did you know?

Although watermelons are thought of as being as American as apple pie, they are naive to Namibia, in Southern Africa, where they have been cultivated for 4,000 years.

general maintenance:

Thin plants to 3 per hill or 30 inches apart. Mulch to supress weeds and retain soil moisture. Black plastic mulch can be used to provide the extra few degrees of heat that melons like.

pests/diseases:

Cucumber beetles, aphids, fusarium wilt and watermelon mosaic virus may occur.

controls:

Use floating row covers to protect young plants from insects. Handpick cucumber beetles immediately as they can carry bacterial wilt. Control aphids which can carry watermelon mosaic virus from one season to the next by spraying regularly with a directed stream of water or applying insecticidal soap, following label directions.

how to sow/plant:

Sow indoors, 1/2 inch deep, in peat pots 3?4 weeks before transplanting. Direct sow, in warm areas, 2 weeks after last frost. Sow 6 seeds in hills 6?8 feet apart or 2 feet apart in rows 6 feet apart. In cool areas, use row covers to keep young plants warm. Remove them when the flowers appear to allow pollination.

water and fertilize:

Keep soil evenly moist and fertilize every 3 weeks with compost tea, beginning at fruit set.

garden hint:

Plant vegetables like zucchini, summer squash and watermelons on mounded soil in the garden. These hills raise the soil temperature and help seeds to germinate quickly. The higher the mound, the warmer the soil, but a high mound will dry out more quickly and requires extra watering.

features:

garden uses:

other uses:

• Culinary/Edible