Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
Watermelon needs a long frost-free season, generous vine space of 90–150 cm between plants, and warm soil for large juicy fruit. Sudden water stress during expansion can hurt texture, so steady moisture in the 35–50 mm weekly range through mid-season matters until ripening approaches. Fruit ripens in about 75–100 days from sowing.
Plant family Cucurbitaceae · Also called water melon
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Direct-sow into a long warm season.
Direct sow 2.5 cm deep two to four weeks after the last frost, with optional indoor start 3–4 weeks before frost. Germination is 4–10 days.
Tender vines cannot handle frost. Large seeds emerge quickly in heat but plants sit idle in cold ground.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Commit space before vines run.
Allow 90–150 cm between plants and 180 cm between rows. Vining habit and fruit size define large space need.
Containers list 45 cm depth and 75 litres, feasible only for small icebox types. Most plantings need open ground.
Core measurements
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.
Install support early when it is required or useful.
Avoid drought while fruit sizes up.
Eight hours of direct sun is preferred. Leaves must power rapid fruit enlargement in midsummer.
High water at 35–50 mm weekly with pH 6.0–7.0. The key tip warns against sharply reducing water while fruit is still expanding.
Sunlight
Full sun preferred (8+ direct-sun hours/day)
Soil pH
A suitable acidity range for general growth.
Weekly water
High water need.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during establishment and harvest development.
Use variety cues for ripe melons.
Melons ripen in 75–100 days from sowing. Field cues include tendril browning, ground spot color, and hollow thump sound.
Harvest basis is sowing. One or two fruits per plant is normal on standard varieties.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Provide a long warm season and avoid reducing water sharply while fruit is expanding.
Watermelon growing questions
Why avoid cutting water during fruit swell?
The key tip says not to reduce water sharply while fruit is expanding.
How wide should watermelon rows be?
About 180 cm between rows with 90–150 cm between plants.
Can watermelon be started indoors?
Optional indoor start 3–4 weeks before the last frost is listed.
What is the harvest window from sowing?
75–100 days with harvest basis sowing.
Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S1,S2,S4. Local climate and variety can change actual results.
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