How To Grow Watermelon In Ohio

Growing watermelon in Ohio is an easy task once you know what you’re doing. The first thing you need to do is plant your seeds in the ground and keep them watered for about a week, until they start to sprout. At this point, you should thin them out so that only one or two grow per square foot. Now that your plants are growing, it’s time to take care of them. Watermelons need plenty of water throughout their life cycle, so make sure they have enough by watering them on a regular basis (once or twice per week). You should also mulch around them with straw or grass clippings to keep the soil moist at all times.

Once your watermelon plant has reached maturity (about six months after planting), it will be ready for harvesting. To pick your melons: cut off a vine with one hand while holding onto it with another hand; use both hands to twist and pull the melon away from the vine (do not pull downward).

You can plant watermelon seeds in early June or use transplants if you have a short growing season. Check out our article on Starting Seeds for more information about when to plant-based on your frost dates. If you are using transplants, be sure to harden them off first by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before transplanting into your garden. Choose a sunny location that has good drainage and prepare the soil by digging in compost or manure.

When To Plant Watermelon

Plant watermelon in early June.

Watermelon seeds are very easy to plant, but you can also plant transplants, which are more expensive than seeds but already have a good root system. Watermelons don’t transplant well at all, so make sure you get them as young plants and don’t let them sit around too long before planting. Because watermelons are warm weather crops and vines, it is important that you wait until the soil has warmed up enough before planting your new seedlings or seedlings from a nursery (which may be older than 6 weeks).

Watermelon is a member of the cucurbit family along with cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash. They like fertile soil that drains well; sandy loam soils work best for this fruit crop. Make sure that you have at least an inch of composted manure for every 5 feet of row cultivated for optimum growth conditions for these juicy fruits.

How To Plant Watermelon

Watermelon seeds can be planted directly in the ground and will germinate within days. If your soil is poor, you can start the seeds indoors and transplant them to your garden when they’re ready. Watermelons also do well in raised beds, which are good for preventing weeds from growing around them and keeping the soil moist during dry spells.

If you choose to plant watermelons in hills instead of rows, grow three or four plants at least 12 inches apart from each other along with a single plant about 3 feet away from those for cross-pollination purposes (more on this below). This method is best suited for those who have limited space for gardening but still want to try raising their own fruit or vegetables without having to invest much time or money into it—just remember that it takes longer than planting rows.

Watering Watermelon

Watermelon plants require at least one inch of water per week, but they will do better with more. The best time to water your plant is in the morning or early evening, as it’s important not to let them sit in standing water during the day. If you’re growing a vine-ripened melon, you’ll want to keep an eye on your vines and be sure they’re getting enough moisture. You may need to increase watering frequency for those plants if they start looking wilted or drooping. It’s also important not to let your melon vines go dry for too long—you’ll want them watered at least once every other day from when watering begins until harvest date (which can vary depending on variety).

Watermelon Fertilizer

Watermelon fertilizer should be applied before planting, and also after the first fruits have set. The most important time to fertilize watermelons is when the plants are young and growing quickly, so it’s best to apply the fertilizer soon after planting. A balanced fertilizer with a high nitrogen content will promote healthy plant growth in this early stage of development.

If you’re planting more than one row of watermelons, use half as much fertilizer as you would normally use per square foot of garden space; otherwise, overfertilization can cause some stress on your plants. Watermelons need plenty of moisture during summer months to produce fruit and thrive, so make sure they’re able to absorb whatever amount of liquid they need from their soil throughout this period—but don’t go overboard.

Ideal Soil PH for Watermelons

The ideal soil pH for watermelon is between 6.0 and 6.5, with a neutral pH of 7 being acceptable. If the soil pH is too high (above 7), add lime to lower it; if the soil pH is too low (below 5) add sulfur to raise it. If you don’t know what your soil’s current pH level is, take a soil test kit from your local nursery or garden center, follow the instructions and check back once everything has settled down again so that you can determine what changes need to be made before planting your first crop of melons next year.

Controlling Weeds with Mulch

Mulching is one of the most effective ways to keep weeds down. Mulch is material (wood chips, straw, leaves) that is spread over the soil around plants or trees to help retain moisture, keep soil cool and warm, and prevent erosion. Trim your vines off at the ground level about once a month to keep them from growing into the mulch. Weeds may still grow through this layer if you don’t apply a heavy enough layer of mulch or if it gets trampled by people walking through your garden space.

Controlling Pests and Diseases on Watermelons

  • Use a drip irrigation system to prevent disease.
  • Use a drip irrigation system to prevent pests.
  • Use a drip irrigation system to keep the ground moist.
  • Use a drip irrigation system to prevent waterlogging.

Harvesting, Preserving and Storing Watermelons

  • Harvesting

Harvest your watermelons when they are ripe. The best way to tell if your watermelon is ready to harvest is by its color. A ripe watermelon should be a light yellow or white color and have a dull sheen on the rind. If you apply pressure with your thumb, you should make an indentation that remains for several seconds before springing back into place. You can also check for ripeness by smelling or tasting the fruit; it will have a sweet odor, but not too much of one, and its taste will be slightly sour but not bitter like unripe melons have been known to be.

  • Preserving Watermelons

It’s easy enough to preserve the fruit in its natural state once it has fully ripened, but if you plan on eating more than what one person can consume in one sitting—or if you want something sweeter than just eating plain slices from the rind—there are many ways to enhance its flavor without any extra work involved:

  • Slice up some fresh berries overtop pieces of melon before serving them as finger foods at parties or other social gatherings; this makes for a visually appealing presentation that adds sweetness without overpowering flavors (like honey) or relying too heavily on sugar substitutes (such as stevia).

You can plant watermelon seeds in early June or use transplants if you have a short growing season.

The best time to plant watermelon seeds is in early June. However, if you have a shorter growing season and want to plant transplants instead of seeds, it’s still possible to grow them during this time. They will take longer than they would when planted from seed, but they should still be ready by July 4th if you are willing to take the risk of planting these late in the season.

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