Feel free to share this seasonal calendar on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, or contact us for permission to reuse or reprint a full-size version. Each summer I take a STRAIGHT straw from a straw broom about 4 to 5 inches long and carry it in my pocket notebook which I use to check ripeness. All rights reserved. Keep plants about 3 feet apart. Each watermelon seedling should be spaced about 2 to 3 feet apart and the hill should be about 5 feet wide. A juicy piece of watermelon on a hot summer day is a dream come true. Everyone is welcome! Space plants about 2 feet apart in a 5-foot-wide hill. Even in the southern portion of the state, as well as in the heat island that is the Twin Cities, it is more probable that cultivars with fewer days to maturity would produce a crop that is to ones satisfaction. Use cold frames for tender, cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Swiss chard, lettuce, mustard, onions, radishes, and turnips. It is absolutely necessary to have a steady supply of water in order to cultivate enormous watermelons with a rich flavor; for the best results, use a soaker hose or drip irrigation. No guarantee, endorsement, or discrimination among comparable products is intended or implied by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. By late summer, they should be just about ready to harvest! Motivational and inspirational sources to all those parents to enjoy life with their babies, Home FAQ When To Plant Watermelon In Alabama. Pruning generallyisnt necessary for watermelon plants, but vine productivity may be improved if you do not allow lateral (side) vines to grow and stick to the main vine. A solid thump sound meant ripe. Potatoes. Healthy watermelon vines produce 2-4 fruits per plant. For a successful garden, you must control insects. Check with your local store to see if your favorite plants are in season. **Cultivars listed in this chart represent a few of those recommended for Alabama. A good time to plant watermelon. It's typically a range like 80 to 120 days. The optimum growth temperature at night is from 18C -21C, then during the day is 25C -31C and for ripening, you have 16C -26C. Spacing. Allow transplants 7-10 days to harden off before putting them in the garden. Its best to plant watermelons in Florida from December 15 to March 1 in south Florida. Set the seeds into the soil about an inch deep. Thin the fruit to three melons per vine, as this will result in more nutrients (and thus sugars) pumped into each melon. If the garden is heavily infested with nematodes, either move the garden or heat the soil through a process called soil solarization. I want to find a watermelon that i grew up on before they started this seedless no taste watermelon .. If you use overhead irrigation, do so earlier in the day so plants can dry before night. Probably not a good time to plant watermelon. Before using a weed control product, get full information on how to use it and what crop it should be used on. Time to Germination. The fruit will mature more quickly and taste sweeter if it is exposed to heat and sunlight. Visit www.aces.edu/directory. When to plant spinach in alabama? Seeds for corn, squash, cucumbers and the various beans and melons can now be planted. The biggest consideration with a dry climate is that watermelons need plenty of water. To control weeds, use a mulch. The soil temperature at the 4-inch depth should be 60 to 65 F before this crop is planted. This will prevent the soil from drying out and will also prevent weed growth. Peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplants and parsley can now be planted all over the state. If beans, okra, cucumbers, etc., are left to mature fully, the plant will stop producing. Place it in a location that receives medium to bright indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist for the first 1-2 weeks after separation. Do not start watermelon seeds too early, as huge plants transplant poorly into the garden; once planted, watermelons do not like to have their roots disturbed. Using the planting schedules below will help you get the most out of your garden. Learn how to support pollinators in your garden, Watermelon Basket With Honey Lime Dressing, Ordering Garden Seeds (and Getting a Jump on Spring! Planting vegetable seeds or transplants at the correct time is important to getting the most out of your garden. Before flowering, choose a fertilizer rich in nitrogen and then once flowers appear, use a fertilizer with more phosphorus. Here are the temperature requirements in watermelon farming. After the plants emerge and begin to grow, mound the plants. Would I have better results if I culled back to one per vine? Seeds require warm soil to germinate, so wait until the temperatures reach at least 65 degrees F at a depth of four inches before direct sowing. Space the hills two to three feet apart in rows that are six to eight feet apart. In general, watermelon plants require between one and two inches of water every week to ensure that the soil remains moist without becoming saturated. We've created an in-season produce calendar for Alabama so you can easily see when it's the right time to find the freshest cantaloupe or watermelon, or if you've