The standard companion plants for watermelons are squash and pumpkins, nasturtiums, radishes, and corn.
Keep ripening watermelon from direct contact with soil to prevent rot and protect fruit from pests and rodents. When fruit is about the size of a softball, place it on a bed of straw or cardboard.
Watermelon goes well with many fruits and vegetables such as cucumber, fennel, jicama, blackberries, blueberries, lemons, limes, melons, oranges, pomegranates, raspberries and tomatoes 123.
No, tomatoes are considered incompatible to be planted next to watermelons. They are heavy feeders as the favorite summer fruit. In addition, its growth habit can turn into a large bush that can shade the main crop.
Watermelons grow best on sandy loam soils, with good drainage and a slightly acid pH. When planted in very heavy soils, the plants develop slowly and fruit size and quality are usually inferior. Fine sands produce the highest quality melons when adequate fertilizer and water are provided.
Coffee grounds contain nutrients that are excellent for watermelon plants, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
To prevent rotting, gently lift the fruit as it gets bigger and turn it. you can also mulch with plastic around the plants. Common pests include cucumber beetles and vine borers. To prevent these, use floating row covers but remove them once the plants begin to flower.
In the case of spacing watermelon plants, those set too far apart waste valuable garden space while those set too close together compete for light, air and soil nutrients, resulting in a potentially compromised crop.
The Iroquois and the Cherokee called corn, bean, and squash “the three sisters” because they nurture each other like family when planted together.
Summary. Watermelons grow best in sunny locations and in fertile, well-drained soils. Incorporate organic matter and a complete fertilizer into the area before planting. Plant 4-6 watermelon seeds directly in the garden when soils are 65°F.
YaraLiva® Calcium Nitrate is the top choice for fertilizing watermelon during Vegetative Growth, Flowering and Fruit Set. YaraLiva calcium nitrate supplies readily available nitrate-nitrogen for fast growth and high productivity.
There is a popular myth that watermelon should not be grown close to other cucurbits such as cucumber, cantaloupe, or squash because of an adverse effect on horticultural traits such as flavor. However, watermelon will not cross with any other cucurbits except for species within the genus Citrullus.
Flat, tasteless melons can be due to a lack of magnesium or boron in the soil. It has been found that such fruits can be sweetened by giving them a dose of Epsom salts and borax. For home garden use, use about 6 1/2 tablespoons of Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons of household borax, all added to five gallons of water.
Avoid using coffee grounds on alkaline-loving trees, such as linden, ironwood, red chestnut and arborvitae. Coffee grounds used as mulch or compost inhibit plant growth on geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass. Definitely don't use coffee grounds with these plants.
Before you toss your eggshells, it's time to give them a second shot. Eggshells used as fertilizer for your garden can benefit the soil your plants use to gain essential nutrients, aiding rapid growth and keeping soil acidity in check.
Plant melons when ground temperatures are above 70 degrees F. Before planting, add nutrients to native soil by mixing in a 3-inch layer of Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose In-Ground Soil.
Watermelon – This fruit is rich in citrulline amino acids that can increase penile size. The fruit undergoes a conversion into L-arginine amino acids. These amino acids, in turn, trigger the production of nitric oxide, which increases the penile blood supply.
Watermelon Companions
Sow cowpeas 3 or 4 weeks before planting watermelon so that both crops will be blooming at the same time. Plant buckwheat, cowpeas, or sweet clover to attract predators of watermelon pests. Interplant with radish, tansy, and nasturtium to discourage cucumber beetles from feeding on watermelons.
Striped cucumber beetles, spotted cucumber beetles, and squash bugs are common watermelon pests which also attack other members of the cucurbit family. In order to avoid an invasion that wipes out everything, don't plant these crops in the same family near your watermelon plants: Cucumbers. Squash.