Look at the color on the top. Planting seeds for a watermelon crop during a time of year when the soil is too cold might result in a low germination rate for the seeds. Thump it. Light. An echo sound or hollow sound not ripe. Plant onions in early spring once the ground is workable. (205) 669-9205 Read more. For zones nine and above, the growing season starts mid-March. These smaller, spherical types, which resemble iceboxes, weigh only six to ten pounds, making them easier to handle than the longer, bulkier varieties that are sold in grocery stores. As we mentioned earlier, watermelons require a fair bit of nutrients. Early planting will miss some insects, but usually, youll have to use insecticides. Use a soil thermometer. When Should You Plant Watermelon Seeds? If youre growing in traditional rows, space them at least 6feetapart. The label is one of the most important pieces of garden literature available. Plant these after there is no longer a chance of frost occurring; they are very tender. In reply to What I have learned growing by ane (not verified). No guarantee, endorsement, or discrimination among comparable products is intended or implied by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. If beans, okra, cucumbers, etc., are left to mature fully, the plant will stop producing. Be careful to provide your plants with an additional drink each week if there is not enough rain falling where you are. Watering is very importantfrom planting until fruit begins to form. During long dry periods, soak the garden thoroughly once a week; dont just sprinkle daily. Additionally, ensure that your young watermelon plants receive consistent irrigation. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. When the temperature of the soil is higher than 65 degrees Fahrenheit, you can plant watermelons directly into the ground. Motivational and inspirational sources to all those parents to enjoy life with their babies, Home FAQ When To Plant Watermelon In Alabama. Seeds will germinate in 4-12 days. Sow 3-4 seeds 1 inch deep, 4-5 feet apart. Watermelons do best in loamy, somewhat-sandy, well-drained soil. Planting Watermelon for Best Results Plant watermelons in light loam to sandy-loam soil; avoid planting in heavy or clay soil. How many watermelons do you get per plant? Plant watermelons at a distance of three to five feet apart in nutrient-dense soil that is well-drained and has a pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.8. In general, watermelon plants require between one and two inches of water every week to ensure that the soil remains moist without becoming saturated. For more information, contact your county Extension office. Once they become established, water your muskmelon plants deeply and infrequently if rainfall equal to 1 inch or more per week is lacking. Light, frequent irrigation helps only during the period of seed germination. When we we raided watermelon patches in high school we learned to thump them: Once the seedlings are established, remove 2 seedlings and leave the best to keep growing. Space onion plants 6 inches apart in rows that are 12 inches apart. These planting dates are for Central Alabama. How late can you plant watermelons in Alabama? This palm can be grown in states like Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oregon and Texas. The Arbequina olive is ideally suited to Alabamas climate. Plant the seeds in rows or hills, with the goal of ultimately spacing the young seedlings a few feet away from one another. Plant well , water a lot and leave the heck alone. Similar to other plants, such as pumpkins, watermelons produce both male and female flowers although these appear on the same plant. The earliest that you can plant watermelon in Huntsville is April . Height: less than 50cm, with spread of 2m+. Depth: to 1-inch seed depth, transplant slightly deeper. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water perweek. Because watermelons need a long period of warm weather to grow well, they tend to be more popular in warmer climates with long growing seasons. It is beneficial to conduct soil testing in the late summer and apply any needed lime when planting cover crops. While watermelons love warm climates, if you have a longer winter, you can still try your hand at this delicious fruit. Plant watermelon from late spring to early summer, once soil temperatures reach 70 F or above. Instead of characteristic stripes, these melons have tiny yellow spots a few large yellow spots against a dark green skin. Now, for all the usual hot weather veggies like beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds and sunflowers, you should plant those seeds directly into the ground around August 6. After the plants emerge and begin to grow, mound the plants. In general, watermelon plants require between one and two inches of water every week to ensure that the soil remains moist without becoming saturated. Malathion is a good all-around material for aphids and red spider mites and gives someworm control. Blossoms require pollination to set fruit, so be kind to the bees! Transplanting is discouraged to avoid disturbing their roots. Of course soil testing in advance of planting is recommended along with growing cover crops. Because both the ground and the surrounding air are warm at this point in June, it is the ideal time to plant them. Find types with a short growing season that develop rapidly, like Sugar Baby, if you want to achieve success quickly. The last month that you can plant watermelon and expect a good harvest . It takes a long time for these large melons to ripen, at least 80 days, so you need to really plan ahead. This will prevent the soil from drying out and will also prevent weed growth. Dig a hole 12" deep and 24" wide, fill with compost, manure, and several handfuls of sand. Grow them in a sunny spot that has fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. There must be 6 seeds in each hill. The soil temperature at the 4-inch depth should be 60 to 65 F before this crop is planted. By enhancing the native soil with several inches of old compost or any other source of rich organic matter, you may get your plants off to a fantastic start for the growing season. Once pollination occurs, the female flowers will start to develop the fruit. In zones 7 and 8, sow watermelon seeds and plant seedlings in mid-April. However, they can be grown in the right circumstances. Long-season crops such as tomatoes, cabbage, pepper, okra, and potatoes need more fertilizer than short-season crops. Before using a weed control product, get full information on how to use it and what crop it should be used on. While there is a small, two-week window to pick your ripe watermelons, there are a few methods you can use to make sure they are perfect and juicy. This website uses cookies to collect information to improve your browsing experience. Watermelons can be stored uncut for about 10 days. It has worked for 50 plus years. Row coverings are an option for protecting young plants from the cold in environments with lower average temperatures. Stagger plantings in the long growing season of the southern zones to enjoy watermelon for a longer period. Nevertheless, gardeners in colder areas can still have success producing watermelons by beginning seeds indoors, acquiring young plants from a nursery, or cultivating kinds with a shorter growth season. Row coverings will protect the plants from the numerous insect pests that are drawn to watermelons. Water is essential for a top-notch garden. Native to Africa, melons require warm temperaturesand a long growing season. Watermelon seeds germinate easily and quickly, and seedlings dont usually transplant well, so theres no need to start them in a pot or seed tray. Finally, check the tendril, which is the part of the vine that comes up from the stem and is curled. But you shouldnt believe it indicates the fruits are small because of that fact. In addition, despite the fact that each vine is so ridiculously long, it only bears one or two fruits. Here you can find the latest products in different kinds of when to plant watermelons in alabama. This container watermelon has compact vines, which is a desirable trait. It's typically a range like 80 to 120 days. Thin to the strongest plant when plants have 3-4 leaves. Plant the pieces about 3 inches deep, 10 to 12 inches apart, in rows about 36 inches apart. Use a 33-0-0 fertilizer at the rate of pound (227 g.) per every 50 feet (15 m.) of the watermelon row. Ensure that the plants have adequate room. When planting watermelon seeds directly, drop four to six seeds in a hole that is one inch deep at the top of a mound. Watermelons grow best in a tropical climate. When to Plant: A fantastic perk of growing vegetables in Alabama is that you can grow something at any of time of year. When To Plant Cucumbers Planting Guide 2023, When To Plant Pumpkins Planting Guide 2023, When To Plant Tomatoes Planting Guide 2023, WHEN TO PLANT TULIPS PLANTING GUIDE 2023, When to Plant Lavender Planting Guide 2023. Lime and Fertilizer. So, if you are in Alabama planting zone 7a, any plant rated 1 through 7a will likely be fine growing there. Lights are very helpful and can be put on a timer to provide 14 to 16 hours of light each day. Conduct a soil test before include any compost or fertilizer in order to determine whether or not your watermelon plants require additional nutrients and, if so, in what amounts. Watermelons dont continue ripening after they are picked, so harvest time is important. Today's kids have no memories of what a really sweet watermelon tastes like, or of seed spitting contests. Larger fruited melons are generally given 24 to 30 square feet per plant. Peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplants and parsley can now be planted all over the state. Give cantaloupe plenty of room to grow. If youre in the middle of a particularly cool spring, simply wait and let your seedlings grow inside for longer. Always water transplants to settle the soil around roots. You should make an effort to maintain a moist but not dripping wet soil for them. While you might be tempted to turn the sprinkler on, too much water can waterlog the leaves, leading to rot. Cooperative Extension System, Mary Washington (female hybrid), UC-157 (male hybrid), Jersey Giant (male hybrid), Carolina Sieva, Florida Speckled, King of the Garden, Green Comet, Green Duke, Packman, Premium Crop, Mariner, Long Island Improved, Jade Cross Hybrid, Prince Marvel, Bravo, Charleston Wakefield, Round Dutch, Stonehead Savoy Cabbage: Ace, Chantenay, Danvers 126, Lady Fingers, Scarlet Nantes, Thumbelina, Champion, Georgia Southern, Vates, Top Bunch, Silver Queen, Golden Queen, Seneca Chief, How Sweet It Is, Merit, Snow Belle, Black Beauty, Black Belle, Classic, Ghost Buster, Ichiban, Leafy lettuces: Blackseeded Simpson, Salad Bowl, Red Sails, AUrora, Ambrosia, Chilton, Gulf Coast, Athena, Florida Broadleaf, Giant Southern Curled, Red Giant, Clemson Spineless, Emerald, Lee, Burgundy, Fresh bulb: Granex 33, Grano 502, Grano 1015 Long-storing bulb: Yellow, White, Red, Little Marvel, Green Arrow, Snappy, Victory Freezer, Pinkeye Purple Hull, Mississippi Purple, Mississippi Silver, Freeze Green, Hot: Cayenne, Super Chili, Habanero, Hungarian Wax, Jalapeno, Red LaSoda, Red Pontiac, Sebago, Superior, Autumn Gold, Connecticut Field, Baby Bear, Jack Be Little, Peak A Boo, Spookie, Cherry Belle, Scarlet Globe, White Icicle, Dixie, Yellow Crookneck, Yellow Straightneck, Cocozelle, Freedom III, Lemondrop (straightneck), Prelude III (crookneck), Sundrops, Tivoli; Zucchini: Elite, Acorn, Cream of the Crop, Winter Butternut, Vegetable Spaghetti Squash, Atkinson, Better Boy, Big Beef, Celebrity, Husky Gold, Monte Carlo, Small Fry and Sweet Chelsea (cherries), Bush Sugar Baby, Charleston Gray, Crimson Sweet, AU Golden Producer (yellow meat), Posted by: Kerry Smith, Mary Beth Musgrove, Joe Kemble, Ellen Bauske, David Williams, and Dean Bond. 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