Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
'Watermelon' is a plant in the Citrullus genus with a scientific name of Citrullus lanatus. Watermelon grows as an annual and is an edible fruit. Being an annual plant, it tends to grow best over the course of a single year. Watermelon normally grows to a vine habit with a max height of 1.46 feet (that's 45.0 cm metric). Popular varieties of Watermelon with home gardeners are Sugar baby, Crimson Sweet, Moon & Stars, Bush Sugar Baby, and Blacktail Mountain.
South Africa is believed to be where Watermelon originates from.
Watermelon needs a moderate amount of maintenance, so some level of previous experience comes in handy when growing this plant. Ensure that you are aware of the soil, sun, ph and water requirements for this plant and keep an eye out for pests.
This plant info is provided by the myfolia gardener's wiki. All details about Watermelon have been kindly provided by our members.
How to grow Watermelon
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Full Sun
Keep the plants under plastic bags till the flowers appear on the vine.
The most reliable sign of ripening occurs when the small tendril opposite the fruits pendule (stem attachement) changes from green to brown and becomes dry.
Plant in a location that enjoys full sun. Zone 4 to 9 are typically the USDA Hardiness Zones that are appropriate for this plant (although this can vary based on your microclimate). Try to keep the ph of your soil between the range of 6.5 and 7.5 as Watermelon likes to be in weakly acidic soil - weakly alkaline soil. Keep in mind when planting that Watermelon is thought of as tender, so remember to wait until your soil is warm and the night time temperature is well above freezing before moving outside.Growing Watermelon from seed
You can sow watermelon seeds in mounts or rows. Plant three to four seeds in each mount you make.
Sow 0.39 inches (1.0 cm) deep with a guideline distance of 8.12 feet (2.50 metres). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 16°C / 61°F to ensure good germination.Transplanting Watermelon
Seed Saving Watermelon
Collect seeds when fruits are fully ripe. Clean the seeds, and dry them. 1
Companion plants for Watermelon
These plants have been known to grow well alongside Watermelon so consider planting:
Repellent plants for Watermelon
These plants will not grow well with Watermelon so avoid planting these within close proximity:
Common Watermelon problems
These problems, diseases and pests are known to affect Watermelon plants:
Watermelon Etymology
Watermelon Folklore & Trivia
In times of drought, watermelons have often been used as a source of uncontaminated water.
Other names for Watermelon
Watermellon, Sugar baby watermelon 4, Pastèque à confitures, Melon à confitures
Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai, Citrullus vulgaris
Misspellings: Citrullus vulgaris, Citrullus ianatus
Latest Watermelon Reviews
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19 Jul 2012
Kevalsha's Watermelon Ali Baba was
Reviewed day 96
This watermelon started rotting and I discarded it. I know it was planted at the wrong time. The plant is bearing more fruits but I will just start over in August.
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16 May 2012 Kevalsha's Watermelon Ali Baba was
Reviewed day 32
Nice and healthy.
Watermelon care instructions
How long does Watermelon take to grow?
Footnotes
1 :The New Seed-starters Handbook; Published 1988
Popular varieties of Watermelon
Watermelon Forums
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