How to Grow Jubilee Watermelon

Remove all weeds and debris from the planting area. Dig the soil up to the depth of 12 to 18 inches with a shovel. Create a flattened mound of soil 12 inches tall by scraping the soil up with a garden hoe. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer on the hill and mix it into the top inch of soil with a hand trowel.

Poke three 1-inch deep holes in the top of the hill and place a Jubilee watermelon seed in each hole. Cover with dirt. Plant the rest of the seeds in hills spaces 6 feet apart aligned in rows 7 to 10 feet apart. If transplanting seedlings, space the small plants in rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

Spread mulch, such as straw or sheets of newspaper, between the rows and hills. This keeps the developing fruit off the ground and prevents rot. Place a layer of mulch up the sides of the hills to keep the watermelon plant roots warm.

Pull or hoe the weeds away as needed. Remove the weed debris so they do not grow from the pieces. The mulch keeps weed growth down between the rows. After harvest, the mulch can be mixed into the soil to help enrich it for the next growing season.

Water the Jubilee watermelon patch while the seeds are germinating and the young plants are establishing roots. Watermelon plants produce deep roots and will normally get enough moisture from the summer rainfall. Supply the plants with water once a week during hot, dry weather.