When To Plant Watermelons In Alabama? 2023

When To Plant Watermelons In Alabama
Both honeydew and cantaloupe can be planted between the 15th of April and the 16th of June, and then again from the 1st of August until the 31st of August. Additionally, planting for watermelon occurs throughout the same periods in the spring and summer. It is not suggested to plant in the fall.

What month do you plant watermelon?

A Concise Guide to the Cultivation of Watermelons – Once soil temperatures reach at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more, you can plant watermelon from late spring through early summer. Plant watermelons at a distance of three to five feet apart in nutrient-dense soil that is well-drained and has a pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.8.

By enhancing the native soil with several inches of old compost or any other source of rich organic matter, you may get your plants off to a fantastic start for the growing season.
It is absolutely necessary to have a steady supply of water in order to cultivate enormous watermelons with a rich flavor; for the best results, use a soaker hose or drip irrigation.

It is best to avoid getting the leaves moist. The appetites of watermelons are enormous. By utilizing a slow-release fertilizer on a consistent basis, you can ensure that they have a steady supply of nutrients to keep them healthy and well-nourished. A bed of straw will keep the baby melons off of the ground and safe.

What is the best watermelon to grow in Alabama?

‘AU Producer,’ ‘Crimson Sweet,’ ‘Jubilee II,’ ‘Jamboree,’ ‘Lemon Krush,’ (yellow flesh), ‘Sangria,’ ‘Sentinel,’ ‘Starbright,’ ‘Summer Gold,’ and ‘Top Gun’ are a few of the seeded watermelon types that come highly recommended. “Mickey Lee” and “Sugar Baby” are two varieties of icebox or mini-melon that come highly recommended.

How long does it take for watermelons to bear fruit?

Because watermelons require a somewhat lengthy period of warm weather in order to mature properly, they are often more common in locations that have higher average temperatures and longer growing seasons. Nevertheless, gardeners in colder areas can still have success producing watermelons by beginning seeds indoors, acquiring young plants from a nursery, or cultivating kinds with a shorter growth season.

Is it too late in the year to plant watermelon?

Published at 7:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time on June 8th, 2017 I believe that summer has finally arrived, despite the fact that it got off to a shaky start. Those who enjoy eating watermelon will be pleased to hear that. Melons in general thrive in the heat, and watermelons are no exception.

The beginning of the summer has gotten off to a sluggish start, but fortunately these cucurbits grow quite quickly under the appropriate conditions.
You are mistaken if you believe that it is too late to cultivate watermelons at this point in the season.
Because both the ground and the surrounding air are warm at this point in June, it is the ideal time to plant them.

Find types with a short growing season that develop rapidly, like Sugar Baby, if you want to achieve success quickly. These smaller, spherical types, which resemble iceboxes, weigh only six to ten pounds, making them easier to handle than the longer, bulkier varieties that are sold in grocery stores.

Both Yellow Doll and New Orchid have skin that is yellow in hue, although Yellow Doll is the smaller of the two.
New Orchid’s flesh is orange.
Try some Sorbet varieties if you’re interested in seedless options.
Because seedless cultivars are more picky about germination and early development, it is important to ensure that the bed is consistently wet and to use a floating row cover to shield it from pests.

Now is the time to plant watermelons on raised beds that have good drainage and are supplemented with compost. Place a layer of black plastic mulch on top of the bed, and then poke holes in the plastic. This will help to heat up the soil and speed up the growing process.

Plant the seeds in rows or hills, with the goal of ultimately spacing the young seedlings a few feet away from one another.
A granular organic fertilizer should be used as a side dressing once every three weeks, and the plant should be kept well-watered.
Be on the lookout for cucumber beetle infestations.

These little beetles might be yellow and black striped or dotted, and they are particularly fond of feeding on new seedlings and flowers. If you find any of them, dust them with diatomaceous earth. If all goes according to plan, you should be eating crisp and juicy watermelons from your garden by the month of August.

How many watermelon seeds do you plant in one hole?

Plant some seeds in the backyard garden. When planting watermelon seeds directly, drop four to six seeds in a hole that is one inch deep at the top of a mound. Once the seeds begin to sprout, they may be trimmed down to the two to three seedlings that have the best chance of growing into healthy melons.

How many watermelons do you get per plant?

How Many Watermelons Does a Plant Produce? Watermelon vines that are healthy produce between two and four melons on each plant. Both male and female blooms can be seen on a same vine. Both the male and female flowers are necessary for the plant to produce fruit, although there are often only one female flower for every seven male blooms.

