Looking at the big wall of Watermelon, it seems that we cannot put it in our garden. But it is not so, you can decorate it in your container terrace garden or patio. Looking at the sweet, fresh and juicy watermelon in a container, it always seems that we wish to put it in our garden. These are small varieties of watermelon. These small watermelons are easily spread on the lattice and can be prefer growing on the balcony. It can be easily grown in a large container.
For this, rich soil, sandy and moist soil is most suitable. Its vertical climbing vine saves space. Watermelon likes heat and lots of sunlight. Therefore, in the cold weather place, there is a need to take additional steps, for example, South Facing Wall and Shelter Patio. Here are some easy tips for putting watermelons in containers by Nature Bring.
Classification of Watermelon:
Scientific name Citrullus lanatus
Common name Watermelon
Plant type Fruit
Sun required Full Sun
Soil Sandy/ loam
Soil pH 6-6.8
- All kinds of melons are needed hot weather and plenty of light.
- Watermelon requires a very long time for growing season, so start planting in the house 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost.
- Use small pots for seed sow. In these pots, place 3 to 4 seeds at 1/4-inch depth, keep the soil moist and keep it in this hot place. Watermelon seeds are germinated quickly from heat and moisture. Use propagation mat if necessary. Its seeds start germinating within 3 to 10 days.
- Once the seed starts germination, reduce the amount of water. But do not keep the plant dry.
- After the last frost has passed transplant in a permanent site or container in the spring season. And wait for the young plants to adapt to the environment.
If your environment remains warm for a long time, then you can also grow this vine direct in the garden. For the cold weather places, select other varieties of plants, which mature quickly.
Sow directly when the temperature is 70 degrees F. Place the seed in depth with an inch, add 6 seeds per hill. Hills 4 to 6 feet apart or I foot apart in rows 5 feet apart.
Growing watermelon in a container:
- To grow watermelon in the container, you should choose a large size container. Keep in mind that it requires a lot of water and full sun, so if you have 5 gallons or larger containers it is better for this. It is also necessary that the container you are using is an extra hole for better drainage.
- Sandy and loamy are perfectly dry soil suitable for melon. For this the soil from pH 6 to 6.8 is ideal.
- Use the seed to grow watermelon in the container.
- The choice of place for the container is also important, because these plants prefer full sun, and after filling the soil, it is difficult to shift the container.
- Spread the piece of gravel or broken clay pots in the container surface. It keeps the plant balanced and the vine is drainage. Prepare the soil for your watermelon plant, take rich soil, then add some quantity of sand and organic manure in it. Fill the prepared mixture in the container.
- Watermelon cannot cling itself, it needs lattice to support it. Whether you want it to grow to the edge of the wall or the fence. Keep in mind that whatever support you choose should be strong, because watermelons are very heavy.
- Watermelon in the container (temperature of 80 degrees F) requires regular watering.
- Where you are going to grow watermelon, make sure the cold is completely past.
- After growing watermelon to the container, it needs support. In the container, there is a lack of space for watermelon, where as this plant takes more amount of space. So, as the vines grow, arrange the lattice.
- If you live in the city and grow watermelon in the container, there is not enough pollination to pollinate. In such a situation, you can pollinate by hand.
- Once the watermelons come in your container, then it requires extra support because the melon is heavy fruit. You can use a net made of flexible material to support the fruit.
- Use water-soluble fertilizer once a week. Use a slow granular fertilizer in the month.
Watermelon plant produces both flavors of male and female. However, bees or butterflies pollinate them, but if they are lacking then you need to hand pollinate to get the fruits. Fruits appear after 40 days of pollination of flowers.
Watermelon harvesting period depends on climate and weather and its species. It usually starts 80 to 90 days after the sown seed. flowering and fruit continue for several weeks, until the weather is favorable, and you receive many harvests. The ripe fruit does not look different, there is no difference in its odor or skin. To predict the mature fruit, knock the finger on the surface of the watermelon, if the hollow sound is heard, then it is believed that the fruit has matured.
Pests and diseases:
Common bugs are cucumber beetles, garden pests, and aphids etc. are damage the plant. It grows very hot and humid temperature, so the chances of diseases remain low. Bacterial wilt and powdery mildew are its common diseases. To prevent this disease, crop rotation in 3-4 years, avoid overhead watering.