners purposely keep only one watermelon per plant to harvest big sized fruits.
What happens if many seedlings are grown together?
If the seeds are sown close to each other, the resulting plants on growing will not get sufficient sunlight, nutrients and water from the soil. Hence some or all of the plants will show weak growth.
Can I replant thinned seedlings?
Treat your thinned plants gently since you’ve already disturbed their roots by pulling them up. Plant them in their new location pretty deeply—right up to their crown for good soil support. Water them immediately after replanting. Then watch them over the next several days to see if they make it.
What can I do with extra seedlings?
Shoot them a quick text or give them a call and see if they’d like to have one of your seedlings. You’d be surprised how many will accept. I think it has something to do with the seedling being free… makes them not so worried about accidentally killing it, maybe?
How long should seedlings stay in trays?
1. They have one or two sets of true leaves. The ideal time for transplanting your seedlings is about 3 weeks after they sprout or when you have 1-2 sets of true leaves. It’s better to get them in new containers before they start to show the signs of stress listed below.
How do you separate plants that are too close together?
Dividing plants is easy. Simply dig up the entire clump and then carefully divide the crown and root ball into two or more section, depending on the size of the clump.
How do you keep seedlings from getting leggy?
There are four surefire ways to prevent your seedlings from becoming leggy and they all involve light manipulation.
- Provide direct light.
- Provide artificial light.
- Adjust supplemental light.
- Brush the seedlings gently with your hand or a ruler several times a day to strengthen the stems.
How do I make my watermelon sweeter when growing?
According to Modern Farmer, you should add four to six inches of composted manure to the planting bed before you plant for maximum sweetness. They state that watermelon is at its sweetest point when the vine shrivels at the fruit or the fruit detaches on it’s own.
How many watermelons do you get per plant?
2-4 fruits
How Many Watermelons per Plant? Healthy watermelon vines produce 2-4 fruits per plant. The vines produce both male and female flowers. Both are needed to set fruit and there are fewer female flowers compared to male, about one female for every seven males.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.