Growing Watermelon
Cucurbitaceae c. lanatus : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | S | S | S | ||||||||
| T | T | T | |||||||||
| P | P |
(Best months for growing Watermelon in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)
- S = Plant undercover in seed trays
- T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
- P = Sow seed
- Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 21°C and 35°C.
- Space plants: 60 - 75 cm apart
- Harvest in 12-17 weeks.
- Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, Sunflowers
- Avoid growing close to: Potatoes
Large, round or oval, smooth green skinned, delicious, sweet pink fleshed melon.
Some have stripes on the skin.
Some varieties will produce fruit up to 14 kg (31 US pounds).
Harvest when the part in contact with the ground is turning yellow and the fruit sounds hollow when tapped.
Watermelon needs plenty of room to grow as it sends out long vines
Needs a long warm season to mature.
Culinary hints - cooking and eating Watermelon
Cut up and eat in slices.
Use to make fruit drinks.
Use in fruit salads.
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