Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
Watermelons are a refreshing fruit that most people enjoy on a hot summer day!
Seed Harvesting Difficulty-easy (green)
Planting Difficulty-moderate (gray)
Planting instructions
Should be planted in late spring, early summer
4 to 6 seeds should be placed around 3 inches apart in a hill
Each of these hills should be around 5 to 7 feet apart
Cover each of these seeds with about 1 inch of fine soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 6.8
A constant water supply is crucial to keep the soil moist for the seeds to grow
These seeds require full sun, 6 or more hours of sunlight
Growth Information
Germinate in about 7-10 days
The plant tends to be short and is made up of vines
It takes around 80 days until the plant is ready to be harvested
These plants are annual, which means they die off after every growing season and must be replanted
These plants have many diseases that they suffer from. To prevent these diseases, use row cover to protect the plants.
Row Cover
Harvesting the Plant
About a week before your watermelons are ready to harvest, only give the plants water that is necessary to keep the vines from dying
This will give your watermelon a sweeter flavor
Harvest the watermelons when they turn a dull green color, it takes around 80 days
Another way to determine if the watermelon is ready is to knock on it. If it sounds hollow, it is ready to harvest.
When harvesting, be sure to cut the stem instead of pulling the stem off of the watermelon
Harvesting the Seeds
Remove the seeds from the watermelon when you cut it open to eat it,
Another option would be to leave some plants on the vines until they start to get soft
Doing this may improve the seed quality, but the watermelon should not be consumed at this point
Rinse the seeds and spread out to dry
Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry area in an airtight container
History of Watermelons
Watermelon's history has been determined to start about 5,000 years ago in southern Africa. Watermelons are about 92% water and were an excellent source of water for ancients. Some people also decided to roast the seeds and eat them for nourishment. The flesh of the watermelon started off bitter and it eventually developed into a sweeter, more enjoyable treat. The Greeks and Romans believed that watermelons had healing abilities that healed children when they were having a heatstroke and it was used as a diuretic.
Uses of Watermelons
Great source of food and hydrating due to the water in the watermelon
Sold in many stores during the summer time, and serve as a great summer snack
Watermelons can be used to make refreshing drinks and tasty food
Some recipes can be found at this website: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g2883/watermelon-recipes/?slide=10
Watermelon Soda
Watermelon Sorbet
Found at website listed under uses of watermelons
Watermelon Strawberry Caprese Salad
Found at website listed under uses of watermelons
Health Benefits
Great source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin B
Contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fruits and vegetables
Helps fight heart disease and several cancers
Help reduce the severity of asthma
Great source of hydration
Largest Watermelon
Fun Facts
The first cookbook, titled American Cookery, to be made in the United States contains a recipe for pickled watermelon rinds
The world's heaviest watermelon weighed 350.5 pounds
China grows the most watermelons, while the United States ranks 7th
Watermelons come in 1,200 different varieties across 96 countries
USDA Zones
Watermelons grow best in planting zones 3-9
Resources
“How to Grow Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) How to Save Watermelon.” Docslib, 2017, https://docslib.org/doc/3346812/how-to-grow-watermelon-citrullus-lanatus-how-to-save-watermelon.
“Crimson Sweet Watermelon.” Bonnie Plants, 2023, https://bonnieplants.com/products/crimson-sweet-watermelon#:~:text=A%20pretty%2C%20light%20green%20melon,to%20anthracnose%20and%20fusarium%20wilt.
Due, Carla. “Surprising Health Benefits of Watermelon.” Division of Agriculture , https://www.uaex.uada.edu/counties/miller/news/fcs/fruits-veggies/Surprising%20Health%20Benefits%20of%20Watermelon.aspx.
Trinklein, David. “Watermelon: A Brief History (David Trinklein).” Watermelon: A Brief History // Missouri Environment and Garden News Article // Integrated Pest Management, University of Missouri, Division of Plant Sciences, https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2020/7/watermelon-DT/.
Filson, Mackenzie. “34 Surprising Recipes for Using up Watermelon.” Delish, https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g2883/watermelon-recipes/?slide=10.