What Are The Favorable Conditions Required For Growing Watermelon ?
Watermelon for the North
If the home gardener has sufficient space, watermelons may now be included as one of our regular garden crops in New England. Often we think of watermelons as not worthy of consideration as food. However, they are rich in vitamin C, may produce as much as 15 tons per acre and if one has a freezer locker, watermelon balls may be put up the same as other frozen fruit. Even though not a profitable crop, they add zest to the garden.
There is, however, no point in planting watermelon on a heavy, poorly drained cold soil; sandy fertile soil is preferred. With sunshine and proper fertilization, a 25-foot row of watermelons in a garden may produce as much as 100 pounds of melons. Plant them in a sunny place, preferably a southern slope.
Fertility is best maintained by applications of a satisfactory organic fertilizer. Good, well rotted barnyard manure is hard to beat for this purpose. If there is plenty, cover the whole area well, and work it in. If the barnyard manure is available but not plentiful, then a good shovelful should be worked into the ground where each hill is to grow. Avoid lime.
One of my friends who reported a $3,000 to the acre crop last year used a heavy application of seaweed on his watermelon patch. If manure is not applied to the whole area, then about 500 lbs. of good mixed commercial fertilizer to the acre should be spread over the remainder of the area. In a general way, the preparation and kind of soil are the same as for any crop, with special emphasis on drainage.
These are the recent questions people have been asking along with answers at plant-care.com:
