when to plant watermelon in texas

36-96 80-100 40 frt. Aggie Horticulture Network > Vegetable Resources > Watermelons > Suggested Watermelon Varieties for Texas Suggested Watermelon Varieties for Texas. According to Juan Anciso, Ph.D., a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service vegetable specialist in Weslaco and professor with the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, this year’s Brix count measures watermelon … 1). The Texas Crop Profile W A T E R M E L O N … Plant … Death or drying of the tendril. Proper spacing of hills is important. Your vegetable planning guide for Fort Worth, Texas. Plant the seeds in hills. When to Plant Texas gardening for the spring/summer begins earlier than the northern sections of the country. For better quality, harvest fruits at the “half slip” stage when the stem is partially separated from the fruit (Fig. 426 0 obj <> endobj The seeds can be started indoors up to three weeks before planting in the garden; do not start sooner … EAST TEXAS VEGETABLE PLANTING GUIDE . pt��r������xsٶ���`z��.��.��3���~L�|�_���Oc�b��{�|��q��O����{��U?�5�6��tz��Q�l�O���� TӴ`�c: Harvest honeydew melons when the skin begins to turn yellow and the end of the fruit opposite the stem (blossom end) begins to soften. Cover the fertilizer and plant so seeds do not touch the fertilizer. Gardens can be harvested 10 to 12 days earlier if you use transplants. This is definitely true for Texas, California and Georgia. 6). For a good fall crop, plant early so squash will mature before the first killing frost. Production Regions Watermelons are grown in nearly half the counties in Texas. Pruning also increases the size of muskmelon fruits, but usually it is not needed. Spring temperatures in Houston are the perfect growing weather for the watermelon plant, and the fruit that … Figure 3. SPRING Planting date . Inches of ... Watermelon (transplant seeds) March 15 ----- ½ oz. Change in color of rind. FALL Planting date: SEED or PLANT per 100 feet . endstream endobj startxref On average, ... pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds and sunflowers, you should plant those seeds … Watermelon Production: Texas ranks 3rd in U.S. production. Do not plant seeds until the soil warms in the spring and all danger of frost is past. On the other hand, Georgia’s watermelon season starts at the end of July and ends at the … Planting several seeds per spot helps plants push through. Mid-March is usually time for the last frost of the season. Always follow cautions, warnings and directions. Do not harvest melons too early because the sugar content does not increase after harvest. K��X�\�Z��Bm)l��8'GK����py�!���DL�2��0��RIv�/&�t ���,V3̾���P��h'�. Ask your county Extension agent about what to use. Melons can be served many ways, but they are usually sliced and served fresh. 3). The tendril near the point where the melon is attached to the vine dries when ripe. Place the hills 2 to 3 feet apart for muskmelon and honeydew and 4 to 5 feet apart for watermelon (Fig. I planted a watermelon plant. … I have two plants in this little area with bush beans. Warmer soil helps … Fertilize muskmelons and honeydews with 2 to 3 pounds of fertilizer for every 60 to 70 feet of row. For example, if planting in hardiness zone 5, the last frost date is generally between April 1st – April 15th, and the first frost date typically falls between October 16th – October 31st. Judging the ripeness of watermelons requires skill and experience. Harvest muskmelons when the stem begins to separate from the fruit. To produce the sugar necessary for sweet fruit, the melons need hot weather. Give plants a … Planting Watermelons The ideal date to plant watermelons varies according to the climate of the region. 7). Frank J. Dainello, Extension Horticulturist ... How to Grow … ... here in Texas. Since melons require well-drained soils, work the soil into ridges or hills 4 to 8 inches high and 12 to 14 inches wide for planting. Seeds require soil temperature above 70° for healthy germination; trying to rush the season by planting in cold soils will result in rotting seeds or stunted, slow-growing plants. Watermelons are big! In Luling, Texas, the watermelon is so popular that the town celebrates with an annual four day festival called the Watermelon Thump , which includes fun activities such as seed spitting, watermelon … One hundred (100) percent of the state’s watermelon production goes to the fresh market. Watermelons are the state’s largest annual horticultural crop. I mix together to form a mound about 12″ high and about 18″ round. Apply fertilizer in a band along the row for best results (Fig. Melons do best with small amounts of fertilizer in two or three applications. For this reason they are not well suited to small gardens and should be grown only in lot-size gardens in urban areas or larger gardens in rural areas. Download a printer-friendly version of this page: Melons, View this publication in Spanish: Cómo cultivar melones. Plant watermelon seeds at the last sign of winter; when there is no more chance of frost. If you live where you have a shorter growing season, it’s a good idea to start your seeds indoors. Plant in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. This varies with the gardener and the size and type of melon and often is inaccurate. But, every melon that starts to grow ends up with a mis-shaped end (vine and/or … How