How to Grow Delicious Watermelons

Select a variety suited for your area. If you live in the South, many varieties grow well in the long, hot summers, especially the popular Crimson Sweet and Dixie Queen cultivars. Northern gardeners can choose a variety that matures quickly, such as the Early Jubilee, or extend the season by starting seeds in a greenhouse and covering beds with black plastic to warm the soil.

Prepare a planting bed for seeds. Enrich the bed with compost, and check that the soil is loose but retains water well. Plant seeds after the last danger of frost. Watermelon vines need a lot of room. Space seeds at least 6 feet apart in rows, and leave 7 to 10 feet between rows. If you are only growing for your household, plant two vines for each family member and more if you plan on selling or gifting the fruit.

Care for the growing plants. Watermelons are made up of mostly water and require consistent and substantial hydration while the vines are growing and fruit are forming. Water the base of the plant rather than overhead and to a depth of at least a foot. Once the melons reach full size, stop watering them. Allow them time to ripen on the vine, and then twist the fruit off the vine rather than cutting it to prevent the spread of disease.

Watch for pests and diseases. Cucumber beetles and aphids are common pests on watermelon plants. Remove the beetles by hand or by applying an appropriate pesticide. Spray aphids with a weak mixture of dish detergent and water. The plant must receive consistent and plentiful water throughout the growing season to prevent blossom and fruit rot. Avoid bacterial wilt and anthracnose, a fungal disease, by planting resistant varieties when possible.