I've been having a tough time growing watermelons for the past several years. My plants end up stunted, small, and either fail to flower or if they do, they rarely set fruit. I live in New England (zone 6b) where the last frost is around early May and the first frost hits in early to mid October. My garden soil is loamy and I add a layer of leaves and compost annually. Other vegetables, like squash, thrive in these conditions, but the watermelons just don't seem to work out.
I've tried starting them indoors and transplanting, as well as direct sowing from seed, but nothing has changed. The plants barely reach a foot long, and we only managed to get a single watermelon one year. This season, I'm trying out different varieties—Sangria and Cal Sweet Bush—hoping for a better yield. Can anyone provide tips on what's going wrong or suggest reliable watermelon varieties for my area?
4 Answers
Honestly, being in zone 6b can be tough for growing watermelons. They usually need more consistent warmth than what New England summers might offer. I see the same issue with peppers, even though they do well for you. Maybe consider using a greenhouse for better results when it gets hotter!
It sounds like your watermelons might be struggling due to the cooler temperatures in your zone. They really thrive in heat, so I recommend using black weed block fabric around them. It not only suppresses weeds but also warms the soil. Just keep in mind, this may require extra watering since it can dry out the soil more quickly!
Should I use that even if the temperatures are already in the 80s and 90s?
I've had mixed results with watermelons in the past. Even though I managed to grow a Crimson Sweet last year, it was pretty bland. I think they're super dependent on sun and heat. I usually use tomato fertilizer for my plants, but I still can't crack the code on watermelons. They're a tricky bunch! Maybe I'm missing something too.
What zone are you in? I'm curious about which varieties of cantaloupe you grew, since they sound like a hit!
Have you thought about trying some fertilizer with phosphorus and potassium? It helped my vines grow a lot stronger!
But I grow peppers successfully every year, and we have plenty of hot days. So is heat really the only issue here?