Growing Watermelons

[kwperry]

This year I want to try my hand at growing some watermelons. I have absolutely no garden experience but I have read that watermelons are pretty easy to keep up with. I have poked around on the internet a little bit but I was wondering if anyone on TBH could give me a crash course. I have plenty of real estate to deal with and the soil out here is very sandy.

With some help and a little luck I oughtta be ready to haul a melon to the thump in luling this year lol.

[Wood Man]

I like to plant melons. Here's how I do it and knock on wood it has always has worked for me. I till the ground as deep as I can. Where I plant my melon plant I make a hill about 2ft by 2ft and 8inches high. I then make a hole in the center of that hill as deep as I can and add one cup of 13-113-13 fertilizer. I do mix fertilizer around with soil. I cover that with about 6 inches of soil and then add 13-13-13 lightly. as you work your way up the hole. Then plant your melon plant on top and water well. I have always had great luck with that method. It may not be the correct way but has worked for me. I look forward to hearing other comments on the subject.

[Mike Murphey]

Make sure you have plenty of room

[beardedBrazos]

the toughest thing about melons in my experience is water management. not enough water and the plant dies. but the less water the better, after the fruit sets. less water=sweeter melon, as long it doesn't die. lol. and too much water right at the end will make em split.

[kwperry]

Thanks for the input y'all. Keep it coming.

[stevieray54]

Growing Melons

Just like they said.Water is Crucial too much water bad too little water bad..Just like any type of vine fruit or Veggie. Lots of room and keep the melons dry from rot

[Target-panic]

My parents have good success with melons. They place a plank underneath each melon as the find them and a small flag to mark the spot, keeps the bottoms from rotting and the can easily find them again. they had too many ripen all at once last year but none of them went too waste.

[deerslayer64d]

When do y'all plant ?

[Fishndude]

Room room room. Made this mistake many years ago.

[sqiggy]

I usually do pretty good every year IF the deer don't get'em. Last year, it wasn't till August before I picked my first melon. Dang deer kept nipping the ends of the vines.
Here is what I suggest.
First, plant with seeds. I tried to get a "jump start" and bought plants, then planted them. After 2 yrs in a row of not producing anything, I went back to seeds. Amazing results. An old timer told me about this!!!
Next, you don't have to make a "hill or mound". I use my tiller to make up my rows just like I do on all my other stuff. Just plant 2 to 3 seeds, about 3 to 4 ft apart down your rows. My rows are usually 3 to 4 ft apart. I think I make a row, skip 2 rows, make a row, skip 2 more till I have 3 rows of melons. I plant mine a little thick as far as room goes. You will find out, by the time the hot June or July sun is up, a thick stand of melon vines will keep your melons from gettin' burnt.
Once the plant is up, and has leafed out, I will fertilize it, usually with miracle grow. Then, once they are vined out, I will use miracle grow again except I put in the container that you hook up to your water hose. After that, it will take off like crazy.
You will never have enough of room. Once the vines reach my other rows, I will turn them back till I can't keep up with them anymore and just let them go, usually in my corn rows, which I had already picked clean anyway.
My melons get big. A 35 to 40 lb melon is a small one for me!!
Oh, coons love them too, so you will need to pick them before they get to them. Speaking of which, when that little "curly cue" turns brown at the melon vine, it's ready to pick!!

[beardedBrazos]

When do y'all plant ?

as soon as im pretty sure theres not gonna be any more frosts.

[TexZ71]

You should try square watermelons, they stack easier!

[deerslayer64d]

as soon as im pretty sure theres not gonna be any more frosts.

Thanks :
My son was just asking me yesterday about planting some watermelon , he planted Cantaloupe last year and did pritty good

[XBowHunter]

Canteloe and watermelon are on my list for this year.

Have had some good success in the past with both.

Thanks for the reminder. I need to get some seeds going indoors now