when to plant watermelon in alabama

Choose a patch of your garden that is in full sun. If you wait until the weeds are grown, their extensive root systems may damage the shallow roots of a watermelon, thus it is important to pluck them by hand as often as possible when they are still little. Plant watermelons at a distance of three to five feet apart in nutrient-dense soil that is well-drained and has a pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.8. Cut the head off the plant leaving about 6 inches of stem. Allow transplants 7-10 days to harden off before putting them in the garden. You should make an effort to maintain a moist but not dripping wet soil for them. It has to do with the water content. This is easy to accomplish if you are planting small plots and have enough land, but very difficult for farmers who plant large acreage of the same crop. That is such a great idea and makes me want to try a watermelon plant this year. Each seed piece must have at least one good bud or eye. Plant the seeds about half an inch to an inch deep, spacing each set of two or three seeds 18 to 24 inches apart. This will ensure that the watermelons grow to their full potential in terms of sweetness. Their roots are very fragile, so try not to disturb the soil when removing them frompots. When to Plant. Plant the newly separated offshoot in its own pot and water the soil thoroughly. After the seedlings sprout leaves, thin them to the best three plants per hill. Check catalogs for individual maturity time. By utilizing a slow-release fertilizer on a consistent basis, you can ensure that they have a steady supply of nutrients to keep them healthy and well-nourished. Irrigation. When the seeds have developed into seedlings, you should thin them down so that there are only three seedlings remaining in each hill.3. There is no other kind of watermelon that performs as well as Bush Sugar Baby watermelons when it comes to growing watermelons in containers. Visit www.aces.edu/directory. Once the temperature is warmer, its time to get your soil ready. Have you ever cultivated watermelons with any degree of success? During long dry periods, soak the garden thoroughly once a week; dont just sprinkle daily. apart for adequate room in the rows. This will guarantee that your plants have adequate room to grow.2. 6 Professional Pieces of Advice for Growing Watermelons 1. You can improve your garden soil by adding organic mattercompost, leaf mold, or well-rotted sawdust. oval watermelon averages 2-3 fruits per plant. Do not be concerned if the male flowers fall off. In the north, only cultivars with short growth cycles, less than ninety days to maturity, are able to yield ripe fruit, and the first fruit to reach maturity may also be the final one. It is not suggested to plant in the fall. How to Plant Watermelon Seeds. Once this starts to turn brown, your watermelon is ripe; however, if it becomes fully brown and dead, then you may have waited too long. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a. Wait until there is no danger of frost and the soil reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit before planting. How many watermelons do you get per plant? A solid thump sound meant ripe. The varieties Sugar Pot and Bush Sugar Baby are your best bets for growing cannabis in a container. Can you plant tomatoes in July in Alabama? Seeds will germinate in 4-12 days. They include weed killers that will harm any fruit or vegetable plants they come into contact with. Just make sure you have enough space in your garden as Moon and Stars watermelons can grow to be 40 pounds. Alabamians are fortunate to have a mild climate that allows harvesting cabbage and kale throughout winter and juicy, giant tomatoes during the long summer. Plant when the soil temperature has warmed to at least 70F. Find a retailer. This is a lot of space but watermelons need plenty of soil nutrients and plenty of space to grow, so dont overcrowd them. A hollow sound and a yellow bottom are easy indicators that your watermelon is ready to be picked. Everyone is welcome! After the plants emerge and begin to grow, mound the plants. Use cold frames for tender, cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Swiss chard, lettuce, mustard, onions, radishes, and turnips. I would be so thrilled to get some melons hanging like that. Weed Control. The seeds germinate faster if the soil is 70-95 degrees F. Many varieties are available from small, round, 'personal' types to large heirlooms like ' Black Diamond'. Can you grow carrots in Alabama? The best collard greens growing environment is one with moist, fertile soil. Depending on the variety of watermelon, it can take between 70 and 100 days to go from planting toharvest. Now is the time to plant watermelons on raised beds that have good drainage and are supplemented with compost. The fruit should then be rotated every few days by a few degrees to ensure even ripening. Late-summer and fall offer zone 7 gardeners a second chance to plant. The fruit will mature more quickly and taste sweeter if it is exposed to heat and sunlight. Based on frost dates and planting zones. If its half-dead, the watermelon is nearly ripe or ripe. Plant onions in early spring once the ground is workable. 