To be safe, wait at least two weeks past your last frost date. The 2019 watermelon crop is expected to have the crisp, sweet flavor and high. The soil must be warm and the weather settled with warm days and nights, as the plants are sensitive to cooler weather. Watermelon plants are very frost sensitive and exposure to cold temperatures can quickly kill them. The first state produces both seeded and seedless watermelon. Sweet, refreshing georgia watermelon is in a store near you. Hundreds of farms grow watermelons in an area of over 17,000 hectares throughout the state. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production. Watermelon season discussion in freight broker forum started by orangepicker, jan 14, 2014. When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset.
When is watermelon season in texas, florida, california and georgia. Exact crop availability and harvest times vary regiontoregion and yeartoyear, but this summary will help you know when to look for what at new york farmers markets near you. In season, here in montana, we eat one 1015pound seedless melon each week. Seeds or transplants should be planted in rows spaced 6 to 8 feet apart. You cant miss these big guys, and there will be plenty at peak season. Its watermelon season here at davison orchards and lance davison tells you all about picking watermelon and how they taste. You do what you have to do here in the city of big, bad winters. Start watermelon seeds indoors and use black plastic mulch. Imported watermelon is in its peak season from march through may. Watermelon fertilizer schedule tips for watermelon. A strong delaware watermelon season is now under way, with first state melons now reaching customers in grocery stores and markets along the east coast, from new england to florida. Although watermelon is available year round, domestic watermelon is in its peak season from may through august. If you can fit it in, keep watermelon in the fridge it should last for up to a week.
Watermelon planting dates range from december 15 to april 15, depending on the variety planted and the growing region. In zones 3 and 4, set seedlings outside a couple of hours a day starting at the beginning of june to harden the tender plants to the weather. Watermelon growing and harvest information growing. There is evidence from seeds in pharaoh tombs of watermelon cultivation in ancient egypt. Once the fruit sets to tiny marblesized melons, it only takes up to 45 days for those tiny melons to develop into watermelons 10 pounds in size or more. California watermelon statistics, facts seecalifornia. The watermelon is an annual herbaceous trailing plant which belongs to the cucurbitaceous family and goes by the scientific name of citrullus lanatus.
The price of a melon can vary depending on the season. If you are in a cooler zone, start seeds indoors about a month before transplanting. Its a watermelon that really does taste sweeter than most, and it comes from a tiny farming community in western louisiana with a name that sounds too good to be true. A later harvest, a shorter growing season, and a long harvest of coolweather crops as winter creeps from upstate down defines new york seasonality. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons should be planted in spring after the last average frost date, when the. New york seasonal fruits and vegetables the spruce.
Although watermelon is a popular treat in the summertime, the watermelon season will slightly vary from different states. This is definitely true for texas, california and georgia. In the case of a broken or damaged root, the plant may never recover, or it may grow slowly all season, leading to a disappointing harvest. Of course, weather changes, season variations, variety of a crop planted and other factors profoundly affect the dates, so this is a general guide only. We like to start our seeds in early may in the house in small pots to give the plants a headstart before going outside around memorial day. Perfect growing conditions this year could start florida melons up to three weeks early, with good volume and quality throughout the season, growers say. However, directly sowing them is recommended as it will give you the best watermelon harvest. Once all risks of frost have passed, you can transplant the watermelon seedlings into the ground. Most california watermelons are marketed in the western united states and canada. If you want to be certain which harvested fruits are seedless, choose a pollinator that does not closely resemble the type or color of your seedless variety.
Start melon seeds indoors before transplanting to your garden outside. Weve created an inseason produce calendar for florida so you can easily see when its the right time to find the freshest cantaloupe or watermelon, or if youve missed citrus season. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and keep well watered until germination. Also, they are vulnerable to many types of insects and plant diseases. Give plants a fabulous start to the growing season by improving native soil with several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Although it is a warm season crop, watermelons do not thrive in extreme heat, high humidity, or soggy soils. Watermelon seeds are typically planted between midmarch and midjuly in louisiana and surrounding states, depending on when youd like to harvest the fruit. Watermelon vegetable directory watch your garden grow. If i lived near you i would join in on this business venture. Cucumber beetles and vine borers are the worst watermelon pests. My wife and i eat watermelon as an integral part of our diet. Get a head start on the growing season by planting watermelon seeds in peat pots indoors approximately three to four weeks before the last frost date in your region. The reason for this is that watermelon fruit is made up of 92 percent water.
Late summer and early fall harvests of watermelon can be found in the southern high plains. Different varieties will take different amounts of time to reachmaturity, so be aware of thedays to maturity listed on the seed packet. Start your watermelon seeds in the ground, right where they are supposed to grow. Start the seeds inside 3 weeks before they are to be set. Carefully roll over your watermelon to see the side that has been sitting on the soil. Need information on the price watermelon and when does the season start. Try our refreshing watermelon recipes, from refreshing drinks for party season to chunky salads and cool ice lollies. Growing watermelons in your new england garden is easy and. Unless you have an extremely short growing season, do not start your watermelon seed in a pot or punnet.
