Sow four to five seeds per hill at a depth of 1 inch. With more than 18,000 acres of watermelon harvested on average each year, the state of Georgia ranks in the top 4 in the Unites States for production among Texas, Florida, and California. Planting and Spacing Watermelon seed germinates at soil temperatures of 68° to 95° F; however, germination below 70° is very slow. The skin becomes dull looking, rough, and hardened sufficiently that you cannot cut into it with your fingernail. • One commercially-grown plant produces one or two melons in the field. Transplant them into your garden once all danger of a freeze has passed. Watermelon is a warm-season vegetable in the cucurbiteae family. Start Seeds Outdoors. During dry weather, mites and thrips are more likely to cause damage. and prosperous Georgia. We hopeyou will try them, they are very rewarding, and super delicious. If you have extra room in the garden, watermelons can be fun and interesting to grow. The standard spacing for rabbiteyes is 5 – 6 feet between plants as they can get large. Horticulture, Program Coordinator I, Blueberries like our typical acidic soil and need a soil pH of 4.5 to 5.2. Charleston Grey 25 pounds Red flesh, popular with commercial growers. In the absence of a soil test, a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 13-13-13 can be applied at the rate of 3 pounds per 100 square feet of garden. The last month that you can plant watermelon and expect a good harvest is probably August.You probably don't want to wait any later than that or else your watermelon may not have a chance to really do well. These pests will damage the leaves and scar the stems. For transplants, start the seeds indoors about four or five weeks before the last frost. In the subtropical zones 9 through 11, plant watermelon as early as March. • More detailed information can be found in The Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Book by Walter Reeves and Felder Rushing. Published on Dec 16, 2013Published with Full Review on Sep 07, 2016. If space is restricted, grow bush types in beds or containers, or train the vining types on a trellis, making sure that the structure is strong enough to support the plants. Crop. Because vine crops do not tolerate root injuries common to transplanting, indoors under lights sow seeds in peat pots that can be planted without disturbing the tiny roots. Watermelons grow best in a planting site that has a lot of open space. 10/22. From planting to harvest, watermelons typically need 90 days to grow, ripen, and be ready for harvest. Water them as needed, to a depth of 6 inches, preferably with drip irrigation. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and keep well watered until germination. Plants are vigorous, reaching heights of 15-24 inches with a spread of six to eight feet, and are resistant to anthracnose and fusarium wilt. Keep in mind that Georgia is a huge state with a very wide range of climates, so the early dates generally refer to the start in the southern part of the state and the latter date is the end of the crop in the north. UGA Extension is not responsible for any damages, costs, liability, or risk associated with any use, functionality, and/or content of the website translations. Originating in Africa, watermelon cultivation has a long history across the globe and even in the Americas. (See “Soil Preparation” on page 68.) That sounds logical, doesn’t it? With normal vining melons, plant several seeds in groups spaced about 6 feet apart. Watermelons need a well-drained soil that receives eight to 10 hours of sunlight per day. For information or the status on programs, contact your local Extension office by email or phone. In south Georgia, that means starting them about the end of February. Circular 1035, The University of Georgia © 2020 | All rights reserved. Our free planting guide calculates the best dates for sowing seeds indoors and outdoors, and for transplanting seedlings to the garden—all customized to your location. Recent updates, initiatives and programs from UGA Extension. Be sure to keep the soil and plants moist using a fine mist. When can you plant Watermelon in Canton, GA. Sweet Favorite 20-35 pounds Red flesh, smaller and sweeter. Stone Mountain 35-40 pounds Rich scarlet flesh, crisp and sweet. You have successfully removed your county preference. Based on Frost Dates Based on Moon Dates. During periods of extended rain, foliar diseases are more likely to occur. Watermelon plants are also heavy feeders, so you might need to prepare compost if you don’t have nutrient-rich soil. You can plant or harvest something from your garden almost all year. Whole watermelon will stay fresh for about two weeks if it is stored at a temperature below 60 degrees F. At room temperature, it will keep for seven to 10 days. It is particularly important to follow all safety precautions. Watermelons, like all vine crops, have both male and female flowers. They need warm soil to develop and may rot off if weather is cool and wet. From planting to harvest, watermelons typically need 90 days to grow, ripen and be ready for harvest. For optimum taste, place the melon in the refrigerator to cool prior to eating. Some plants are great to get a head start indoors and plant out when the climate is right, but melons aren’t one of those. Icebox-type melons can weigh 6 to 12 pounds each, and several may develop on a vine. WHERE TO PLANT. Mark these plants in the garden so the ones with seeds can be separated from the ones that are seedless. Honey Heart 10 pounds Yellow flesh, convenient size. Apply a complete garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, at a rate of 11/2 pounds per 100 square feet of garden. Directly sown seed is prone to dampening off if it is sown when the soil is cool. *Based on statistics there is a 10% chance that frost will occur before or after these dates. From planting to harvest, watermelons typically need 90 days to grow, ripen, and be ready for harvest. Georgia watermelon is expected to hit stores by June 3. Spade or rototill the soil. Watermelon vines ramble, so your plants are going to spread out around your garden as they grow. In north Georgia, this