Productivity of the Sugar Baby Watermelon Plant

Pollination

• Pollinated plants produce fruit. If flowers are left unpollinated they simply fade from the vine. In this respect, watermelon plants are no different than other flowering and fruiting plants. Watermelons are self-pollinating, meaning that the plant produces both male and female flowers, which can exchange pollen and produce fruit without the need for additional plants. Watermelons' male flowers bloom first. Female flowers follow. Pollen is exchanged most successfully by honeybees as they move from fragrant flower to fragrant flower. Commercial growers place one honeybee colony per acre of watermelon crop. This encourages pollination and results in a higher number of fertilized flowers and a greater chance of healthy fruit. Home growers can encourage honeybees by planting bee-attracting flowers near their watermelon beds.

Growing Season

• Your Sugar Baby watermelon plant's productivity is limited by the length of your area's growing season. Since watermelons require warm temperatures -- 65 degrees at night and 80 degrees in the day -- you cannot start your plants until after the last frost date. Watermelon needs to mature before the first frost date occurs. Consult your almanac to determine the best time to plant your watermelon so that the seeds mature and grow between freezes. Sugar Baby watermelon plants are suited for temperate climates. They are an early-harvest variety, which yields fruit within 70 to 75 days of planting.

Growing Conditions

• Watermelons perform well in sandy loam soils. This type of soil allows their deep root systems to spread. Compacted, heavy soils do not adequately support this growth habit. Give your watermelon vines room to spread as well. Plant rows 7 to 10 feet apart and plants 6 feet apart. Proper spacing encourages fruit development and improves fruit quality. Keep weed competition to a minimum by placing mulch between rows. Plastic mulch has the additional benefit of retaining heat, which is important for early-season watermelons like the Sugar Baby. Weeds can also be controlled by cultivating soil between rows. Too much cultivation, however, can damage root systems and nutrient uptake, resulting in low productivity and a low-quality crop.

Irrigation

• Uniform moisture is essential for producing a healthy crop. Soil should be moist but not saturated. Drip irrigation is a good method of ensuring even water distribution throughout rows. It also keeps tops of plants dry, and this prevents disease. Sugar Baby watermelons benefit from weekly watering at first, increasing to daily watering during the growing season and decreasing back to weekly watering before harvest.