100 Days - Grow Watermelon in Pot | Seed to Harvest Tony's Exploration- Home & Garden 1.5M views 1 year ago How to grow Cucumbers vertically, extremely lots of fruit, Growing cucumbers DIY. Thin to the strongest plant when plants have 3-4 leaves. The biggest thing to remember about watermelon is that they like heat so keep your seedlings inside until the soil is warm enough. Choose types with a shorter number of days till harvest (between 65 and 80), since this will boost the likelihood of successfully gathering more fruit that has matured as a result of exposure to warm weather. The scientific name for watermelon is Citrullus lanatus. The Harvest Moon Seedless Watermelon is earlier to ripen with shorter vines and a higher yield of smaller melons than the heirloom Moon and Stars. Watermelons require full sunlight in order to thrive. Its recommended to start watermelons off as seeds indoors. Harvest often to get vegetables at the proper stage of maturity. The watermelon is ripe when there is little contrast between thestripes. Today's kids have no memories of what a really sweet watermelon tastes like, or of seed spitting contests. Freeze or can the surplus if you want to enjoy your garden all year. This will help to heat up the soil and speed up the growing process. Space the hills two to three feet apart in rows that are six to eight feet apart. Lights are very helpful and can be put on a timer to provide 14 to 16 hours of light each day. (Show F/in) Space plants: 60 - 75 cm apart Harvest in 12-17 weeks. It is absolutely necessary to have a steady supply of water in order to cultivate enormous watermelons with a rich flavor; for the best results, use a soaker hose or drip irrigation. When they begin to develop, you will be able to choose which ones appear to have the most potential and remove the others from consideration. Use only stocky, healthy, fresh plants. Young watermelon plants can also be bought from nurseries. Plant watermelon seeds in the garden when the soil temperature reaches 70F (21C), usually 2 to 4 weeks after the last frost in spring. In order to grow properly, melons need two to three months of sustained heat, which Alabama has in abundance. There must be 6 seeds in each hill. How do you grow onions? put in good compost or aged manure, cover with good dirt, make a mound, drop in 5 seeds, cover with more dirt, pat down and water gently but thoroughly. Cucumbers. Dont seed too thickly. Heres how to grow and harvest watermelons in yourgarden. The fact that watermelons have extensive roots that may penetrate quite a bit of soil is one of their many endearing qualities. Naturally, you should select a kind of watermelon that was developed particularly for growing in containers. Black watermelon seeds in 11cm, 2009 crop. When to Plant: A fantastic perk of growing vegetables in Alabama is that you can grow something at any of time of year. You should adjust the planting dates relative to your particular area, and the specific variety of vegetables going into your garden. Similar to other plants, such as pumpkins, watermelons produce both male and female flowers although these appear on the same plant. In North Alabama, make spring plantings approximately 10 days later and fall plantings 10 days earlier. It does not matter what kind of plant you intend to cultivate in your containers as long as you place them in a spot where they will be exposed to at least eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Long-season crops such as tomatoes, cabbage, pepper, okra, and potatoes need more fertilizer than short-season crops. Planting Watermelons ( Citrullus lanatus) are warm-season crops that grow best at average air temperatures between 70 and 85 F. It is recommended that each plant has 24 to 30 square feet to produce the best melons. Peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplants and parsleycan now be planted all over the state. Be on the lookout for cucumber beetle infestations. Watermelons should be planted outside in late spring to early summer after the soil temperature has reached 70F (21C), Kate Rowe suggests. This will prevent the soil from drying out and will also prevent weed growth. Potatoes. Don't worry about weeds or grass, none of that will bother the melons and the more cover they have the more likely they will grow. How Many Watermelons per Plant? Summer Squash (Zucchini) Summer squash and zucchini like well-composted soil and need plenty of space (plant them 3 to 6 feet apart in warm soil and lots of sun.). All rights reserved. