What Size of an Area Do You Need to Grow Watermelons?

Identification

• Coveted for its meltingly sweet red flesh, the watermelon has long, spreading vines with the same curly tendrils that pumpkins are famous for. Their leaves are interestingly lobed and much smaller than those of their cousins squash and pumpkin, and the leaves can sometimes be variegated. Pale-green blossoms in July and August give way to round green fruit that ripens in late summer.

Culture

• Watermelons prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Amend dirt beforehand with mulch, compost or other organic matter to introduce nutrients. Water regularly, enough so that the ground is consistently moist but not soggy -- you don’t want to wash away young seeds or starts. Be aware that seedless watermelons will not grow unless you also plant a regular seeded variety in your garden. Although seedless watermelons produce flowers, the blooms lack pollen and therefore cannot fertilize themselves and bear fruit. A seeded variety will provide the needed pollen.

Spacing

• Watermelons require a lot of space, both because their vines are long (10 to 15 feet) and because the huge fruits need an open patch of ground on which to develop and ripen. For best results, sow several seeds in hills 6 feet apart in rows 7 to 10 feet apart, and thin to three plants once sprouts establish. For transplants, keep row spacing the same, but plant each plant 2 to 3 feet from its neighbors.

Harvesting

• Watermelons can be tricky to harvest as they don’t ripen much once pulled from the vine. To ensure your melon is ripe, start by looking at the ground spot. This is the characteristic round discoloration on the underside of the melon where it rested while developing, and it should be yellow to white. When thumped, the watermelon will sound dull instead of sharp, and the green tendrils near the stem will dry up.