While it’s generally considered a summer fruit, growers in Florida are lucky enough to be able to plant watermelon for harvest in the winter as well. In fact, Florida is the only state in the country that produces watermelon from December to April.

How long does it take to grow watermelon in Florida?

Temperatures below 50°F may result in decreased fruit quality. Melons that are grown in lower temperatures usually have much less flavor. Watermelons take anywhere from 65-90 days to produces fruit.

Can watermelon grow in hot weather?

Watermelon plants love the heat, and need a long and warm growing season of at least 70 to 85 days, depending on the variety, to produce sweet fruit. They grow best when daytime temperatures fall between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures fall between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

What melons grow well in Florida?

Several kinds of melons grow well in Florida, including casaba, honeydew, watermelon, and cantaloupe. Watermelons have crisp, juicy flesh that’s perfect for summer eating. Cantaloupes (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) have a creamier flesh that is orange and a netted, yellow-colored rind.

How long does it take for watermelon to grow fruit?

How long does it take for a watermelon to grow to full size? Watermelons require 80-90 days from seed sowing to grow a full-size watermelon. Some smaller-sized watermelons (like Sugar Baby) can reach maturity in closer to 70 days.

What is the best month to plant watermelon?

• Plant watermelon from late spring to early summer, once soil temperatures reach 70° F or above.
• Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.

Is it too late to plant watermelon in Florida?

Those in North Florida can plant watermelon in March and April and again in July and August. Gardeners in Central and South Florida can plant earlier in the year, where warmer springtime temperatures make planting ideal from January through March. … Watermelons take 80 to 100 days to mature depending on the variety.

Can you grow watermelon year round?

Always In Season, Year-Round Over 30 U.S. states grow watermelon, with harvest starting on the East Coast and rolling westward and north across the country over the course of several months.

How do watermelons grow in Florida?

1. Watermelons need warm weather. …
2. Plant in an area with lots of exposure to the sun. …
3. Use a tiller to ensure good soil. …
4. Establish good drainage. …
5. Add compost to soil to help pH balance. …
6. Allow enough soil for the seeds to grow roots. …
7. Keep soil moist. …
8. Apply mulch to help prevent weeds.

When should you plant watermelon in Florida?

Primary planting dates for watermelons in Florida range from December 15 to April 15. Planting in south Florida may extend from December 15 to March 1, in central Florida from January 15 to March 15, and in north Florida from February 15 to April 15.

Article first time published on

Where do watermelons grow best in the United States?

Nearly 80 percent of all U.S. watermelon production hails from four States—Florida, Georgia, Texas and California. Florida surpasses all other States as the main supplier of U.S. watermelons, accounting for total production of 907 million pounds, or 25 percent of domestic supplies in 2019.

How hot is too hot for watermelon?

Watermelons grow best in air temperatures ranging from 70° to 90°F (21-32°C). Avoid growing watermelon where night temperatures dip below 50°F (10°C); this will cause the fruit to lose flavor. If temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C).

What is the lifespan of watermelon plant?

About 2 to 3 melons can be obtained per plant in its single lifespan of 3-4 months. Usually, gardeners purposely keep only one watermelon per plant to harvest big sized fruits.

How many watermelons do you get per plant?

How Many Watermelons per Plant? Healthy watermelon vines produce 2-4 fruits per plant. The vines produce both male and female flowers. Both are needed to set fruit and there are fewer female flowers compared to male, about one female for every seven males.

Can watermelon survive winter?

No, watermelons cannot survive frost. Freezing temperatures will cause the fruit to wither and die on the vine. A watermelon covered in frost, even for a short period of time, will turn mushy and inedible.

Do watermelons grow on ground?

Don’t start watermelon seeds too early, as large plants transplant poorly into the garden; once planted, watermelons don’t like their roots disturbed. You can sow watermelons directly into the ground when the soil temperature is above 65°F.

Can I plant watermelon in May?

In northern zones where the warm season is relatively short, start watermelon plants indoors and choose early varieties that mature quickly. … Plant seedlings in the middle to end of June. In zones 5 and 6, begin hardening seedlings in May for planting in mid to late May.

How easy is it to grow watermelon?

Watermelons are surprisingly easy to grow as long as the plants have plenty of room to spread, good drainage, lots of sunlight, and a sufficiently long growing season. Gardeners in northern climates should choose early ripening varieties.

How do I make my watermelon sweeter when growing?

Heat brings out melons’ sweetness, so make sure to plant them in a location that warms up early in spring and stays hot through the end of September. The south side of a fence or wall is ideal as the structure will absorb heat and light from the sun and reflect it back onto the melons.

Can watermelons be grown indoors?

Start seeds indoors. Watermelon seeds can be started indoors, about six weeks prior to growing season. Plant seeds in peat pots and place near a sunny windowsill. Keep soil moist, but refrain from overwatering at this stage—peat pots are very absorbent and will keep the soil humid for the newly germinating seeds.

Where are watermelons growing now?

While watermelons are grown across the U.S., most production occurs in the top five states (Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, and Texas), producing approximately 69 percent of all grown in the U.S. The average watermelon yield per acre in the U.S in 2020 was 39,704 pounds.

How do watermelons grow in cold climates?

1. Water the planting media thoroughly the day before planting.
2. Make sure the soil temperature in the transplant containers is between 75-90 F. …
3. Plant your seeds about 1 inch deep.
4. Do not water until plants emerge.

Where are watermelons grown in Florida?

Watermelons are grown throughout Florida. The greatest production region is the north to north-central region, including Suwannee, Gilchrist, Alachua, Lake, Levy, Marion, and Sumter Counties. In 2002, this region comprised 36.6% of the harvested acreage and 26.7% of the state’s watermelon producing farms.

Are watermelon plants invasive?

watermelon: Citrullus lanatus (Violales: Cucurbitaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Fruit(s); Slightly raised, corky rings appearing in clusters on the surface of the fruit. No decay is associated with this unexplained disorder.

Is watermelon annual or perennial?

As annual plants, watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) must be replanted every season and will not survive the winter either as seedlings or fully grown plants. Watermelons require warm weather to grow quickly and produce their sweet, juicy fruit.

Do watermelons need lots of water?

Watermelons need water throughout the season, but a particularly important time to water watermelons is while they are setting and growing fruit. The reason for this is that watermelon fruit is made up of 92 percent water. This means that the plant must take up an enormous amount of water while the fruit is developing.

What state has the best tasting watermelon?

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Summer means relaxing by the pool, barbeques and refreshing slices of watermelon and no one produces more of this favorite summertime fruit than Florida. The Sunshine State is the top producer of watermelon in the United States.

Where does Walmart get their watermelon?

Walmart sells seedless watermelon which is genetically modified and is not labeled at organic. The watermelon comes from California which travels about 2,500 miles. Oscar Mayer Ham is processed and fully cooked. The meat comes from Illinois and travels about 935 miles.

Will a watermelon explode in a fire?

Aside from heat (we’ll get to that in a minute), watermelons can explode from an explosive gene that is found in many heirloom fruit varieties. … Another reason for watermelon explosions is they’re rotten.

What causes watermelon to explode?

The most common cause for a bursting watermelon is erratic watering. Whether it’s due to poor irrigation practices or drought followed by heavy rain, excessive accumulation of water can put the fruit under a lot of pressure. … As a result, the watermelon bursts.

How many watermelons can one acre produce?

Native to central Africa, watermelons were first cultivated by ancient Egyptians. Farmers plant 1,600 to 1,800 watermelon plants per acre. One commercially-grown plant produces one or two melons in the field.