Watermelon thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 11. This range includes most of the United States, but heat, the growing season length and planting conditions are also important for success with growing watermelons.
What climate do watermelons grow best in?
They grow best when daytime temperatures fall between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures fall between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They can thrive in both humid and semi-arid environments, but may develop fungal foliage diseases in humid areas more frequently than in dry areas.
What region do watermelons grow in?
While watermelons are grown across the U.S., most production occurs in the top five states (Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, and Texas), producing approximately 69 percent of all grown in the U.S. The average watermelon yield per acre in the U.S in 2020 was 39,704 pounds.
Can you grow watermelons anywhere?
Unattended watermelon vines will grow anywhere and everywhere. Space the vines apart to prevent the plants from growing onto each other. If you are growing your watermelon up a trellis, create small hammocks from scraps of cloth to prevent the heavy fruits from falling off the vines.
Where is the best place to grow watermelons?
Watermelons do best in loamy, somewhat-sandy, well-drained soil. They can struggle in soil that contains too much clay and doesn’t drain well. Watermelons prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5 (“slightly acidic to neutral”). Watermelons need A LOT of space—up to 20 square feet per plant.
Can you grow watermelons in Zone 7?
Zones 7 to 11
In zones 7 and 8, sow watermelon seeds and plant seedlings in mid-April. In the subtropical zones 9 through 11, plant watermelon as early as mid-March. Stagger plantings in the long growing season of the southern zones to enjoy watermelon for a longer period.
Can you grow watermelons in Zone 6?
The warm summers in zone 6 — which includes much of Kentucky and Tennessee as well as portions of Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — are suitable for growing watermelons.
Why watermelon is not good for you?
Consuming large quantity of watermelon may increase the level of water in our body. If the excess water is not excreted, it can lead to an increase in the volume of the blood, further causing swelling in the legs, exhaustion, weak kidneys, et al. It may also lead to loss of sodium levels in the body.
Will frost hurt watermelons?
Because watermelons are warm-season crops, they cannot withstand a freeze or even a light frost. An air temperature of 33 degrees Fahrenheit or below kills watermelons.
Can watermelon grow in Zone 4?
Watermelon thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 11. This range includes most of the United States, but heat, the growing season length and planting conditions are also important for success with growing watermelons.
Can you grow watermelons in winter?
Winter watermelon culture is only possible in warm, frost-free climates or heated greenhouses in cooler climates. Another winter watermelon growing possibility is starting watermelon seeds indoors during the late winter and transplanting the seedlings to the garden in spring when the threat of a late frost is over.
What month is the best time to plant watermelon?
Plant watermelon from late spring to early summer, once soil temperatures reach 70° F or above. Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
How long does a watermelon take to grow?
80 to 90 days
It takes the shortest amount of time to mature, about 70 to 75 days. A main-season watermelon is larger and takes longer to ripen, usually 80 to 90 days. Seedless watermelons are an interesting exercise in plant genetics.
How many watermelons do you get per plant?
2-4 fruits
How Many Watermelons per Plant? Healthy watermelon vines produce 2-4 fruits per plant. The vines produce both male and female flowers. Both are needed to set fruit and there are fewer female flowers compared to male, about one female for every seven males.
What states grow watermelon?
Nearly 80 percent of all U.S. watermelon production hails from four States—Florida, Georgia, Texas and California. Florida surpasses all other States as the main supplier of U.S. watermelons, accounting for total production of 907 million pounds, or 25 percent of domestic supplies in 2019.
Do watermelons need full sun?
Watermelons require full sunlight in order to thrive. The plants can tolerate some partial shade, particularly in hotter climates, but plenty of sun is necessary to develop the sugars in the melons.
Do you have to replant watermelon every year?
As annual plants, watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) must be replanted every season and will not survive the winter either as seedlings or fully grown plants. Watermelons require warm weather to grow quickly and produce their sweet, juicy fruit.
Can you grow watermelon in a raised bed?
You can grow a watermelon plant in a small 4′ x 4′ raised garden bed – if you use a trellis. A single watermelon plant, given good growing conditions, can almost fill a 15-foot-wide circle on the ground. Yikes! There’s no avoiding that they are large, vigorous plants.
Can you grow watermelon in Chicago?
These charming yellow marks are repeated on the green rind of the developing watermelons. Melons can be difficult for some growers in the Chicago area since they demand warm soil and long baking days in full sun. ‘Sungold’ is a 5- to 7-pound casaba melon well-suited to Northern gardens’ shorter growing season.
Does watermelon grow in Ohio?
Planting watermelons
Watermelons prefer to be grown in a sandy loam soil; however, not all parts of the country have ideal soil conditions. In Ohio, a lot of areas are clay heavy. This is why raised beds or raised planting rows are frequently used for growing watermelons.
Can you grow watermelon in NJ?
On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 21 (at MT HOLLY S JERSEY AP, NJ climate station, elevation 52 feet).
Planting Dates for Spring.
| Crop | Watermelons | |
|---|---|---|
| Based on Frost Dates Based on Moon Dates | Start Seeds Indoors | Mar 24-31 |
| Plant Seedlings or Transplants | May 5-19 May 5-15 | |
| Start Seeds Outdoors | N/A |