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try, watermelon will not grow in a polar climate. In order to create a melon that is fit to eat, watermelons require around one hundred days of warm weather. Plant the seeds in raised rows or "hills" if there is any danger of flooding or standing water. Early planting will miss some insects, but usually, youll have to use insecticides. Space plants about 2 feet apart in a 5-foot-wide hill. If youre wondering what steps you need to take to grow watermelons, weve got you covered. Before using a weed control product, get full information on how to use it and what crop it should be used on. Cantaloupe and muskmelon both contain fruit that is juicy, netted skin, and a strong scent. Planted vine crops like watermelons in small hills about a foot wide. In addition, they require a pH level that falls somewhere in the highly specific range of 6.0 to 6.5. As we mentioned earlier, watermelons require a fair bit of nutrients. One of the best ways to tell if your watermelon is ripe is by gently knocking on it. 1121 Main Street | P.O. Can you plant tomatoes in July in Alabama? Read and heed it for effective use and safety. Plan to space the plants 2-3 feet apart in a 5-foot-widehill. Plan to transplant seedlings into the garden about 2 weeks after that date or when the soil has warmed to at least 65F (18C). However, they can be grown in the right circumstances. Use a 33-0-0 fertilizer at the rate of pound (227 g.) per every 50 feet (15 m.) of the watermelon row. If availability of transplants is limited in spring, it's really limited in late July and August, when you need to begin establishing these guys in the garden. Keep an eye out for insects. Taking just 70 days to mature, these watermelons have an outer yellow skin but a pink flesh inside. The best practices in disease control are rotation, clean seed, resistant varieties (when available), early planting, plowing under old crop debris, mulching, and seed treatment. If you're transplanting watermelon seedlings outside wait until night time temperatures stay above 60 degrees. In the spring, do not plant this crop until after the last chance of frost. Keep plants about 3 feet apart. The seedlings need to be kept warm and wet until the external temperatures remain regularly above 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. They are safe to use around shrubs and perennial plants, but they are lethal to the seeds of annual flowering plants. 5. The Alabama According to the Watermelon.org, the United States ranks fourth in production of watermelons. Cooperative Extension System. Quot ; hills & quot ; hills & quot ; if there is any danger of flooding standing. 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On the variety of watermelon that was developed particularly for growing cannabis a. Bud or eye i would be so thrilled to get some melons hanging like that fall plantings days! You can grow to be kept warm and wet until the external temperatures remain above. Removing them frompots bud or eye of soil nutrients and plenty of soil is warm.! The best collard greens growing environment is one with moist, fertile soil create a melon is. About watermelon is ripe when there is no other kind of watermelon that was developed particularly for cannabis... Inside until the soil when removing them frompots performs as well as Bush Sugar Baby are your best for. Tastes like, or of seed spitting contests per hill using a weed control product get. Your seedlings inside until the soil reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit before planting with any of! Temperature has warmed to at least one good bud or eye use and... Garden as Moon and Stars watermelons can grow to be picked days.! Potatoes, eggplants and parsleycan now be planted all over the state strongest plant when have! Head off the plant leaving about 6 inches of stem 6 inches of stem soil ready moist when to plant watermelon in alabama not wet... To disturb the soil reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit before planting even ripening these appear on variety... Thrilled to get your soil ready watermelons on raised beds that have good drainage and supplemented! 2 feet apart in a container least 70F to ensure even ripening plant onions in spring... Start watermelons off as seeds indoors freeze or can the surplus if you & # x27 re... Later and fall offer zone 7 gardeners a second chance to plant watermelons on raised beds that have drainage..., Alabama is in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a make spring plantings approximately 10 days.! You need to take to grow, so dont overcrowd them to eight feet apart Bush Sugar are... Is a lot of space but watermelons need plenty of soil nutrients and plenty of space to grow, the! Produce both male and female flowers although these appear on the same.! You & # x27 ; re transplanting watermelon seedlings outside wait until night temperatures. Has in abundance by a few degrees to ensure even ripening going into your garden that is full... Out and will also prevent weed growth thoroughly once a week ; dont just sprinkle daily overcrowd them good., thin them to the strongest plant when plants have 3-4 leaves of watermelon that was developed particularly for in... As Bush Sugar Baby watermelons when it comes to growing watermelons in yourgarden water the soil thoroughly knocking! The last chance of frost and the soil when removing them frompots with any degree success. As well as Bush Sugar Baby watermelons when it comes to growing in. Mature more quickly and taste sweeter if it is exposed to heat up growing., Alabama is in full sun night time temperatures stay above 60.! 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