to Plant Watermelon Pick an area of well-drained soil that gets plenty of sunlight for growing watermelons. Hea… The seeds need warm soil (15C or 60F) to germinate. Figure 1. In general, the bigger the watermelon variety, the longer it will take to reach maturity. Phosphorous, the second number on the fertilizer label, is most important for muskmelons at planting, and nitrogen is important when the vines begin to run. Apply fertilizer in a band along the row. Dig or plow the soil 8 to 10 inches deep in winter or early spring. Whether you plant in raised beds or in the ground, work compost into the soil at the rate of 50-100 pounds per 1000 square feet to … Make the second fertilizer application to the side of the row when vines begin to run. What watermelons need in Texas is the opposite of a mound: They need a basin. "����?�� &��H+0��� &���?��ֵ,�Dr��b�A��s��˷D�J�MK���l�D �d���E���;��?�D&FFK���J�g`�|` ��� Change in color of soil spot. Plant seeds in peat pots 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting. 2). One of the keys to grow watermelons successfully – starting them off in a mix of compost, manure and soil. No matter how you cut it, melons are a traditional summer treat in Texas. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, … They can also be used in fruit salads or salsas, in melon sorbet, or even in a watermelon margarita. Figure 7. h�b``�d``������5�A��X��,+�Kn``�8���5PYA^�%A^��5Z��/D��o``��h`Hb� However, directly sowing them is … Black plastic mulch can increase the soil temperature, giving melons an earlier start on growth. Then in each hill I plant … 9LC����oԣ2�%�8�38�x�Ѓ���-�a hw0�>�&�CS(����+|���)��b�N�t��UL Keep weeds away from the plants, especially at the beginning of the season while the plants are getting started. 30 Watermelon ... Texas … %%EOF Ripe melons often lose their glossy color. Figure 4. Melons are vining crops that require a lot of space, especially watermelons. ����u��2p�(i9 V �h� ���X� � d�����;'�W㱆� Muskmelons can be grown in small gardens if the vines are trellised and the fruit is supported (Fig. h�bbd```b``v�S�l�. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory, Texas A&M College of Agrculture and Life Sciences. Melons are warm-season crops and are easily injured by frost. 5). Watermelon seeds should be planted outdoors in the spring well after all threats of frost have passed. When hoeing, be careful not to cut too deeply into the soil near the melon plants, or the roots will be damaged. Melons most commonly grown in Texas include honeydew, muskmelon and watermelon. After the plants have two or three leaves, thin them again, leaving two plants per hill. %PDF-1.6 %���� Plant transplants before the second true leaf opens. Small varieties can weigh 10 lbs, while larger types can tip the scale at 200 lbs! Timing for all planting is based on first and last frost dates. Figure 2. If organic matter or manure is added, it should be well composted. Do not plant seeds until the soil warms in the spring and all danger of frost is past. When I plant, I start out by using a 5 gallon bucket each of aged cow or horse manure, compost, and garden soil. Melon plants break through the soil 10 to 12 days after planting. Watch Reply. When to Plant Vegetables in Fort Worth, Texas. Melons prefer soils with a neutral pH, and if the soil is too acidic the plants will drop their blossoms. Squash does not grow well in cool weather. sybram Burleson, TX(Zone 8a) May 10, 2011. To prevent the buildup of diseases, do not plant melons in the same place more than once every 3 or 4 years. Before using a pesticide, read the label. Best Varieties For North Texas. Learn How to grow melons and watermelons in Houston. Harvest muskmelons when the fruit rind changes to a yellowish-orange color, the stem begins to separate or slip from the fruit, and the odor gets strong. 458 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<1596652058104E6EAC9BB36C13029A09>]/Index[426 54]/Info 425 0 R/Length 141/Prev 684856/Root 427 0 R/Size 480/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Cash receipts exceed $50 million. You can start seedlings inside, in Houston around early March … If your growing season is short, … Plant groups of six to eight seeds at a depth of 1 to 1½ inches. Turn the soil over so all organic matter is covered completely. Melons grow best on a deep, well drained, sandy or sandy loam soil with plenty of organic matter. Sandy soil is best but almost any type of soil can be used to grow … Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. A melon is ripe when the tendril nearest the vine is dry. Make a trench on the planting bed 4 to 6 inches deep and 2 inches from the side of the row. Rotating crops is very important in disease control. Melons need bees to cross-pollinate the flowers. Muskmelons are often mistakenly called cantaloupes, but the true cantaloupe is a small, warty fruit and is not usually grown in the United States. Mark unread; Skip to new; Mark unread Print Skip to new. Muskmelons can be grown in small gardens if the vines are trellised and the fruit is supported (Fig. Melons are warm-season crops and are easily injured by frost. Poor pollination causes female flowers to fall off the vines or fruits to be poorly shaped, which is a common problem with watermelon (Fig. Planting a Watermelon It takes 70 to 100 days for a seed to grow into a melon that's ready to eat, so how and when to plant a melon depends on where you live. � �,�SDŽd���&L*)��=��,>� ip�����?V3-�ła8u�L{\��N�g���dž� Before the runners on the vines are about 6 inches long, scatter 2 to 3 pounds of fertilizer per 60 to 90 feet of row 2 to 3 feet to the side of the row and mix it lightly with the soil. Apply manure or compost at 50 to 100 pounds per 1,000 square feet, or about 2 to 4 tons per acre, to build the organic matter content of the soil. Most watermelons … Submitted by Theresa on October 31, 2016 - 1:14am. h޴��n�8�_��-��$PHҤ�n�u�(r��t�֖\I���w��c��)n�"�B�7�PJ{�0e� �8�N�]2��^1�X�͸� d�a'y�d�\g�a^eϧYY��Bf�1�'rG�૴5�B@����5��8\��� Melon plants have separate male and female flowers on each plant, and bees must be present to cross-pollinate the flowers. 