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Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
Sprawling summer showstoppers that need heat, room, and patience.
Sun
Full sun (8+ hrs)
Water
Deep, weekly
Soil
Sandy, warm, pH 6.0–6.8
Spacing
1.5 m apart
Days to harvest
80–100 days
Hardiness
Zones 5–11 (annual)
Seasonal Calendar
S
S
H
H
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Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Start warm
Sow indoors 3–4 weeks before last frost. Warmth is everything.
- 2
Plant on black mulch
Black plastic warms the soil and boosts yield in cool climates.
- 3
Limit fruit
Keep 2–4 fruit per vine for larger, sweeter melons.
- 4
Check ripeness
Curly tendril nearest the fruit turns brown, underside is yellow, sound is hollow.
Common problems
Vine wilt
Rotate crops; use disease-resistant varieties.
Blossom end rot
Even watering and mulch — calcium reaches the fruit via water.
Good neighbors
CornNasturtiumRadish
Field tips
- “Slide a board under each fruit to keep it dry.”
- “Chill for at least 4 hours before serving — sweetness peaks cold.”