will be the end of March to the beginning of April. or Transplants. Female flowers have tiny melons below the flowers themselves; male flowers have only slender stems. Set the plants at the same depth they were growing. In zones 7 and 8, plant watermelon seeds and seedlings in April. If you are reluctant to plant them because your garden has restricted space, you can plant smaller-fruited kinds, often called icebox watermelons. Without bees, there will be no melons. In cooler areas, use floating row covers to warm the plants. Georgia on average has approximately 205 days between the last and first frost. In containers, plant bush types. Watermelons can be grown either by direct seeding or by using transplants. Protect the foliage from diseases by applying a garden fungicide. Watermelon is a great, low-calorie, sweet treat with lots of nutritional value that can be enjoyed throughout the summer. • Farmers plant 1,600 to 1,800 watermelon plants per acre. watermelon – small 80-90 Palm Melon, Solitaire Mar. Field Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Production, Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program, Transplanting, Starting Seeds, Soil Preparation, Culture and Fertilization, Community and School Gardens Series: Less Expensive Sources of Plant Material, Amendments and Tools, Community and School Gardens Series: Growing Fruits, UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, UGA College of Family & Consumer Sciences. Standard and seedless melons at 25 pounds or more may be too heavy to grow on a support. The two major planting periods, however, are spring (March to May) and fall (mid-July to September). Caterpillars such as rind worms, pickle worms and cutworms may be particularly troublesome during the latter part of the season. Indoors, supplemental light may be required to promote sturdy growth and prevent plants from becoming leggy. Watermelons are Georgia´s number one produce crop with over 40,000 acres in production. Now, for all the summer vegetables like beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds and sunflowers, you should plant those seeds directly into the ground around March 20, or if your soil is still very cold, once the soil is near 60° F in temperature. In a garden with restricted space, grow melons vertically on a trellis or on a fence. Most watermelons are grown primarily in and around Crisp county near the city of Cordele. Users agree that automated translations may not effectively convert the intended design, meaning, and/or context of the website, may not translate images or PDF content, and may not take into account regional language differences. Set out started plants or sow seed directly in the garden after any danger of frost has passed. network of committed specialists, agents and volunteers to help Georgians learn, grow and do more. Mulch the plants with weed-free grass clippings (already dried, not green), straw or wood chips to prevent weeds from growing and to conserve water. In Texas, the watermelon season is from June to August. Soil should be 70 degrees F or warmer at planting time. In north Georgia, this will be the end of March to the beginning of April. Standard varieties mature in 85 to 90 days. 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. Rotate vine crops to a different part of the garden each year to reduce dangers of diseases. This is definitely true for Texas, California and Georgia. After danger of frost has passed, carefully set 2 or 3 transplant seedlings in hills about 36 inches apart. Then plant the seedlings in the holes. If space is restricted, grow bush types in beds or containers, or train the vining types on a trellis, making sure that the structure is strong enough to support the plants. Black plastic mulch can get watermelons off to a good start since it traps the sun, warming the soil. Choose a planting site that gets at least a half-day of sun. For more information, visit the Language Translation page. • The watermelon is in the Cucurbitacea family and related to the cucumber and squash. Another foliar disease that is more likely to occur is powdery mildew. Watermelons thrive in warm soils, so wait to transplant them until the danger of frost has passed and days are consistently sunny and warm. Watermelons can be grown either by direct seeding or by using transplants. Golden Crown 6 to 10 pounds Red flesh, but skin turns yellow as melon ripens. Planting Dates for Spring. Queen of Hearts 15 pounds Red flesh, mid-sized Heart. A week after they have germinated, thin the seedlings to two per hill. Set up lights 6 to 12 inches above the plants, and keep them on for about 14 hours a day. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it was originally domesticated in Africa.It is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieties.. Wild watermelon seeds have been found in the prehistoric Libyan site of Uan Muhuggiag. Plan… When the plants begin to vine, remove the covers, and stop the spraying. Georgia cantaloupe is available from May through October. Stagger plantings in the long growing season of the southern zones to enjoy watermelon for a longer period. Based on frost dates and planting … They are listening for a dull thud, but some melons make that sound when they are overripe. The earliest that you can plant watermelon in Canton is April.However, you really should wait until May if you don't want to take any chances.. The zone info helps tell us things like average date of last frost and lowest expected temperature for our area. There are several foliar diseases of watermelon, including gummy stem blight, downy mildew and anthracnose. Watermelon seed should not be planted until soil tem-peratures are warm enough to ensure rapid germination. Use the product strictly according to the support passed, carefully set 2 or transplant! Nutritional value that can be an art and summer squashes, gourds, pumpkins, and hardened sufficiently you... Of space, sunshine, water and nutrients at ATLANTA HARTSFIELD INTL AP, GA climate station ) frost. Yellow flesh, hybrid Palm melon, Solitaire Mar need a long history across the that. 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