Fertilizing Watermelons What Fertilizers To Use On Watermelon Plants

When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.

How do you increase watermelon growth?

To maximize the size of the melons, water the plants at the base in regular, deep-watering sessions that keep the soil moist. Side dress the watermelon plants with fertilizer designed for edible crops or compost tea to feed the plants. The fertilizer encourages growth to get larger melons.

How often should you fertilize watermelon plants?

Fertilize the watermelon plant once per week with liquid soluble fertilizer. Start with a 20-10-20 measurement of fertilizer until the flowers of the plant bloom. Then switch to a 20-20-20 fertilizer for the rest of the season.

How do you Fertilise watermelon?

Fertilising Watermelons

Every two weeks apply eco-seaweed and eco-aminogro to encourage bigger and better fruiting and help build up resistance to diseases. Midway through the season you can boost the soil with a dose of eco-flo dolomite and more compost/manure especially if the soil was poor to start with.

Is Miracle Grow good for watermelon plants?

Feeding and Caring for Melons

Then, feed your melon plants regularly through the growing season with a continuous-release plant food like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organic® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules, which feeds the soil as well as your plants.

Do watermelon like coffee grounds?

Old coffee grinds really do enhance the flavor of many crops, cantaloupe, tomatoes, melons. No study to prove it, but it is said you get bigger melons if you use coffee grinds. As they break down, the grinds will release nitrogen into the soil.

Why is my watermelon plant not producing fruit?

The pollen from the male flower needs to be moved, usually by bees, to the female bloom. If there is insufficient bee activity, not enough pollen will be delivered to properly fertilize the female flowers. The result will be either no fruit or malformed fruit.

Do you water watermelon everyday?

Watering Watermelons

Give watermelons 1 to 2 inches (2.5. -5cm) of water every week (1 inch equals 16 gallons/60.5 liters.) Keep the soil moist until the fruit reaches full size then stop watering while the fruit ripens.

Is Epsom salt good for watermelon plants?

Spraying with a solution of Epsom salts and borax when the vines start to run and again when crown-set fruits are between one and two inches in diameter will sweeten them. The proportion is 61/2 tablespoons of Epsom salts and 31/3 tablespoons of borax (household type) to five gallons of water.

Is cow manure good for watermelons?

Improper application of chemical fertilizers has negatively affected tropical soils. On the other hand use or organic fertilizers such as cattle manure have been shown to improve growth and development of watermelon plants.

Do watermelons need lots of water?

How to Grow Watermelons. Watering is very important—from planting until fruit begins to form. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged.

Can you water watermelons too much?

A watermelon plant (Citrullus lanatus) needs enough moisture to ensure proper growth and fruit development. Too much water can be detrimental when growing watermelons, reducing the quality of the fruit or causing it to burst.

Why are my watermelons so small?

Temperature – Watermelons like it hot, between 60-70 degrees F. ... If temperatures are low in your area, this may very possibly be the reason for small watermelons. Pests and disease – If you have small, misshapen fruit, the culprit might be an aphid infestation. The aphids act as vectors introducing the mosaic virus.

Why are my watermelons dying?

More often than not, watermelon blossom end rot occurs when water levels are fluctuating during fruit initiation. A steady supply of water is required to move calcium to these young fruits, but too much isn't good, either – good drainage is necessary for healthy roots.

What is the best fertilizer for cantaloupe?

Cantaloupe plants can be fertilized again after the blossoms appear. At this point, you want to use a fertilizer with much less nitrogen than phosphate and potassium. If using a granular type fertilizer, choose a formula such as 5-10-10 or 2-12-12. More potassium and phosphate will help you plants develop fruit.

Why are my watermelon plants growing so slow?

Temperatures Too Low

Watermelons require hot growing temperatures for the best development. If the outside air temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night and lower than 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, the growth of the plant slows considerably.

Are eggshells good for plants?

The calcium from eggshells is also welcome in garden soil, where it moderates soil acidity while providing nutrients for plants. Eggshells contain such an abundance of calcium that they can be used almost like lime, though you would need a lot of eggshells to make a measurable impact.

How many watermelons do you get per plant?

The number of vines determines how many watermelons there are per plant as each vine can produce between two to four melons during the growing season.

What is a companion plant for watermelon?

Best Companion Plants for Pollination

Whichever type of watermelon you grow, it is crucial to attract bees to your garden. Marigold, lavender, and borage are good companion plants for watermelons because of their continuous or intermittent blooming.

Do I need to prune watermelon plants?

Watermelon plants don't need much pruning to grow big and juicy fruit; what they really need is space. Watermelon vines spread out in runners going in all directions from the base, often growing longer than 3 feet.

Do you need 2 watermelon plants to get fruit?

Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) like many other melons, cannot produce fruit if they are not pollinated. A watermelon plant is a cucurbit and as such bloom with both male and female flowers and can be pollinated without the help of another watermelon plant.

How do you hand pollinate watermelon plants?

Hand pollination for melons with the male flower starts with carefully removing a male flower from the plant. Strip away the petals so that the stamen is left. Carefully insert the stamen into an open female flower and gently tap the stamen on the stigma (the sticky knob). Try to evenly coat the stigma with pollen.