Hey everyone! I'm planning to plant watermelons this summer in Northern California, where the weather is finally starting to warm up. I've been doing some research, watching videos, and reading articles, but I feel like there's still some crucial advice out there that I'm missing. I've never grown watermelons before, and I know they can be a bit picky when it comes to fertilizing and watering. I'm aiming to start planting in May, so any insights from experienced gardeners would be super helpful!
4 Answers
I grow 'Sugar Baby' every year, and they’re surprisingly easy! I actually start the seeds indoors about 3-4 weeks before planting them outside. Soaking the seeds overnight helps too. Just prepare the soil with compost and space them about 12 inches apart so they can vine. I keep the soil moist but not muddy. I’m also trying Burpee’s Mini watermelons this time—they can be trellised too!
Watermelons can definitely be finicky! Make sure they get plenty of sun and have enough space to sprawl out. Just a tip: once the fruits start growing, don’t overwater them or they might taste bland. Have you decided on a variety yet?
A solid piece of advice is to keep them in a spot that's not super accessible. Watermelons and pumpkins are often the first to be stolen!
We grow watermelon every year in a patch that’s 12 feet by 8 feet. I add compost each spring and usually plant 4 plants there. They seem to take a while to start growing, but by late July they really take off! Just keep them in the sun and water them regularly. The trick is to stop watering a week before you plan to pick them to help the sugars concentrate. We usually harvest around mid-September and end up with about 10-15 watermelons! I like to plant 'Crimson Sweet'.
I picked 'Julibee Watermelon' and 'Sugar Baby'. Going with 'Sugar Baby' since it's smaller!