Special Care For Black Diamond Watermelon

The Black Diamond Watermelon

• With its blackish green rind, the black diamond watermelon is a far cry from the typical striped variety. This odd-looking rind is extremely tough and actually helps keep the fruit from getting bruised. Black diamond watermelons also have extra large leaves that help protect young fruit from sunburn. As an older variety of watermelon, the black diamond is not disease resistant, according to Oklahoma State University. While, in general, the vine does not require any special care, vigilance regarding disease control may help improve your yields.

Culture

• Plant in the spring when the ground is warm. Applying black plastic mulch to the garden bed about two weeks prior to the last frost can help warm the soil and produce earlier yields. Watermelons prefer sandy loam soil, as it warms up faster in the spring and allows them to develop deep roots. Keep your garden beds weed free and supply your watermelon with about 1 inch of water per week. Only adjust the soil pH if it is below 5.5.

Disease Control

• As they are susceptible to disease, keep an eye on your black diamond melons to ensure you catch any symptoms early. Several foliar, root and fruit fungi, bacteria and viruses attack watermelons, so keep an eye out for wilting, leaf spots or root and vine lesions. Avoid getting foliage wet when you water, as wet foliage attracts fungi. Don't overcrowd your plantings, as dense foliage reduces airflow and can foster disease. Many pests, like cucumber beetles and squash bugs, can spread disease, so ensure you are scouting for them as well.

Trellising

• It may seem counterintuitive that a watermelon vine, especially one with such large fruits as the black diamond, can be trellised, but they can. If the trellis is well built with strong materials, like livestock panels, heavy gauge wire fencing or wood, and well supported, even large watermelons can be grown this way. Trellised watermelons take up less space, but more importantly, they are less susceptible to disease. To keep them from pulling away from the trellis and injuring the vine, use old nylon hose or even old T-shirts to form a sling. The sling is tied to the trellis and has enough give to keep the fruit in place but still allows it to grow.