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Planting Watermelon
Irrigating Watermelon
Fertilizing
Watermelon
Watermelon Varieties
Diseases & Common Pests
Harvesting Watermelon
How to Grow Artichoke
How to Grow Asparagus
How to Grow Blueberries
How to Grow Brussel Sprouts
How to Grow Cantaloupe
How to Grow Carrots
How to Grow Cucumbers
How to Grow Eggplant
How to Grow Grapes
How to Grow Onions
How to Grow Peppers
How to Grow Potatoes
How to Grow Pumpkins
How to Grow Raspberries
How to Grow Rhubarb
How to Grow Strawberries
How to Grow Tomatoes
Companion Gardening
Composting
Control Garden Pests
Track Soil pH
Hydroponics Gardening
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How to Grow Watermelon from seeds or seedlings
Watermelon is very
susceptible to frost damage, it requires a long growing
season with relatively high temperatures. Daytime temperatures
between 70 and 80 degrees F and nighttime temperatures between
65 and 70 degrees F are ideal. Clear plastic
mulches will raise soil temperature and helps melon mature several weeks
earlier than normal. Individual melons also tend to be larger and
sweeter.
Select a
site with Full Sun , no shade, or minimal shade.
Gardeners in northern
areas should choose early varieties and use transplants.
Mulching also promotes earliness by warming the soil
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Plant after the soil is warm and when all danger of frost is
past. Watermelons grow best on a sandy loam soil, although
yields on clay soils can be increased significantly by mulching
raised planting rows. As watermelon require a relatively long/warm
growing season it is advisable to start your seedlings indoors,
and transplant into your garden when frost danger has
disappeared. Start the seeds inside
3 weeks before they are to be set out in the garden. Plant 2 or
3 seeds in peat pellets,
peat pots and thin to the
best one or two plants.
Transplanted watermelons will mature 10 to
12 days earlier than plants that are direct-seeded. Use
of seedless varieties, is recommended if you are not seed
saving The seed-coat of seedless varieties adheres tightly
to the cotyledons, so place seeds with the point up when
starting transplants.
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How to Grow
Watermelon - Watering
Watering is critical in growing watermelons.
The key time to
water is from the time the fruit begins to form until it is
half-grown. Excessive watering too close to harvesting of
watermelon will reduce
the sugar content and cause the fruit to have hollow centers.
Inexpensive
water timers are available. Check the soil moisture daily or
more in hot dry weather and reapply as necessary before the melons go
into stress. Always allow the top 1" to 2" of soil to dry between
watering again.
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How to Grow Watermelon -
Fertilizing
A high phosphorus fertilizer promotes fruiting and is best suited
for Watermelon. Weak and poorly maintained vines will produce
poor quality fruits. Large vines will produce a higher
quality sweeter melon. Use fertilizer with a ratio of one part
nitrogen to four parts phosphorus when planting , [see our
article Understanding fertilizer labels] .
Nitrogen should be added 30 and 60 days after
planting to keep the vines growing but in moderation as
excess nitrogen will produce excess foliage at expense of
the melon. Larger vines are acquired from lots of water and fertilizer, so be sure to
leave plenty of room.
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Minimum spacing for watermelons
other than bush-type melons is 2X4 feet , even more if you have
the room. Close planting results in poor fruit production.
Occasional side dressing with liquid fertilizers such as
fish emulsion 
or manure tea is also helpful, but remember to maintain a low
nitrogen and higher phosphorous ratio.
If heavy rainfall occurs early in the season apply an
extra side dressing.
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How to Grow Watermelon -
Varieties
There are dozens of varieties of Melons both
heirloom and hybrid Ambrosia Melons, Amish Melons, Amur
Melons, Anne Arundel Melons, Densuke Melons, Ein Dor Melons,
Fastbreak Melons, Osage Melons, Planter's Jumbo Melons, Summer
Melons, Tokyo King Melons, Vert Grimpant Melons, Babáco Melons,
Banana Melons, Blue Ridge Melons, Bolero Melons, Butterscotch
Melons, Cassabanana Melons, Emerald Gem Melons, Emerald Jewel
Melons, Emerald Pearl Melons, Honeyball Melons, Horned Melons,
Kharbuza Melons,Pineapple Melons, Sharlyn Melons, Sprite Melons,
,Yellow Melons, Yubari Melons ....
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Shop for Watermelon Seeds
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Standard Varieties |
Sugar Baby Watermelon
Sweet, fine-textured, medium-red
flesh. The round, 12 lb., dark green skinned melons grow 8 in.
across. |
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Black Diamond Watermelon 
Produces 40 to 75 lb
watermelons if properly cared for. It has very flavorful bright
red flesh. Tough rind helps fruit from bruising. |
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'Charleston Gray' Watermelon 
This old favorite produces
fruits up to 2 feet long and weigh up to 16kg (35lbs).
Gray-green rind with succulent, crisp, red, fiberless flesh.
Resistant to fusarium wilt and anthracnose. |
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How to Grow Watermelon -Weed Control
Weed control in Watermelon is
critical primarily in the watermelon plants early early stages. Once
the plant is healthy and established it should be dominating the
area . Cultivate shallowly near roots , very shallow.
See:
Weeds: Control Without Poisons 
Harvesting
Watermelon
Determining optimum maturity of a watermelon can
be difficult
Many home gardeners experience difficulty in determining when
watermelons are ripe. Use a combination of the following indicators: (1)
light green, curly tendrils on the stem near the point of attachment of
the melon usually turn brown and dry; (2) the surface color of the fruit
turns dull; (3) the skin becomes resistant to penetration by the
thumbnail and is rough to the touch; and (4) the bottom of the melon
(where it lies on the soil) turns from light green to a yellowish color.
These indicators for choosing a ripe watermelon are much more reliable
than "thumping" the melon with a knuckle. Many watermelons do not emit
the proverbial "dull thud" when ripe. For these, the dull thud may
indicate an over-ripe, mushy melon.
Harvest watermelons when: the stem starts to shrivel, the underside
yellows and you when you knock the melon you get a dull, hollow sound -
sometimes.
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References
The Organic Home Garden: How to Grow Fruits and Vegetables Naturally
Garden Wisdom: Traditional Tips for Making Your Garden Grow
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Rated best in taste tests,
Naturally self-pollinating and almost entirely seedless.
Tolerates cooler weather. 
yellow dots on black skin red
fruit. Resembles a very large Eggplant with yellow dots.
- Actually this will be my first
season attempting to grow this melon it is also known as