missed citrus season. Watermelons do not like to be messed with once they start growing and very rarely get all the water they need causing stress from the beginning. Too many gardeners try to grow vegetables in competition with trees, shade from buildings, or fences. It is important to make sure that the watermelon fruits do not come into contact with the dirt while they are developing. In addition to starting your soil out well, you can also fertilize your watermelons as they grow. Watermelons thrive in conditions where the pH level is between 6.0 and 7.0, which is considered slightly acidic. If crop rotation is not possible, Extension professionals recommend planting watermelons with the most disease resistance possible. ). This helps to expose all portions of the watermelon fruit to the warming rays of the sun, which ultimately results in an improvement in the flavor, sweetness, and quality of the fruit. I grew up in the fifties.. Have only had a few watermelons over the years since seedless that actually tasted good.. Want to grow my own next year. The best practices in disease control are rotation, clean seed, resistant varieties (when available), early planting, plowing under old crop debris, mulching, and seed treatment. Young watermelon plants can also be bought from nurseries. Watering is very importantfrom planting until fruit begins to form. They are very small, weighing just 3 pounds. This palm can be grown in states like Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oregon and Texas. Radishes. In North Alabama, make spring plantings approximately 10 days later and fall plantings 10 days earlier. Light. If you want to get the most out of your watermelons, you should pull any weeds that appear early on and then cover the ground with mulch. To remove the seeds, brush your hand over the seed head, knocking out the seeds. . (205) 669-9205 Read more. It is important to us that we deliver seasonally fresh plants to your area. Plant a few of each variety of plant, then space them out. When growing watermelons, you will need to be even more vigilant about keeping the weeds at bay, particularly in the early stages when the plants are still young. Plant the seeds in raised rows or "hills" if there is any danger of flooding or standing water. In order to germinate, watermelon seeds require warm soil. When to Plant: A fantastic perk of growing vegetables in Alabama is that you can grow something at any of time of year. Swiss Chard. Melons in general thrive in the heat, and watermelons are no exception. During long dry periods, soak the garden thoroughly once a week; dont just sprinkle daily. This might be a challenge when planting watermelons. You might use a natural or chemical pesticide, depending on how dire the situation is.4. A bed of straw will keep the baby melons off of the ground and safe. Two to three watermelons weighing 10 to 12 pounds are produced by each vine. It is beneficial to conduct soil testing in the late summer and apply any needed lime when planting cover crops. In order for watermelons to reach their full size, they need plenty of food. Watch out for any breeze. that ensures all people have access to information that improves their quality of life Hi Kathy, I was wondering did you receive a answer on your quest for sweet water melons that use to be common to get? If using square foot gardening methods, allow 2-3 square feet for each plant. Harvest often to get vegetables at the proper stage of maturity. Probably not a good time to plant watermelon. Not elongated. How late can you plant watermelons in Alabama? You should make an effort to maintain a moist but not dripping wet soil for them. 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. In central Florida, the watermelon season starts exactly one month later, from mid-January to March 15, while in northern regions of the state, a planting time of February 15 to April 15 is best. Is it too late to plant a garden in Alabama? Originating from Africa, watermelon is now largely grown in the humid climate of Florida. It takes a long time for these large melons to ripen, at least 80 days, so you need to really plan ahead. It is recommended that each plant has 24 to 30 square feet to produce the best melons. Thump it. This will help to heat up the soil and speed up the growing process. Seedless watermelons sound like a good idea, but have ruined the watermelon experience. Wrap tightly inplastic. A Concise Guide to the Cultivation of Watermelons Once soil temperatures reach at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more, you can plant watermelon from late spring through early summer. 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. The earliest that you can plant watermelon in Zone 7b is April . While you might be tempted to turn the sprinkler on, too much water can waterlog the leaves, leading to rot. Cantaloupes are vining plants and need room to spread, but they can also . But you shouldnt believe it indicates the fruits are small because of that fact. This will guarantee that your plants have adequate room to grow.2. Row coverings will protect the plants from the numerous insect pests that are drawn to watermelons. Sugar babies. 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