Growing Watermelon

Cucurbitaceae c. lanatus : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      S S              
        T T            
        P P            

(Best months for growing Watermelon in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 70°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 24 - 30 inches apart
  • Harvest in 12-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, Sunflowers
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

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06 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
They may not be good companions but if both are doing wellit's not going to cost you anything to let them go. If the melon roots are intertwined with a potato you may have to leave that potato until the tops of both die down
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27 Jul 16, jade walters (Australia - temperate climate)
watermelons are the best fruit I have ever had
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12 Jul 16, Vuyo (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where do I find seeds of watermelon, and how do i take care of my cabbadge it does not grow to a big size what chemicals can I use
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18 Apr 16, Ulanda Schmulian (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Try ordering yellow watermelon seeds from Livingseeds. Their service is amazing: They stock a good selection of watermelon varieties.
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02 Jan 16, susan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Wanting to know are you able to eat all of the melon, skin, white and red.
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27 Mar 17, damian levvell (Australia - tropical climate)
yes as long as no insects have eaten it
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02 Mar 16, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
yes
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08 Aug 15, Peter du Preez (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
The soil here is extremely sandy so we make compost and loosen the soil (basically make a hole for seedlings and enrich it with 300ml of compost). I've never planted watermelons and would like to (cabbage and radish work wonderfully here). What irrigation is better - overhead or drip? How much water per day/week? (we plant without wastage). Is it okay if I use mulch - we do it for everything else to preserve the soil. It gets to about 45C in summer... is that okay?
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05 Jun 15, Stig (Australia - temperate climate)
It could be a pie melon . My mum use to make pineapple and melon jam .... very nice (google the recipe .. very easy to make) cheers Stig
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04 Jun 15, robert (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i found some plants along a train line that have fruit that looks just like watermelon on the outside and inside it is greenish but still smells and tastes like watermelon so what is it and if i got seeds from the fruit will it grow
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Showing 71 - 80 of 169 comments
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From seed to harvest involves two phases: 1. Germination (from seed to seedling) 2. Days to harvest which is from seedling to harvest. For your seeds to germinate you need proper germination temperatures and some water (and sunlight). The germination temperature and days to germinate varies by variety -- watermelon seeds tend to like VERY warm temps for germination with germination in about 3 days at 30c and about 10 days at 20c. I would factor about 14 days for germination as a general rule of thumb. Days to harvest varies by variety with smaller varieties taking about 60 days and larger varieties taking closer to 90 days. ‘Charleston Gray’ harvests in 85 days, while Little Darling takes 65 to 70 days, Carolina Cross takes 100 days. I think most varieties fall into the 80-90 day category. Overall, I would allow 114 days, provided the conditions are GOOD (close to optimal) for watermelon from seed for most varieties -- and about 85 days for the smaller (smallest varieties) and you're looking at about 120 days for the really LARGE watermelons.

- Celeste Archer

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