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by Jeremy M . Kichler County Extension Coordinator Colquitt County • Moultrie , Georgia email : jkichler @ uga . edu
There is nothing better than eating watermelon in the summer . Watermelon is a warm-season crop related to cantaloupe , squash , cucumber , and pumpkin . Watermelons can be grown on any well-drained soil throughout Georgia , but they are particularly well adapted to the coastal plain soils of South Georgia . Watermelons range in shape from round to oblong . Rind colors can range from light to dark green , with or without stripes . Flesh colors can be dark red , red , or yellow .
Watermelons can be grown either by direct seeding or by using transplants . For transplants , start the seeds indoors about 4 or 5 weeks before the last frost . Watermelons thrive in warm soils , so wait to transplant them until the danger of frost has passed and days are consistently sunny and warm . The soil temperature should reach 65 – 70 ° F before planting watermelon in the garden . Watermelons need well-drained soil that receives 8 to 10 hours of sunlight per day . Watermelons can also be seeded . Watermelon enthusiasts can plant watermelon from seed in small hills with a spacing of 8 feet on all sides . Sow four to five seeds per hill at a depth of 1 in . A week after they have germinated , thin the seedlings to two .
Photo by J D on Unsplash
Watermelons !
For proper fertilization , a soil test ( available through your local county Extension office ) is always recommended . The soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0 for the best growth . In the absence of a soil test , a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 13-13- 13 can be applied at a rate of 3 lb per 100 sq ft of garden . Spade or till the soil to a depth of at least 6 to 8 inches .
Water them as needed , to a depth of 6 in ., preferably with drip irrigation . Overhead watering will soak the foliage and make it a lot more susceptible to pests and diseases , especially mildew . Depending on the type of soil , you may need to irrigate several times a week to provide adequate moisture . Overwatering should be avoided because it leaches nutrients from the soil and makes plants more prone to disease .
Diseases can thrive in wet and humid weather . Directly sown seed is prone to dampening off if it is sown when the soil is cool . During periods of extended rain , foliar diseases are more likely to occur . There are several foliar diseases of watermelon , including gummy stem blight , downy mildew , and anthracnose . Another foliar disease that is more likely to occur is powdery mildew . Soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium wilt and root-knot nematodes can also be problematic . Fusarium wilt can be difficult to predict from one year to the next , but , in general , soils with a history of the disease should be avoided . Root-knot nematodes can be effectively controlled with crop rotations and non-host species .
Watermelon can be harvested anytime between 70 and 90 days , depending on the variety . Look for a curly tendril at the stem . The watermelon is ready to be picked when the tendril opposite the fruit stem is completely dry . Other signs of ripeness include yellowing of the underside of the fruit and a dull thump sound when tapping the fruit .
If you have any questions about watermelon production , please contact your local county Extension agent . n
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