Watermelons mostly come into our trade from countries in Mediterranean regions and from tropical latitudes. They can also be planted here in Germany with a greenhouse or by raising the seeds sufficiently early.
Beware of hybrid strains
To grow watermelons in your own garden, you can basically also remove the seeds from commercially available melons. However, all the hassle of seeding and care can be wasted when it comes to a hybrid strain. These are crossed from two other varieties to achieve a better yield and certain plant characteristics and are often no longer capable of reproduction. When selling watermelon seed, it is often the intention of the manufacturer to make the customer dependent on the regular purchase of new seed. Therefore, when you buy seed, check the package to see whether it is a hybrid variety or whether you can store the seeds for next year after the first harvest.
Proper care of watermelons
In order to be able to harvest ripe watermelons even in the moderate climate of Central Europe, you have to grow the seeds on the windowsill or in a mini greenhouse at the beginning of April. It has proven useful to sow two to three seeds in a pot and then only leave the strongest plant after germination. This can also be equipped with additional vigor and better protection against diseases by grafting on a fig leaf gourd rootstock. Watermelons need a lot of light and warmth to grow, but as young plants they should not be placed in direct sunlight. In addition, they must be watered sufficiently every day during fruit growth so that the fruit does not develop any malformations. However, since the plants do not tolerate waterlogging, a loose substrate is important.
Save the seeds for next season
Seeds for the next gardening season can be obtained from a number of sources:
- from the garden trade
- through exchange with melon growers
- from purchased fruit
- from their own melon harvest
Please note, however, that the watermelon seeds must be cleaned and dried well before storage. Otherwise they can become moldy or rot in a very short time.
tips and tricks
With proper preparation and storage, watermelon seeds can remain viable for about six to eight years.