How To Grow Watermelons In Containers

How to grow watermelons in containers

Watermelons grow well in pots if you select the right variety, use a large enough container filled with good soil and find a location that gets enough sun. For each plant, you'll need a container or pot that will hold at least five gallons of soil. Make sure your pots have drainage holes.

How deep of a container do watermelons need?

Choose a pot that holds at least 7 to 10 gallons of soil per plant if you're growing 'Bush Sugar Baby' or 'Sugar Pot'. An approximate dimension is at least 18 to 24 inches across and 20 to 24 inches deep. They'll need to be almost twice as big if you're growing a standard watermelon variety. Remember, that's a minimum.

Can I grow watermelon in a 5 gallon bucket?

Watermelons grow rapidly and require plenty of water, so it is recommended that you go with a 5-gallon (19 kg) or larger size container. Make sure that the container you will be growing watermelons in has enough drainage holes. Fill the watermelon container with potting soil or other soilless mix.

How many watermelons do you get off one plant?

The number of vines determines how many watermelons there are per plant as each vine can produce between two to four melons during the growing season. Watermelons grow best in a planting site that has a lot of open space. Watermelon vines ramble, so your plants are going to spread out around your garden as they grow.

Do watermelons come back every year?

Do watermelon plants come back every year? Watermelon plants do not come back every year as they are tender annuals. This means they complete their entire lifecycle in one season and are then killed off by the first frosts.

Do watermelon plants need to climb?

Watermelons don't climb by habit, but once shown the way they can rise with the best. Watermelons rest easy in hammocks. Swelling fruits will definitely need support on the trellis, and an old T-shirt makes a perfect sling.

What do you put under watermelons when growing?

In order to grow great watermelons, you'll need to put a barrier between the watermelons and the ground. This is to reduce the risk of rot and disease. Good ground barriers are straw, or even cardboard.

What is the best potting soil for watermelon?

Have your soil tested to determine pH. Melons grow best on well-drained, sandy loam soils, with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Soils with a pH less than 6.0 will produce plants with yellow foliage that set few or no fruit. You can improve your soil by adding well-rotted manure or compost in spring or fall.

Can you use a tomato cage for watermelon?

Use tomato cages to hold up stems as they grown for support and build wooden frame around box to hang pouches for the watermelon as they get large. Container watermelon. Use tomato cages to hold up stems as they grown for support and build wooden frame around box to hang pouches for the watermelon as they get large.

How long does it take for a watermelon tree to bear fruit?

How long does it take to grow watermelon from seed? It differs from variety to variety; on an average, the fruits ripen 80-90 days after sowing. All watermelon plant stages i.e. Seedling stage, flowering stage, fruiting stage happen within 2-3 months on most of the cultivars.

How long does it take for a watermelon to grow to full size?

It takes the shortest amount of time to mature, about 70 to 75 days. A main-season watermelon is larger and takes longer to ripen, usually 80 to 90 days.

At what temperature will watermelon stop growing?

The best average temperature range for watermelon production during the growing season is between 65°F and 95°F. Temperatures above 95°F or below 50°F will slow the growth and maturation of the crop.

What month do you plant watermelon?

Watermelons need about 100 days of warm weather to produce an edible melon. If the warm, late fall and winter weather of recent years continues, you may get a watermelon for Christmas. The best times to sow seeds for watermelons are early March and early August.

Should I trim watermelon vines?

Pruning watermelons promotes healthier vines and increases fruit size. Look for irregular or rotting fruit to prune from the plant. Removing the less than perfect melons will enable the plant to focus energy towards growing bigger, healthier, juicier melons.

What happens if you plant watermelons too close together?

In the case of spacing watermelon plants, those set too far apart waste valuable garden space while those set too close together compete for light, air and soil nutrients, resulting in a potentially compromised crop.

How many watermelons does each plant produce?

On average, each watermelon plant produces two to three harvestable fruit.

Can you plant watermelon in July?

The best time to plant watermelon seeds is from late spring to early summer, or when the soil temperature reaches 70 degrees or above.

What fertilizer do you use for watermelon?

For watermelons, apply a fertilizer high in phosphorous, such as 10-10-10, at a rate of 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet (60 to 90 feet of row). Make a trench on the planting bed 4 to 6 inches deep and 2 inches from the side of the row. Cover the fertilizer and plant so seeds do not touch the fertilizer.

What should watermelon not be planted next to?

Watermelon Companion Plants & Non-Companions For companion plants, you're going to want to plant it with things like radishes, lettuces & then avoid things like cucumber, zucchini, and basically anything in the melon family. Basically they make it difficult for the plants to grow and mature and can attract diseases.

How many times a day should you water a watermelon plant?

While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged. Water at the vine's base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Reduce watering once fruit are growing.