April 26th, 2023
It may feel like the winter weather will never let up, but planting season is just around the corner! And whether you have a green thumb or have never grown a thing in your life, this is the perfect year to gear up your garden with some new gardening know-hows.
Watermelons
How can I possibly grow a big, tasty watermelon, you ask? We’re in the Midwest; it’s COLD! Good question. And the answer is, by making a few careful decisions long before the growing season even begins. So, water-you waiting for? Let’s get started!
- Pick a short-growing variety. Some species grow faster than others with Golden Crown, Sugar Baby, and Yellow Doll (70-75 day fruit maturity) beating out Carson, Crimson Sweet, and Sangria, or even their seedless cousin species Honey Heart and Triple Crown (80-85 days). The shorter the warm seasons in your state, the shorter maturing time you’ll want to choose. Keep in mind, too, that seedless varieties will still require you to plant a traditional species next to them to ensure pollination later on.
- Start indoors. Once you select a melon seed, you’ll want to begin your planting season about three weeks before you plan to transplant into the garden, preferably in late May when the risk of frost has gone. You are welcome to give your melons an easier time by soaking them for a few hours, then allowing them to sprout in a folded, damp cloth, or else you can sow them directly in your pots at 1” deep, in soil that is 75-90°F. If you choose the latter, water your containers thoroughly the day before planting. Do not water the seeds again until sprouted.
- Give them your sandy, your loamy, your well-drained soil. Watermelons dislike clay, so having a raised bed may be the best option for optimal growth conditions if you live in an area with clay soil. Be aware, however, that they need LOTS of space—at least 7 feet between plants due to excessive vine lengths. The outdoor temperature should remain 60°F or above at night, and plants should be watered about an inch to two inches’ worth every week (or 16 gallons) until they begin to ripen, at which time you should stop watering them altogether.
- Pollinate, prune, and wait. Melons can be difficult to get pollinated, so consider giving them a hand. When flowers appear, you can pinch those off that do not have tiny, round fruits attached (males) and rub them on those that do have the fruits attached (females). If you’re worried about doing it wrong, you can also just use a small paint brush to transfer pollen from one flower to another. While it can vary depending on your selection, you should typically only allow four melons to grow per plant; that way they will not produce fruit that is too small or unhealthy. Once that’s done, you wait. The melons will be ready to pick as soon as the maturing time is up, the skins have lightened, and giving them a knock produces a hollow sound. Give one a taste before you pick all of them.
Growing Ideas
- The Oddly Shaped Melon. The Japanese have mastered the technique of the square watermelon, though they can be grown in many shapes. All it requires is a cube of tempered glass (or other transparent material to let in sunlight) placed around the growing melon. Then, voilà! An oddly shaped melon will begin to take form.
- The Trellis Melon. Unfortunately, melons dislike small spaces (pots) due to needing lots of root space. However, they do very well hanging from a trellis, which means you can still grow the vines, leaves, and fruits in a contained area. You can use wood, T-posts with strings, an old ladder, or even a cattle panel bent into an arch. Whatever you use, just make sure it will hold up to the weight of your watermelon variety.
—Grace Desotell, Gardening Editor