How do I make my watermelon sweeter when growing?

Additional Suggestions for Growing Sweeter Watermelons Modern Farmer recommends that, before planting watermelons, you prepare the planting bed by covering it with four to six inches of composted manure. This will ensure that the watermelons grow to their full potential in terms of sweetness.

Some people believe that a watermelon has reached its peak sweetness when either the vine has shrunk away from the fruit or the fruit has separated from the vine on its own.
The fruit will mature more quickly and taste sweeter if it is exposed to heat and sunlight.
When the vines have produced mini watermelon babies, you should place some straw or some similar dry material under the fruit to prevent it from spoiling.

How do you grow watermelon in Alabama?

The levels of moisture, sunshine, and heat in the environment all have a significant role in determining success. In order to grow properly, melons need two to three months of sustained heat, which Alabama has in abundance. They must be exposed to at least six hours of direct sunshine every day and must be grown in full sun.

What to put under watermelons while growing?

6 Professional Pieces of Advice for Growing Watermelons – 1. Ensure that the plants have adequate room. Melons like watermelons require their room. In point of fact, quite a bit of room. Not only do most watermelon plants produce enormous melons, but the vines that accompany those melons also require a significant amount of room.

Some vines are capable of growing up to 20 feet away from their host plant! Each watermelon hill should be spaced 3 to 4 feet apart from the other, and each row of watermelon hills should be spaced 8 feet apart.
This will guarantee that your plants have adequate room to grow.2.
Plant a few of each variety of plant, then space them out.

Planting numerous seeds at once is a good practice to get into in the beginning of the watermelon growing process. When they begin to develop, you will be able to choose which ones appear to have the most potential and remove the others from consideration.

Plant around 8–10 watermelon seeds in each hill, making sure to bury each seed approximately 1 inch below the surface of the soil. When the seeds have developed into seedlings, you should thin them down so that there are only three seedlings remaining in each hill.3. Keep an eye out for insects. Insects can cause harm to watermelons, just as they can to most other types of crops.

Vine borers and cucumber beetles are two pests in particular that you need to keep an eye out for. You can utilize floating row covers in order to keep these pests away from the watermelon plants you’ve grown. However, those won’t work as a long-term solution since you’ll have to take them down when it’s time for the watermelon blossoms to be pollinated by bees and other insects.

Those aren’t a permanent fix.
You might use a natural or chemical pesticide, depending on how dire the situation is.4.
Be careful not to overwater the plant.
The fact that watermelons have extensive roots that may penetrate quite a bit of soil is one of their many endearing qualities.
Because of this, you need only water the plants on an infrequent basis if you want to cultivate excellent watermelons.

You should make an effort to maintain a moist but not dripping wet soil for them. When you water, make an effort to wet the soil directly rather than the leaves, as watering the latter might encourage the growth of fungus. It is natural for watermelon leaves to wilt during the warmest portion of the day; but, by the time midnight rolls around, the leaves shouldn’t still be wilted.

In such case, your plants are suffering from a lack of water.5. Start weeding at an early age. Weeding is necessary for every plant. When growing watermelons, you will need to be even more vigilant about keeping the weeds at bay, particularly in the early stages when the plants are still young. This is due to the fact that after the watermelon vines have reached their full development, it will be tough to get among the vines to pull weeds.

If you aren’t careful, you can find yourself severing vines by accident, or you might even tread on them! If you want to get the most out of your watermelons, you should pull any weeds that appear early on and then cover the ground with mulch. This will discourage the growth of any further weeds.6.

Prevent soil contact.
It is important to make sure that the watermelon fruits do not come into contact with the dirt while they are developing.
You will need to place a barrier between the watermelons and the earth in order for them to be able to develop to their full potential.
This is done in order to lessen the likelihood of decay and sickness.

Straw or even cardboard can serve as effective ground barriers. Have you ever cultivated watermelons with any degree of success?

Do watermelons need a lot of water?

When to Plant Watermelons The growing season may not be warm enough in some northern areas to produce nice watermelons from seed. This might be a challenge when planting watermelons. Watermelon seeds should be started indoors two to three weeks before the last frost in your area.

Plant the seeds of the watermelon in a potting mix that does not include any dirt.
The seedlings need to be kept warm and wet until the external temperatures remain regularly above 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Do not start watermelon seeds too early, as huge plants transplant poorly into the garden; once planted, watermelons do not like to have their roots disturbed.

Watermelon seeds should not be started earlier than they need to be. When the temperature of the soil is higher than 65 degrees Fahrenheit, you can plant watermelons directly into the ground. Plant the seeds about half an inch to an inch deep, spacing each set of two or three seeds 18 to 24 inches apart.

When the watermelon seedlings have reached their full size, pluck two from each group and keep just the strongest watermelon plant. Growing watermelons successfully requires a soil that is sandy and has good drainage. In addition, they require a pH level that falls somewhere in the highly specific range of 6.0 to 6.5.

Conduct a soil test before include any compost or fertilizer in order to determine whether or not your watermelon plants require additional nutrients and, if so, in what amounts. Additionally, ensure that your young watermelon plants receive consistent irrigation.

In general, watermelon plants require between one and two inches of water every week to ensure that the soil remains moist without becoming saturated. Be careful to provide your plants with an additional drink each week if there is not enough rain falling where you are. Steer clear of fertilizers that double as weed killers and plant food.

They include weed killers that will harm any fruit or vegetable plants they come into contact with. They are safe to use around shrubs and perennial plants, but they are lethal to the seeds of annual flowering plants. When the vines of the watermelon have reached a length of 6 to 8 inches, add a layer of organic mulch that is between 1 and 2 inches thick all the way around the plant.

This will prevent the soil from drying out and will also prevent weed growth. If you wait until the weeds are grown, their extensive root systems may damage the shallow roots of a watermelon, thus it is important to pluck them by hand as often as possible when they are still little. Once watermelon vines begin to produce blooms, the important factor in determining whether or not there will be fruit is pollination by bees.

Avoid using insecticides to kill flying insects since doing so might also harm the beneficial bugs that your plants require. Peter Krumhardt

What kind of fertilizer do watermelons need?

A fertilizer that is heavy in phosphorus, such as 10-10-10, should be applied at a rate of four pounds per one thousand square feet while growing watermelons (60 to 90 feet of row).

Can I plant watermelon in March?

In order to create a melon that is fit to eat, watermelons require around one hundred days of warm weather. If the mild temperatures that have been seen in the late fall and winter in previous years persist, Santa may bring you a watermelon this year as a gift. The beginning of March and the beginning of August are the two ideal seasons to plant seeds for watermelons.

How do you prepare soil for watermelon?

Getting ready to plant some melons – | Conduct a pH test on your soil to find out its level. The ideal growing conditions for melons include soils that are sandy loam, drain well, and have a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5. Plants grown in soil with a pH that is lower than 6.0 will have yellow leaves and may or may not develop any fruit at all. Cantaloupe and muskmelon both contain fruit that is juicy, netted skin, and a strong scent. The fruit is often orange in color, although it can also be green. The skin of honeydew melons is silky smooth, and the meat inside might be yellow, green, or orange, depending on the variety.

The species Cucumis melo is responsible for both forms.
The scientific name for watermelon is Citrullus lanatus.
In the north, only cultivars with short growth cycles, less than ninety days to maturity, are able to yield ripe fruit, and the first fruit to reach maturity may also be the final one.
Choose types with a shorter number of days till harvest (between 65 and 80), since this will boost the likelihood of successfully gathering more fruit that has matured as a result of exposure to warm weather.

Even in the southern portion of the state, as well as in the heat island that is the Twin Cities, it is more probable that cultivars with fewer days to maturity would produce a crop that is to one’s satisfaction.

Do watermelons need full sun?

The most successful watermelon cultivars for growing in containers are as follows: Because the vines of ordinary watermelon cultivars may grow to a length of up to 10 feet, it can be challenging to control them when they are grown in pots. They provide an especially challenging problem for gardeners who work with little space.

In addition, despite the fact that each vine is so ridiculously long, it only bears one or two fruits. Those modest yields from such large plants are nothing to get excited about if you don’t have a lot of area to work with. So, what advice would you give someone who gardens in containers? Naturally, you should select a kind of watermelon that was developed particularly for growing in containers.

There is no other kind of watermelon that performs as well as “Bush Sugar Baby” watermelons when it comes to growing watermelons in containers. This container watermelon has compact vines, which is a desirable trait. They only grow to be between 24 and 36 inches in length.

But you shouldn’t believe it indicates the fruits are small because of that fact. Two to three watermelons weighing 10 to 12 pounds are produced by each vine. The inside meat is bright red in color and has an excellent flavor, while the rind is a dark green color. I cannot speak highly enough of the Watermelon, Bush Sugar Baby 1 Pkt.

(40 seeds), therefore please do not hesitate to get it. seeking the position of “Bush Sugar Baby.” Another excellent option is known as “Sugar Pot,” although in recent years, it has been challenging to track down the seeds of this kind. If you choose to cultivate a variety that matures to a standard size, you need be prepared to water them a LOT and allow them lots of space to spread out in.

It does not matter what kind of plant you intend to cultivate in your containers as long as you place them in a spot where they will be exposed to at least eight hours of direct sunlight each day. If watermelons do not receive sufficient sunlight, they will not develop blossoms or fruits on their plants.

The varieties ‘Sugar Pot’ and ‘Bush Sugar Baby’ are your best bets for growing cannabis in a container.

Can I plant watermelon in May?

When Should You Plant Watermelon Seeds? – In order to germinate, watermelon seeds require warm soil. Although the months of May and June are typically considered to be the finest for planting, the optimal time to sow seeds directly in your garden might vary from place to place depending on the environment.

It’s possible to start planting as early as March if you live in a warmer environment.
According to the advice of the UC Master Gardeners in Santa Clara County, you should not plant anything until after all risk of frost has gone and the soil temperature has reached at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The temperature of the air throughout the day should ideally be at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit higher than what it actually is.

Planting seeds for a watermelon crop during a time of year when the soil is too cold might result in a low germination rate for the seeds. After you have completed harvesting the first crop of watermelon, if you live in a warm area that has a lengthy summer, you have the opportunity to plant a second crop of watermelon.

Where is the best place to plant watermelons?

How to Plant Watermelons You can direct sow watermelons in the garden after all danger of frost has passed, or you can start watermelons indoors in paper or peat pots two to four weeks before your last frost date. Watermelons can be planted directly in the garden after all danger of frost has passed.

Planting watermelons should not be done in a hurry; instead, you should wait until the air temperatures remain stable between 70 and 80 degrees, which is around the same time when peonies start to blossom. Seeds require warm soil to germinate. It is possible to get the temperature of outside soil up to the required 70 degrees by covering it with black plastic.

Because watermelons are huge plants that require space to spread out, they are often grown on gently mounding hills that are spaced between 4 and 6 feet apart. Plant four to five seeds at a depth of approximately one inch in the center of the hill. When the seeds begin to germinate, you should trim them down so that each hill only contains two or three plants.

Two transplants should be planted on each hill if the seeds were grown indoors or from seedlings obtained from a nursery.
Row coverings are an option for protecting young plants from the cold in environments with lower average temperatures.
Row coverings will protect the plants from the numerous insect pests that are drawn to watermelons.

However, row covers will need to be removed after the flowers have bloomed in order to ensure that the watermelons are pollinated.

Can you plant watermelon seeds directly in the ground?

Plant the seeds of the watermelon in a potting mix that does not include any dirt.
The seedlings need to be kept warm and wet until the external temperatures remain regularly above 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Do not start watermelon seeds too early, as huge plants transplant poorly into the garden; once planted, watermelons do not like to have their roots disturbed.

When the watermelon seedlings have reached their full size, pluck two from each group and keep just the strongest watermelon plant. Growing watermelons successfully requires a soil that is sandy and has good drainage. In addition, they require a pH level that falls somewhere in the highly specific range of 6.0 to 6.5.

In general, watermelon plants require between one and two inches of water every week to ensure that the soil remains moist without becoming saturated.
Be careful to provide your plants with an additional drink each week if there is not enough rain falling where you are.
Steer clear of fertilizers that double as weed killers and plant food.

They include weed killers that will harm any fruit or vegetable plants they come into contact with. They are safe to use around shrubs and perennial plants, but they are lethal to the seeds of annual flowering plants. When the vines of the watermelon have reached a length of 6 to 8 inches, add a layer of organic mulch that is 1 to 2 inches thick all the way around the plant to prevent weed growth and to keep the soil wet.

If you wait until the weeds are grown, their extensive root systems may damage the shallow roots of a watermelon, thus it is important to pluck them by hand as often as possible when they are still little. Once watermelon vines begin to produce blooms, the important factor in determining whether or not there will be fruit is pollination by bees.

Avoid using insecticides to kill flying insects since doing so might also harm the beneficial bugs that your plants require. Peter Krumhardt