Although watermelon is available year round, domestic watermelon is in its peak season from may through august. A later harvest, a shorter growing season, and a long harvest of coolweather crops as winter creeps from upstate down defines new york seasonality. Florida watermelon set for early, plentiful harvest packer. Watermelon citrullus lanatus is a plant species in the family cucurbitaceae, a vinelike flowering plant originating in west africa. Start the seeds inside 3 weeks before they are to be set. The watermelon is an annual herbaceous trailing plant which belongs to the cucurbitaceous family and goes by the scientific name of citrullus lanatus. Imported watermelon is in its peak season from march through may. This season is featuring good yields and excellent quality for delaware watermelon growers, said secretary of agriculture ed kee. If i lived near you i would join in on this business venture.
In northern zones where the warm season is relatively short, start watermelon plants indoors and choose early varieties that mature quickly. Also, they are vulnerable to many types of insects and plant diseases. Select shortseason varieties such as million bucks hybrid or orange sunshine hybrid if your growing season is less than 90 days. Try our refreshing watermelon recipes, from refreshing drinks for party season to chunky salads and cool ice lollies. To get a head start on the long growing season, start plants indoors 4 to 5 weeks before outdoor planting time. Although it is a warm season crop, watermelons do not thrive in extreme heat, high humidity, or soggy soils. The first state produces both seeded and seedless watermelon.
Plants should be spaced 5 to 6 feet apart within the row. Get a head start on the growing season by planting watermelon seeds in peat pots indoors. Once you know that, youll then have to decide what. Sow seed indoors in peat pots filled with seed starting mix. 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. California watermelon statistics, facts seecalifornia. Unless you have an extremely short growing season, do not start your watermelon seed in a pot or punnet. A warm spring means an early watermelon season for farmers in georgia. 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. Different varieties will take different amounts of time to reachmaturity, so be aware of thedays to maturity listed on the seed packet. Watermelons need water throughout the season, but a particularly important time when to water watermelons is while they are setting and growing fruit. Perfect growing conditions this year could start florida melons up to three weeks early, with good volume and quality throughout the season, growers say. I do all of the programming, web design and updates myself.
Watermelons need a long growing season at least 80 days and warm ground for seeds to germinate and grow. 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. 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. Growing watermelons in your new england garden is easy and fun for all ages. In season, here in montana, we eat one 1015pound seedless melon each week. New york seasonal fruits and vegetables the spruce. You should plant watermelons when the soil has reached at least 70 degrees fahrenheit. Start melon seeds indoors before transplanting to your garden outside. The time it takes for a watermelon to mature can be anywhere from 65 to 90 days after planting. 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. Seedless watermelon seeds are notoriously difficult to germinate, which is the primary reason for their high. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production. 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.
How long does it take for a watermelon seed to come up. 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. Watermelon season runs throughout the summer from may to september but the. This will give us a smooth transition from one region to. There is evidence from seeds in pharaoh tombs of watermelon cultivation in ancient egypt. However, directly sowing them is recommended as it will give you the best watermelon harvest. Watermelon season discussion in freight broker forum started by orangepicker, jan 14, 2014. Watermelon planting dates range from december 15 to april 15, depending on the variety planted and the growing region.
You do what you have to do here in the city of big, bad winters. Late summer and early fall harvests of watermelon can be found in the southern high plains. Otherwise, keep it in the coolest place that you can find. More than 1,200 watermelon varieties exist, including rare whitefleshed watermelon, but youll likely find four or five different kinds in the grocery store. Watermelon farmers hit the market early this season. Watermelons should be planted in spring after the last average frost date, when the.
South florida gardeners plant watermelon before march 1. Although watermelon is a popular treat in the summertime, the watermelon season will slightly vary from different states. Cucumber beetles and vine borers are the worst watermelon pests. This means that the plant must take up an enormous amount of water while the fruit is developing. If youre only familiar with 30pounders that require their own refrigerator shelf, be on the lookout for newer, hybrid mini watermelons. When is watermelon season in texas, florida, california and georgia. Seedless watermelon plants will need to be interplanted with regular seeded watermelon plants, for pollination. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. 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. If you are in a cooler zone, start seeds indoors about a month before transplanting. 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. Sweet, refreshing georgia watermelon is in a store near you. Growing watermelons how to grow watermelon plants from.
This is definitely true for texas, california and georgia. The price of a melon can vary depending on the season. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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. Consequently, warmer more southern regions offer the best climate for this crop. Originating in africa, watermelons need a long, warm growing season. The soil must be warm and the weather settled with warm days and nights, as the plants are sensitive to cooler weather. To be safe, wait at least two weeks past your last frost date. The 5 most popular are seeded, seedless, mini, yellow and orange flesh. 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. Production peaks in august, and the season ends in november. Today, varieties of the warmseason annual range from 1pound.
They are the largest annual horticulture crop in texas. Transplanting can add two to four weeks to the growing season, but melons are especially sensitive to root disturbance. 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. Watermelon vegetable directory watch your garden grow. Its watermelon season here at davison orchards and lance davison tells you all about picking watermelon and how they taste. The 2019 watermelon crop is expected to have the crisp, sweet flavor and high. Seeds or transplants should be planted in rows spaced 6 to 8 feet apart. In texas, the watermelon season is from june to august. Soil should be 70 degrees f or warmer at planting time. Carefully roll over your watermelon to see the side that has been sitting on the soil. If you live where you have a shorter growing season, it would be a good idea to start your seeds indoors. When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. The reason for this is that watermelon fruit is made up of 92 percent water.
With the season starting earlier, we should avoid regional overlaps in harvesting. Whats in season florida produce calendar infographic. You cant miss these big guys, and there will be plenty at peak season. Most california watermelons are marketed in the western united states and canada. Learn how to plant, grow, and harvest watermelon with this growing guide. Once all risks of frost have passed, you can transplant the watermelon seedlings into the ground. July and august are the peak season for fresh and juicy watermelons.
It is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, having more than varieties watermelon is a scrambling and trailing vine in the flowering plant family cucurbitaceae. Watermelon seed can be planted directly in the garden or transplants can be grown to get an early start. Start watermelon seed indoors 8 to 6 weeks before transplanting seedlings to the garden. Gardeners in northern areas should choose early varieties and use transplants. We also like this tool from the texas department of agriculture to find out whats in season. Watermelon vines are very tender and should not be transplanted until all danger of frost has passed.
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. Watermelon fertilizer schedule tips for watermelon. Watermelon growing and harvest information growing. The growing zones for watermelons home guides sf gate. Start watermelon seeds indoors and use black plastic mulch. Growing watermelons in your new england garden is easy and. Watermelon plants are very frost sensitive and exposure to cold temperatures can quickly kill them.
My wife and i eat watermelon as an integral part of our diet. Op, cmon, why are you not atleast marking up for fuel. Give plants a fabulous start to the growing season by improving native soil with several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. 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. Need information on the price watermelon and when does the season start. 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. Watermelons have a long growing season, from planting to harvest, and during this time, they should not experience a frost, which could kill the plant. A simple list of seasonal fruit and vegetables for south africa. Harvest season starts in april in the lower rio grande valley. If you can fit it in, keep watermelon in the fridge it should last for up to a week. Hundreds of farms grow watermelons in an area of over 17,000 hectares throughout the state.
It is also the time of watermelon plentitude and the vendors are flooded by them. I would like to extend our season and have watermelon in our home year round. Start your watermelon seeds in the ground, right where they are supposed to grow. Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrientrich, welldrained soil with a ph of 6.
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