Harvest season starts in april in the lower rio grande valley. South florida gardeners plant watermelon before march 1. The 2019 georgia watermelon season starts vsc news. To get a head start on the long growing season, start plants indoors 4 to 5 weeks before outdoor planting time. Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrientrich, welldrained soil with a ph of 6. Watermelon citrullus lanatus is a plant species in the family cucurbitaceae, a vinelike flowering plant originating in west africa. Sow seed indoors in peat pots filled with seed starting mix. Production peaks in august, and the season ends in november. You should plant watermelons when the soil has reached at least 70 degrees fahrenheit. Watermelon full of cancerbattling lycopene and low in calories, watermelon is a classic summer fruit that works well alone, paired with cheese or mixed into a drink. Whats in season florida produce calendar infographic. If youre an individual who has an interest in growing watermelon, youll first want to start by finding out when the watermelon season begins and ends in your. They are the largest annual horticulture crop in texas.
Growing watermelons how to grow watermelon plants from. How long does it take for a watermelon seed to come up. Of course, watermelons are nothing new to most of uspeople of global trade, but you should try georgian watermelons at the end of summerbeginning of autumn and you will reshape your attitudes toward this juicy berry. If youre only familiar with 30pounders that require their own refrigerator shelf, be on the lookout for newer, hybrid mini watermelons. Weve created an in season produce calendar for florida so you can easily see when its the right time to find the freshest cantaloupe or watermelon, or if youve missed citrus season. Growing watermelons in your new england garden is easy and fun for all ages. This means that the plant must take up an enormous amount of water while the fruit is developing. Learn how to plant, grow, and harvest watermelon with this growing guide. You can direct sow your watermelon seeds directly into the garden after all danger of frost as passed and the soil is warm, but i prefer to start my seeds indoors 23 weeks ahead of time so that i can control the germination better to start seeds, fill your containers with seed starting mix and place the watermelon seed about 1 inch under the soil. Select shortseason varieties such as million bucks hybrid or orange sunshine hybrid if your growing season is less than 90 days. Otherwise, keep it in the coolest place that you can find.
Enjoy fresh berries, mangos and watermelons in your favorite summer recipes ice pops for the kids are a great way to get their fruits in. Watermelons need a long growing season at least 80 days and warm ground for seeds to germinate and grow. I would like to extend our season and have watermelon in our home year round. Watermelon farmers hit the market early this season. A warm spring means an early watermelon season for farmers in georgia. This will give us a smooth transition from one region to. More than 1,200 watermelon varieties exist, including rare whitefleshed watermelon, but youll likely find four or five different kinds in the grocery store.
It is also the time of watermelon plentitude and the vendors are flooded by them. Today, varieties of the warmseason annual range from 1pound. Watermelons can be grown in all parts of the country, but the warmer temperatures and longer growing season of southern areas especially favor this vegetable. The growing zones for watermelons home guides sf gate. It is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, having more than varieties watermelon is a scrambling and trailing vine in the flowering plant family cucurbitaceae. Originating in africa, watermelons need a long, warm growing season. We also like this tool from the texas department of agriculture to find out whats in season. The 5 most popular are seeded, seedless, mini, yellow and orange flesh.
With the season starting earlier, we should avoid regional overlaps in harvesting. Plants should be spaced 5 to 6 feet apart within the row. Consequently, warmer more southern regions offer the best climate for this crop. Gardeners in northern areas should choose early varieties and use transplants. I do all of the programming, web design and updates myself. When you purchase fruits and vegetables, several factors affect their taste and price, among the more important ones is the peak season for the particular. A simple list of seasonal fruit and vegetables for south africa. Click below to see whats typically in season each month, or visit the lakeline or mueller facebook page on fridays to see what vendors are bringing that weekend. Watermelon vines are very tender and should not be transplanted until all danger of frost has passed. Watermelon season runs throughout the summer from may to september but the exact range depends on where you live, keep an eye out at your local farmers market. Watermelon seed can be planted directly in the garden or transplants can be grown to get an early start.
Watermelon season runs throughout the summer from may to september but the. Watermelons need water throughout the season, but a particularly important time when to water watermelons is while they are setting and growing fruit. Get a head start on the growing season by planting watermelon seeds in peat pots indoors. Start watermelon seed indoors 8 to 6 weeks before transplanting seedlings to the garden. Transplanting can add two to four weeks to the growing season, but melons are especially sensitive to root disturbance. July and august are the peak season for fresh and juicy watermelons. Soil should be 70 degrees f or warmer at planting time. The time it takes for a watermelon to mature can be anywhere from 65 to 90 days after planting. If youre an individual who has an interest in growing watermelon, youll first want to start by finding out when the watermelon season begins and ends in your geographical area. Seedless watermelon seeds are notoriously difficult to germinate, which is the primary reason for their high. Op, cmon, why are you not atleast marking up for fuel. This season is featuring good yields and excellent quality for delaware watermelon growers, said secretary of agriculture ed kee. Once you know that, youll then have to decide what. In texas, the watermelon season is from june to august.
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