What Environment Does Watermelon Grow Best In?

Main Season Melons

• Not all watermelons grow at the same time of the year. The main part of the growing season is when the weather is warmest, and this is when most varieties grow. With 80 to 85 days from plant to harvest the warmer the summer the better results you’re likely to have with these melons. This means that a farmer in the South where temperature and humidity is higher will have better luck growing main season varieties of watermelon such as Charleston Gray, Crimson Sweet, Madera, Sangria, Sunny’s Pride and Sweet Favorite. In fact, any variety of watermelon stands a good chance of growing well in the warm Southern reaches of the United States or other warm climates around the world.

Early Season Melons

• Some watermelons are early season types. These require around 10 less days to harvest than main season melons and can therefore be grown in the early season best. This makes early season watermelons like Golden Crown, Sugar Baby, Yellow Baby and Yellow Doll suitable for watermelon patches located farther north where the summers are shorter. These melons will also grow well in the hotter, southern parts of the country but they are suited to the slightly cooler summers as well.

Soil Types

• While the optimum environment as it relates to the temperature outdoors can vary a bit based on the variety of the melon, the other environmental factors for growing watermelons remains constant. Watermelons need to be planted after the last frost of the spring in a sandy loam soil for best results, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Clay soil can work to produce melons as well, but mulching may be required to help out the yield. Soil acidity is also important. The ideal soil will have a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Soil with acidity as low as 5.0 is also suitable.

Weather Conditions

• The weather conditions for watermelon growth are best when daytime temperatures are in the 70s and 80s during the growing season. Nighttime temperatures are ideally between 65 and 70 degrees. Although the melons will grow in lower or higher temperatures, these are the best possible conditions for them.