I planted a watermelon on June 1st, and it's now September 2nd with no sign of development. Is there still a chance for me to get any fruit before the first frost, which is expected around October 1st?
3 Answers
Have you seen any flowers on your watermelon plants? That's crucial for fruit development. If you have flowers, check how long they've been around. Without female flowers, the chances of getting fruit are little. Even if you spot one now, it may not fully mature by frost.
Honestly, it sounds like you might be out of luck. If you're growing in a northern area, the shorter growing season can be tough on watermelons. I had a similar experience with some Sugar Baby plants—gorgeous outside, but the taste was just bland and full of seeds. I think crowding from other plants might have also affected mine, even with plenty of watering and fertilizing.
I was in a similar situation in MN and had to give my watermelons a serious boost with water-soluble fertilizer to get things going! I managed to get two melons, but the weather didn't really cooperate with female flowers until late. I ended up replanting cabbage and broccoli after clearing out the dead vines.