WATERMELON (Citrullus lanatus)
Introduction
Watermelons need warm temperatures (up to 80 degrees during the
day) and a long growing season. Gardeners in colder climates can still have
success in growing watermelon by starting seeds indoors and choosing
short-season varieties. Days to maturity range from 70 to 90, depending on the variety.
Soil type:
·
The
crop grows well in sandy soils. In
Tanzania water melons grow well in coastal regions like, Pwani, Dar es Salaam,
Morogoro, Mtwara, and Lindi
·
Watermelons prefer a soil pH between 6 and 6.8.
·
Growing the vines in raised
rows, known as hills, ensures good drainage and will hold the sun’s heat
longer.
·
Amend soil with aged manure or
compost before planting. Watermelons are heavy feeders.
·
Watermelons like loamy,
well-drained soil.
Recommended
Varieties
·
‘Sugar Baby’ 80 days to maturity. Produces 10-pound melons with
bright red flesh. This variety of smaller fruit can be planted just 4 feet
apart.
·
‘Sweet Beauty’ 80 days to maturity. A 2004 All-America Selection.
Bears 6-pound, oblong melons with red flesh.
·
‘Golden Midget’ 70 days to maturity. Bears petite, yellow-skinned
3-pound melons with pink flesh. Good for Northern gardeners.
Planting
·
If you live in warmer climes,
you can direct sow seeds outdoors, but wait until the soil temperature warms to
at least 70 degrees to avoid poor
germination.
·
Watermelon vines are very
tender and should not be transplanted until all danger of frost has passed. (To
be safe, wait at least two weeks past your last frost date.)
·
If you are in a cooler zone, start seeds indoors about
a month before transplanting.
Spacing
·
If you're growing in rows, space 6 feet apart by 6 feet apart.
Space the plants about 2 feet apart in a 5-foot-wide hill.
·
Handle them gently when you
transplant.
·
After you transplant, cover the
plants with row covers to keep pests at bay. You'll remove the row covers when
you see both male and female flowers on the vine.
Care
·
Mulching with black plastic
will serve multiple purposes: it will warm the soil, hinder weed growth and
keep developing fruits clean.
·
While melon plants are growing,
blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Water
at the vine's base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and
avoid overhead watering. Reduce watering once fruit are growing. Dry weather
produces the sweetest melon.
·
Pruning isn't necessary, but
vine productivity may be improved if you do not allow lateral (side) vines to
grow and stick to the main vine. When the plant is young, just cut off the end
buds as they form (before the side shoots become vines). You can also pinch off
some blossoms to focus the energy on fewer melons (though it's a challenge to
kill off a potential fruit!).
·
Vines produce male and female
flowers separately on the same plant. They often begin producing male flowers
several weeks before the females appear. Do not be concerned if the male
flowers fall off. The female flowers (which have a swollen bulb at the base)
will stay on the vine and bear fruit.
·
Blossoms require pollination to
set fruit, so be kind to the bees!
·
As fruit is ripening, prevent
rotting by gently lifting it and putting some cardboard or straw between the
fruit and the soil.
Pests.
·
Squash Vine Borer Moths
·
Fusarium Wilt
Harvest/Storage
Watermelons don’t sweeten after they are picked, so harvest time
is important. They generally ripen over two weeks so keep your eye on them.
·
Thump it. If the watermelon sounds
hollow, it's ripe.
·
Look at the color on the top.
The watermelon is ripe when there is little contrast between the stripes.
·
Look at the color on the bottom. A
green watermelon will have a white bottom; a ripe melon will have a cream- or
yellow-colored bottom.
·
Press on it. If the watermelon sounds like
it gives a little, it's ripe. (Rhodes doesn't like this method because it can
ruin the quality of the fruit.)
·
Check the tendril. If it's green, wait. If
it’s half-dead, the watermelon is nearly ripe or ripe. If the tendril is fully
dead, it's ripe or overripe; it’s not going to get any riper, so you might as
well pick!
·
Stems should be cut with a sharp knife close to the fruit.
·
Watermelons can be stored uncut
for about 10 days. If cut, they can
last in the refrigerator for about 4
days. Wrap tightly in plastic.
Prepared by
Agriculture Field Officer
Mr Faraja Israel Lwoga
