How to grow watermelon vine plants at home

Watermelon vine plants are very easy to grow at home or on a large acreage.   They do however take up a fair amount of space so be prepared to make about 5mtrs space around where you plant the seed or seedlings.  Once the plant has established itself it will grow over other plants or weeds that spring up.  keep the area directly around the root zone free of weeds.  Watermelons can be grown in tropical, temperate and cool temperate regions.  You can plant as soon as the soil become warm enough for the seed to sprout.  This is normally done in about mid spring, the plants growing through spring and into summer when the watermelon fruit will ripen.  Watermelons are easy to grow and will keep for months.  The best position to grow your watermelons is full sun all day.

How to prepare the garden bed to grow watermelons

Preparation of your garden bed is important, but at the same time can be very easy.  There are to main methods.  1. is to prepare a small square of around 2 or 3 feet in the area you want your watermelon to grow.  Remove any weeds as the small watermelon will have trouble establishing if it has competition from weeds.    Till the ground and add animail manures such as cow, sheep or to a lesser extent chicken manure.  keep the bed well watered.  2  The second method is to till your full garden bed and plant plants that grow up such as tomatoes.  The watermelon vines will grow over the ground below the tomatoes etc. 

Click Here for more details

How to grow watermelon vine plants from seed

Watermelon plants will grow very easily from seed.    There are two major methods of doing this.  1. One is to direct seed into the ground,  the seed will germinate when it gets enough warmth and moisture.  Mid spring is usually the best time to do this.  Plant the seed around 2cm into the tilled soil.   Well drained soil with the addition of animal manures will ensure a good start for your plants. Keep the soil moist.   2.  The second way to grow you watermelon seedling is in punnets.  This is done to get the plants and early start in spring.   Some growers will get there seedling growing in late winter to plant out in spring.   Fill some punnets with a seed raising mixure or a well drained potting mix.  Plant around 4 or 5 seeds per punnet and place in a warm sunny spot.  Keep well watered.  The seeds should spring up in around two weeks and then grow quickly.  Plant them out when they have got to sufficient size to look after themselves.  You can also purchase watermelon seedling from a plant nursery.

Click Here for more details

How to fertilise your watermelon plants

When fertilising your watermelon plants it is best to use animal manures in your bed preparation.  Once the plants have established themselves then the use of a two or three handfuls of NPK fertliser during the growing season this will help them grow well and establish good size, and tasting fruit.   Most general perpose vegetable fertilisers are adequate for watermelons.  If you would like to use a liquid fertliser then this also is of great advantage during the growing season.  A seaweed based fertiliser with NPK will enhance growth and produce strong vines and good fruit.  When using liquid fertilisers you may have to give a treatment every two weeks.  Keep your watermelon plants watered well to promote growth.  Aviod nitrogen only fertilisers as they tend to develop lots of growth and few flowers and fruit.  When watering your plants water at the root zone as this is were the plants roots have developed. 

Click Here for more details