Watermelons remind everyone of Summer. They are at every picnic and family gathering. Watermelons are juicy, sweet, and delicious. Watermelons can quench your thirst with a burst of flavor on a hot day. There’s almost nothing as satisfying. Growing your own watermelons is something to consider so you can have them all Summer long. Here is everything you need to know about growing watermelons.
Starting Your Seeds
Watermelon is a Summer fruit. No doubt about it. Watermelons need a lot of warmth to grow properly. They need to be planted when there is no chance of the plants freezing. This can be difficult because they also need about 2 to 3 months to ripen. It is recommended that you start your plant inside. A small cup can be used to start your seed, with proper soil and fertilizer. When there is no longer a chance for frost, you can transplant your watermelons outside.
Caring For Your Plant
Plant your seedlings about 3 to 5 feet apart. Vines grow very long and need to have plenty of room without crowding other plants. It is important that you take care of most of the weeds before vines grow. Once vines grow, it is hard to see weeds. Use a soaker hose to water your watermelons. This is more effective than an overhead sprinkler. Watermelons can rot if they are lying directly on the soil. Put down some straw underneath the melon to prevent rotting. A straw barrier can also protect the melon from bugs or pests. Watermelons can also be protected from critters by putting a laundry basket over the top of the fruits.
Harvesting Your Watermelon
Withholding water from your watermelon will actually give you a sweeter fruit. When the watermelon is almost ripe, lessen the amount of water you give it. The sugars concentrate and result in a sweeter melon. Too much water and the melon will be just that, watery. To judge the ripeness of a watermelon, look at the color of the rind. A bright green rind means it is not ready. Dark green means the melon is almost there. Check the belly of the watermelon as well. Is the belly really white? It’s not ready yet. Is the belly creamy yellow? Go ahead and pick! Knocking on the rind is another way to tell if the melon is ripe. A low-pitched thud means the fruit inside is ripe. A tinny, high-pitched sound means the fruit is unripe. Knock on unripe melons to tune your ears to the right sound.
Image Source: Pixabay
Summing Up
Watermelons are such a treat in the Summer. Bring some to the lake or the pool and enjoy their sweet, refreshing flavor. Cut some up for a picnic with your kids. There is something so good about a cold piece of watermelon on a hot day. Life doesn’t get much better! The possibilities are endless and everyone will love that you grew the watermelons yourself. It makes them that much sweeter.
Image Source: Pixabay
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