Watermelons originally come from West Africa in their wild form and are now planted in warm regions around the world. In the home garden or greenhouse, they need to be well cared for for a successful harvest.

How often does a watermelon need to be watered?

During the germination phase and also with the young plants, the substrate should be kept evenly moist, but the plants do not tolerate waterlogging. In general, potted watermelons need more water than specimens planted in the garden soil. During the fruit formation phase, watermelons should be watered daily early in the morning or in the evening, otherwise the fruit may become deformed.

How is the watermelon repotted?

Since the roots of young watermelons are very sensitive, pricking out should be avoided in the first few weeks of life if possible. A practical approach is to sow two to three melon seeds in a small pot and then only leave the strongest young plant in it. Larger watermelons should then be placed as carefully as possible with the root ball in a prepared planting hole so that as little soil as possible falls from the fine roots.

Does a watermelon have to be cut too?

Since watermelons are annual plants, they are only cut or diverted when they outgrow their intended location. However, it promotes the formation of large fruits if the shoots are cut above the fruit set.

How to protect the watermelon from diseases?

Specific pests for the plants are not very common in our latitudes. However, it protects against fungal diseases and other pathogens if you graft your watermelons on stocks such as fig leaf gourd.

Does a watermelon also have to be fertilized?

During the summer, watermelons, like pumpkins, often achieve an amazing growth rate per day. They also need the appropriate nutrients from the soil. However, you should not use fresh manure for fertilizing, only manure or compost that has been deposited.

How to store watermelon fruit and seeds?

As annual plants, watermelons die off in the fall and cannot be overwintered. The ripe fruit can be stored in the cellar or refrigerator for up to three or four weeks. The seeds must be cleaned and dried before storage to prevent mold.

tips and tricks

You can often find grafted watermelons in garden shops. This saves beginners the frustration of unsuccessful grafting attempts.

Category:

Vegetable garden