Like most melons, watermelons can be very fussy about root disturbance, so if planting from seedlings, take care not to disturb the roots when transplanting. If you plant a number of plants a few weeks apart, you can extend your harvest period from late spring through until early winter or first frost, whichever comes first. To ensure good levels of pollination, and therefore fruiting, your best bet is to put in at least two plants – they can be in the same hole. Sometimes a single plant will carry both, other times not. Watermelon can perform very well in sandy, gravelly and otherwise dry soil, however the best performance comes from quality soil with good drainage that's been improved with organic matter.īoth male and female flowers are required to produce fruit. In cooler zones, plant in the warmest, most sheltered spot you can find. As it is fast growing, you will get a crop from your plant before the weather cools down again. If you are in an area prone to frost, don't plant until the possibility of frost has passed. They can be grown in virtually any region, provided you get the timing right when planting them. Watermelon plants are natives of hot, dry regions. Sow in seed trays in August, and transplant seedlings from October to December. Seedlings prefer soil temperatures from 21–35☌. Watermelon is grown solely for its fruit. Watermelons are very fast growing given the right conditions, and harvest can be in as little as 10 weeks from planting. Each plant should produce four or more fruit, however you'll need to follow some tips to get the best yield. Plants can be quite sprawling, so select the variety carefully. The fruit can be enormous – around 10kg is not uncommon, and sizes of 45kg or more have often been recorded! They are generally a deep green with patchy, lighter coloured stripes, however some are near black, with circular golden patterns, as well as other forms. There is quite a range in the colour of the fruits. Wayward shoots may head off up a tree, too. If a watermelon encounters something as it grows, such as a small shrub, it will use these tendrils to help it scramble over the object. At the base of the leaves you'll find coiled-up tendrils of the sort found on true climbers. They are held upright on succulent stalks and tend to have an almost-prickly hairiness. Watermelon has a creeping, scrambling form similar to that of other melons. Thanks to hybridising there are even varieties that can be grown in smaller gardens, and even in large pots. The watermelon is great fun, and very rewarding to grow at home. As the name implies, it is incredibly juice-filled, yet it originally hails from very dry regions, and will in fact grow in near-drought conditions. Cold from the fridge, added to fruit salad or even juiced, poured over ice and topped with a sprig of mint – does it get any better or more summery than that? Who doesn't love watermelon? The enormous, delicious, almost crunchy fruit drips with sweet, refreshing juice. Appearance and characteristics of watermelon Watering: best growth and fruiting comes with reliable moisture. Position: full sun will tolerate a little wind.įlowering and fruiting: yellow flowers followed by large, round to oval-shaped fruit with sweet, moist red, pink or yellow flesh.įeeding: feed at planting and apply liquid organic products during growth and fruit development. Soil: well-drained sandy loam with added manures or compost. Height: less than 50cm, with spread of 2m+.įoliage: large, up to 25cm, bright green, often lobed, generally have a distinct “hand” of veins, coarse texture and a hairy, almost prickly, feel.Ĭlimate: tropical, sub-tropical warm and cool temperate if planted in the right location. Plant type: fast-growing herbaceous annual creeping/running “vine”. Name: watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus and cvs).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |