Watermelon care

[Rose bloom]

We planted watermelon seeds last week. Any suggestions and care tips?

[rainbowgardener]

So far they are just seeds and so the only care they need if planted outdoors is to be kept moist but not wet.

Once they are plants they will need plenty of water (if you are in a hot dry part of SoCal, you will likely have to water daily) and nutrients and sunshine.

[davidschweer]

Southern California is so easy to grow in!! Good soil and make sure they are watered and mother nature should do the rest! Make sure they have lots of room!!
I'm moving back to San Diego next year cant wait!! NO MORE WINTER!!!

[Rose bloom]

The seeds have sprouted!

[rainbowgardener]

That's great! It is really slow, but I'm used to starting them indoors on heat mats, where they sprout in about 3 days. Your soil might have been a little cool for them yet, but now that they are up, they should be fine.

[Rose bloom]

Thanks.

[PunkRotten]

I am only an hour from you and I am not planting mine until closer to June. Whenever I plant cukes and melons early like you have they do nothing for awhile and then start to grow when it gets warmer.

[feldon30]

How much compost and/or composted manure did you add to the planting area?

[Gary350]

Plant seeds in a row 12" between each seed. Put 12" of sand on the soil and till it in before you plant. Till and kill weeds and grass 25 foot radius of the melons. Vines will grow roots every place they touch the soil just like sweet potatoes. The more roots the vine has the more water it will suck up from the soil and the larger the melons will get.

#1 most important thing is full sun all day. 12 hours of full sun. If a tree or house blocks the sun for 3 hours then you have 3 hours LESS full sun.

Give the plants lime to keep the melons from having blossom end rot.

If your soil is moist melons will rot laying on the soil. Pour a 1 gallon bucket of sand under the melons to prevent rot.

[Rose bloom]

Well, the watermelons are Sugar Baby, so I don't think they'll grow that big.

[PunkRotten]

I am trying to decide if I should do Sugar Baby or Yellow Doll (hybrid). I am also gonna grow a muskmelon (green nutmeg) vertically up a trellis. Maybe next weekend I will plant the seeds.

[Rose bloom]

Now some of them have started to fruit.

[imafan26]

I have grown sugar baby the vines get about 6 ft. The watermelon has a thin rind and the largest will weigh around 11 lbs for me.

I have sugar baby seeds, maybe I'll grow them again this year. I have to find some space for them.