Here in Wisconsin, where the growing season is famously short, certain cultivars thrive. Watermelon requires 100 days from planting to produce mature fruit, and growing conditions need to be right.
Can watermelon grow in the Midwest?
The first step to successfully growing melons in the Midwest is choosing the right varieties of honeydew, cantaloupe, muskmelon and watermelon. Choose varieties with short growth cycles of less than 90 days to maturity.
What month do you plant watermelon in?
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.
What zone can you grow watermelons in?
Ideal Temperature. Watermelons can grow as annuals in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 11 and need 70 to 90 days to reach maturity, depending on the variety.
Can I grow watermelon in Chicago?
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.
How long does it take to grow a watermelon?
between 70 and 100 days
Depending on the variety of watermelon, it can take between 70 and 100 days to go from planting to harvest.
What temperature can watermelon tolerate?
Watermelons grow best in air temperatures ranging from 70° to 90°F (21-32°C). Avoid growing watermelon where night temperatures dip below 50°F (10°C); this will cause the fruit to lose flavor. If temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C).
How many watermelons can one seed produce?
2-4 fruits
Healthy watermelon vines produce 2-4 fruits per plant. The vines produce both male and female flowers.
Is watermelon easy to grow?
The great news: watermelon is relatively easy to grow! It takes a long season and thrives in hot weather, but give it some space to sprawl, and it’s mostly maintenance-free!
Can I grow a watermelon from the seeds?
Grow watermelon indoors:
Sow your watermelon seeds in pots in mid-to-late May. In order to do this, fill some pots with seed-starting formula and sow each seed at a depth of 1 inch. You should sow 2-3 seeds per pot. Keep the soil moist and warm, at a temperature of 21 – 22°C.
How do watermelons grow in cold climates?
The key to success for sprouting watermelons is warm soil with limited watering.
- Water the planting media thoroughly the day before planting.
- Make sure the soil temperature in the transplant containers is between 75-90 F.
- Plant your seeds about 1 inch deep.
- Do not water until plants emerge.
What is the best state to grow watermelon?
Florida has historically been the top producer of watermelons and accounted for 19 percent of the 3.9 billion pounds of U.S. watermelon production in 2012.
Can you grow watermelon indoors?
You can plant indoor watermelon seedlings in your home garden once the soil temperature reaches at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange plants in raised mounds along a row (known as “hills”) to direct heat more efficiently, and maintain good drainage.
Do melons like heat?
In the garden, a melon likes it hot. This goes for the green-flesh honeydew; salmon-fleshed cantaloupe; the many hybrids of the two; or yet another melon, that staple of every summer picnic, watermelon. All melons like some space, warm soil and endless sunlight and respond with wandering vines that bear ample fruit.
What climate do watermelons need?
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.
Do watermelons come back every year?
Watermelon plants do not come back every year as they are tender annuals. This means they complete their entire lifecycle in one season and are then killed off by the first frosts.
Can you grow watermelon in your backyard?
They need warm soil to develop and thrive. As a rule of thumb, we will plant directly our seeds or transplant our young watermelon seedlings only after we have planted every other vegetable in our garden during late spring. Watermelons need temperatures from 18°C to 35 °C (65 °F – 95 °F) and plenty of sunlight.
Do watermelon plants need a lot of sun?
Regardless of what variety you grow in your pots, be sure to site the containers in a location where they receive a minimum of 8 hours of full sun per day. Watermelons will not form flowers or fruits if they don’t get enough sun. ‘Sugar Pot’ and ‘Bush Sugar Baby’ are the best two choices for container growing.
Can watermelon survive winter?
No, watermelons cannot survive frost. Freezing temperatures will cause the fruit to wither and die on the vine. A watermelon covered in frost, even for a short period of time, will turn mushy and inedible.
Can I grow watermelon 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.
How much does it cost to grow watermelon?
Watermelon Crops Guide
| Estimated Cost | $700 to $1500 per acre |
|---|---|
| Yield Potential | 10,000 – 70,000 lbs/ac |
| Profit Potential | $0 to $2,000 per acre |
| Adapted Areas | Statewide |
| Labor Requirements | 1 to 2 man-days per acre during harvest, hand harvested |