How Do You Raise Sugar Baby Watermelons?

Direct-seed 1 to 2 weeks after average last frost when soil is 70 F or warmer. Plant 1 inch deep, 6 seeds per hill, hills 4 to 6 feet apart; or 1 foot apart in rows 5 feet apart. Can plant at closer spacings if trellised. Thin to 2 to 3 plants per hill.

How many watermelons will a sugar baby plant produce?

‘Sugar Baby’ produces anywhere from two to five melons per vine. In regions with a long growing season, the first melon is usually the largest, with smaller melons ripening toward the end of the season.

Do Sugar Baby watermelons need a trellis?

Sugar baby watermelons are the perfect variety for urban gardeners because they can be grown vertically on a trellis. Watermelon plants are a sprawling vine and trellising is a huge space saver. Traditional watermelons get way too big and heavy to trellis.

What month do you plant sugar baby watermelons?

Start your ‘Bush Sugar Baby’ watermelon seeds indoors in mid- to late April, or six weeks before your anticipated planting date. Sow the seeds 1 inch deep in pots with drainage holes that are filled with sterilized potting soil or seed-starting medium.

How long does it take a Sugar Baby watermelon to mature?

Sugar Baby melons, like all watermelons, require warm, dry temperatures to thrive. This early watermelon cultivar was first introduced in 1956 and is an early maturing variety, maturing in 75 to 80 days.

What do you put under growing watermelon?

Instead, place small patches of plastic sheeting, coarse straw or a piece of plywood directly under melon fruits that have become at least softball sized. As long as the melon doesn’t rest directly atop wet soil or mulch, there’s much less chance for the melon’s underside to rot.

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 often should I water my Sugar Baby watermelon?

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.

How long does it take for a watermelon to grow to full size?

80-90 days
Watermelons require 80-90 days from seed sowing to grow a full-size watermelon. Some smaller-sized watermelons (like Sugar Baby) can reach maturity in closer to 70 days.

Can sugar baby watermelons grow in pots?

Growing sugar baby watermelon in containers requires a soil that is rich in nutrients, a container with good drainage, proper sunlight, and consistent water. Gardeners should use at least a 5-gallon container, typically 5 to 15-gallon containers will work best.

Why are my baby watermelons rotting?

Blossom rot in watermelons is caused by a lack of calcium, but simply adding more calcium isn’t going to help the situation. More often than not, watermelon blossom end rot occurs when water levels are fluctuating during fruit initiation.

What is the best fertilizer for watermelons?

For watermelons, apply a fertilizer high in phosphorous, such as 10-10-10, at a rate of 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet (60 to 90 feet of row). Make a trench on the planting bed 4 to 6 inches deep and 2 inches from the side of the row. Cover the fertilizer and plant so seeds do not touch the fertilizer.

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 watermelon plants?

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.

How many Sugar Baby watermelon seeds are in a hole?

Plant 1 inch deep, 6 seeds per hill, hills 4 to 6 feet apart; or 1 foot apart in rows 5 feet apart. Can plant at closer spacings if trellised. Thin to 2 to 3 plants per hill. Prefers warm, well-drained, soil, high in organic matter with pH 6.5 to 7.5.

Is coffee grounds good for watermelon plants?

Q. Are coffee grounds good for watermelon plants? Coffee grounds contain the three major nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—and they also improve soil structure. Mix them in with compost or apply as a soil amendment, adding about ½ inch of grounds directly to the soil approximately 6 inches deep.

What can you not plant near 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.

Should watermelon vines be pruned?

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.

How tall should a watermelon trellis be?

Given deep soil and good growing conditions, I normally expect to harvest 20-30 pounds of watermelon growing on a 4 foot wide and 7 foot tall trellis. That’s a LOT of weight! Make sure your trellis is sturdy enough to hold that.

What is the sweetest watermelon to grow?

Sultan. Sultan is one of the sweetest varieties you’ll find, this one measures 12.3 on the Brix scale. The fruits average 15 pounds and ripen within 95 days.

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.