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fuck when to harvest watermelons can be tricky , especially if you ’re used togrowing crop like tomatoes , where there ’s an obvious physical alteration ( like turning from immature to red ) that indicates ripeness . Watermelons go through more subtle changes , so they can be hard to spot if you do n’t get laid what to look for . If you ’re wondering if your watermelons are ready to harvest , this is the guide for you . We ’ll break down everything you need to know about when to harvest watermelons for the perfect summertime snack !
How to tell your watermelons are ready for harvesting
Most Citrullus vulgaris salmagundi are ready to harvest roughly 1 month after the plant has bloomed , or 2 to 3 calendar month after plant your watermelon seeds . The exact sentence can deviate depending on the type of watermelons you ’re growing , what the conditions has been like , and whether all the plant ’s needs have been met .
visual aspect is the easiest way to secernate when to glean watermelon . As your watermelons grow and mature , you ’ll notice that the green color has a shiny flavor to it . One of the magnanimous index that watermelons are quick to harvest is when the radiance turns sluggish . A ripe Citrullus vulgaris will have a dulled green appearing and the abdomen of it ( the part that sit on the ground ) will turn from a fleeceable - ashen to a yellow / cream colouring .
What does this signify for you ? Well , it means that so as to substantially state when your watermelons are ready to glean , you ’ll have to check on them daily . If you are n’t intimate with the melon ’s shining coming into court and are n’t checking the bottom , you ’ll have a harder metre knowing when they ’re done growing .
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Some experienced gardener even say you may severalize by tapping on the watermelon . A ripe watermelon will have a hollow ring , whereas one that is n’t ready to glean will go more metal ; however , to the untrained , inexperienced ear , the two speech sound seem the same . That ’s why the beneficial way to know when to glean watermelon is by relying on coming into court .
What’s the best way to harvest watermelons?
When reap your watermelons , you should leave about 2 inches of the stem on the yield . Using a acute tongue , cut the watermelon from the vine . It can be stored for roughly a workweek at way temperature and about two to three weeks in a 50- to 60 - degree Fahrenheit environment ( like a fridge ) .
Remember : They do n’t mature off the vine . Once you make the stinger , that ’s it . That ’s the melon you ’re getting . So , be as indisputable as you’re able to that the watermelon is quick .
Growing healthy, delicious fruit
grow luscious watermelons will look a bit different at the start depending onthe climate you ’re in . Warmer climate and area with longer maturate season can inseminate their seeds immediately into their gardens about one to two weeksafterthe last frost ; however , if you ’re in a tank climate , you should come out your seeds indoors about two to three weeksbeforethe last rime so that the seedlings can be transplanted into the garden two hebdomad after .
In either place , you may always buy watermelon seedlings from nurseries , though you should still be sure to follow the road map for when to plant them inoutdoor garden beds . sound watermelon growth rely on proper care and conditions . If those are met , it ’s likely you ’ll be harvesting many melons in the summer .
Ideal conditions for watermelon plants
Watermelons should be planted in loose , well - draining stain that can retain moisture well . They prefer to be in full Dominicus locations where they can receive a lot of sunrise and good afternoon lighting and assimilate the nutrient require to produce delicious fruit . Melons opt to have a soil pH of 6 to 6.8 , so it ’s always best to test your soil before planting to check that they ’ll be able to thrive in that environment ( or so you know if you ask toprovide additional materialto the soil to achieve the desired pH balance ) .
watermelon like to be planted on hills , hummock , or raise rows , so take tutelage not to pack the soil too tightly when lay out up the develop outer space . You want to give them a well - round environment to thrive in , so attempt to keep the ground as lax as you could during this procedure .
Watering requirements
In addition to proper sunlight , your watermelons will continue to thrive with regular lacrimation from seedling to due date . Similar to other fruit like tomatoes , watermelon do the serious with 1 to 2 in of water per hebdomad until they start to uprise fruit . The territory should be kept moist but not doughy , which is why it ’s extra important to make certain thesoil is loose and well - draining . Once the fruit begins to uprise , you could reduce the amount of water you give the plant life . This cause the fruit to bug out salt away its sugars and grow the sweetest melons .
How long can ripe watermelons stay on the vine?
If you ’re low on repositing place , you might be question how long your mature watermelons can stay on the vine in your garden . In ideal condition , advanced watermelons can stay on the vine for one to two weeks . However , there are a couple of factors that can impact that time . The primary factors are the atmospheric condition and pests .
In humid or showery weather , you will call for to glean your advanced watermelons more quickly . Hot , wet conditions increase fungal and bacterium activity , mean your watermelons may commence to rot . You should also reap them as soon as they are mature if you have been seeing pest terms in your garden , particularly if you ’re seeing rindworms , beetle , orsmall mammalian like squirrel , raccoons , or rats . While pests that consume leaf can be a pain , these pests will eat the watermelon vine itself .
In the proper condition , grow sweet , advanced watermelon should be fairly square , but do n’t worry if you do n’t get it right the first time ( or the 2nd , third , or 4th times , either ) . Gardening at its core is a test - and - error process , and one location may be better than another . Sometimes , the conditions conditions themselves sour against you . What ’s important is that you do the full you could with what you have , and your plant will do its best in riposte .
