Are Watermelons Heavy Feeders?

Like cantaloupe, watermelons are heavy feeders that require nutrient-rich soil. After assessing your soil (this can be done with a soil test) for deficiencies and acidity, you can amend the soil with a number of organic solutions like compost, nutrient meals, or specific fertilizers as needed.

What fertilizer is best for watermelon?

When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.

Do watermelons like a lot of water?

Typically, watermelon plants need 1-2 inches of water per week so that the soil stays moist but not wet. If you’re not getting enough rain each week, make sure you give your plants an extra drink.

How much water does a watermelon need a day?

Watermelons do not need water every single day. Only consider watering your watermelons daily when temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C). Watering 1–2 times per week works well as long as temperatures are below 90°F. Try to keep the soil moist to a depth of 12 inches (30 cm) at all times.

Are watermelons slow growers?

Watermelons grow quickly, but they need at least 70-130 days to mature.

How do I make my watermelon sweeter when growing?

Sweetness Starts in the Soil
To encourage strong growth, blend 4 to 6 inches of composted manure into your melon beds prior to planting. Then add a balanced organic fertilizer (such as a mixed blood meal/bone meal product) every 3 to 4 weeks.

How do I increase the yield of my watermelon?

It requires potassium and phosphorus to produce maximum Watermelon. Encourage fruit production by fertilizing female flowers, which are more significant than males and have smaller fruits. Remove the male flower from the Watermelon plant and swipe it on the open female flower to encourage the number of fruits.

Should you water watermelon everyday?

While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged. Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Reduce watering once fruit are growing.

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.

How often do I fertilize watermelons?

Melons do best when treated with small amounts of fertilizer in two or three applications. During the growing season, liquid (soluble) fertilizers may be applied every 2 weeks and granular fertilizers about every 6 to 8 weeks.

Can you overwater watermelons?

Can You Over Water Watermelon Plants? Yes, watermelon can be overwatered. Generally, watermelons need about 1 to 2 inches of water per week to start growing, blooming and producing fruits. However, the amount of water that a watermelon plant needs is reduced once the watermelon sets the fruit.

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.

How deep do watermelon roots grow?

Watermelon roots commonly grow 8 to 10 or more inches deep; the hole and mound become a reservoir of moisture and nutrients.

Should you prune watermelon vines?

Pruning watermelons promotes healthier vines and increases fruit size. Look for irregular or rotting fruit to prune from the plant. Removing the less than perfect melons will enable the plant to focus energy towards growing bigger, healthier, juicier melons.

What do watermelons need to grow big?

The planting location needs full sunlight with a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Nutrient-rich soil that drains well gives the watermelons an ideal environment that allows them to grow to their full size.

Why is my watermelon not fruiting?

If there is insufficient bee activity, not enough pollen will be delivered to properly fertilize the female flowers. The result will be either no fruit or malformed fruit. The flowers can be pollinated by hand in the absence of bees.

What is the best mulch for watermelons?

Untreated grass clippings are one of the best mulches for the vegetable garden and your watermelon patch. Spread 1 inch of clippings over the soil each week. The clippings reduce weed growth and conserve moisture, while breaking down as nitrogen. You’re also using a free, readily available resource.

Why do you plant watermelons on a hill?

Growing Watermelons in Hills
Hills allow better drainage and warm the soil for the plants, which is important because watermelon seeds need a soil temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate. Hilling is important, especially when growing watermelons in heavier soils that do not drain as well as sandy loam.

What do you plant after watermelon?

Alliums: Chives, Garlic, Leeks, and Onions – Alliums like garlic and onions offer anti-fungal benefits and pest control properties, making them a fine choice for watermelon companion plants. Beans – Pole beans and bush beans are generally successful at fixing nitrogen in the soil.

Should I pinch off watermelon flowers?

Some believe that pinching off a vine’s growing shoots as watermelons start to ripen will cause the plant to divert all its energies to fruit ripening. Recent research has shown this to be false.

Is Epsom salt good for watermelons?

For sweeter watermelons and cantaloupes when the plant starts vining and again when small 1-inch melons appear, spray with 6 1/2 tablespoons Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons borax in 5 gallons of water. For more fruit on your pepper plants, fertilize the plant by burying an open one-half pack of book matches near it.