1). This is called “full slip.” Fruit at this stage should be used within 36 to 48 hours as it will spoil soon. Texas is one of the largest producers of watermelon in the U.S. and has a long history of growing and eating watermelons. If spots do appear on the leaves and no insects are present, a fungicide may be needed. Our work makes a difference, in the lives of Texans and on the economy. Over 42,000 acres are grown throughout Texas … The top five watermelon producing counties are Hidalgo, Brooks, Knox, Gaines and Wood. Place the rows of muskmelons and honeydews 6 to 8 feet apart, rows of irrigated watermelons 10 to 12 feet apart, and rows of un-irrigated watermelons 12 to 16 feet apart. Fine sandy soils or heavy clay soils often crust when dry, so if the weather is dry after planting, the hill may need moistening to soften the soil. My plan was to let the vines grow over the tile, getting the watermelons … Plant watermelon from late spring to early summer, once soil temperatures reach 70° F or above. More. 8-������P�*Ѵ��x�N��'�W�zi^=m��q@GP}�m�y�N\�?yuv�W�&�^�d��xMzu��h��Tu=ߓ�:g���nX�:L�3�K��L���ٴ.J���%�y�裴 Muskmelon can improve in flavor after harvest, but this is caused by mellowing of the flesh. Crop . Watermelons and melons are summer crops. Heavier soils require higher ridges. In Texas, the watermelon season is from June to August. L�$?,�ԣ�p�%k~RJ6k���⵮�1��մ�:qTV��d6�7����[���^�-3�a� �ZY&��e�1� Melons grow best on a deep, well drained, sandy or sandy loam soil with plenty of organic matter. Dull sound when thumped. Use a knife to cut watermelons from the vine. 4). In warmer climates, like Texas and the hotter areas of California, planting time for watermelons is December through early July, although April through July is more common. This is the most dependable sign (Fig. OK, my first try at watermelon. In warmer climates with long growing seasons, sow seeds directly outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your last frost date, as long as the soil temperature has warmed to at least 70°F (21°C). But in the summer of 2012, I harvested about a dozen sweet, juicy watermelons from one 4-by-8-foot bed. Watermelons need a long season of warm weather, from planting to harvesting, and Texas delivers. Texas Gardening; watermelon; watermelon. 0 Fruit size can be increased by pruning watermelons to two fruits per plant for large varieties or four to six fruits per plant on small varieties. You should plant watermelons when the soil has reached at least 70°F. Do you have a question -or- need to contact an expert? Melons are vining crops that require a lot of space, especially watermelons. One method of support for melons grown on a trellis. Insect or other damage often makes another thinning unnecessary. Click for a hub of Extension resources related to the current COVID-19 situation. Do not plant watermelon if any chance of frost exists. Black plastic mulch can increase the soil temperature, giving … Heavy soils with a lot of clay often cause small, weak plants that produce fewer melons. Most melons require 80 to 100 days from planting to harvest. Tri-County Producer and Landowner Symposium, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc8xY2YuOfM. After the plants are up, thin them to three to four plants per hill. Transplant them into the garden before the second true leaf opens (Fig. �̐����Y�̙�8i���� ��I��K7w`� �:�_���P7�3p9�i�p���?��)W�?0��� � �7� For watermelons, apply a fertilizer high in phosphorous, such as 10-10-10, at a rate of 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet (60 to 90 feet of row). The spot where the melon rests on the soil takes on a creamy, streaked color. endstream endobj 427 0 obj <>/Metadata 51 0 R/Pages 424 0 R/StructTreeRoot 83 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 428 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/Properties<>/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 429 0 obj <>stream 479 0 obj <>stream The vines are massive. part 2 of instructions on how to grow giant watermelons in Texas. Statewide economic impacts exceed $160 million. Figure 5. If left long enough, the stem will naturally separate from the fruit. Watermelons grow best in soil with a pH between 6.0-7.5. Some signs of ripeness in watermelons are: Figure 6. 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Of organic matter or manure is added, it ’ s a good idea to start your seeds.... Definitely true for Texas, California and Georgia from planting to harvest stage when the tendril nearest the dries! Vines begin to run 80 to 100 days from planting to harvest melon sorbet, the! Skill and experience the flowers every 3 or 4 years Fort Worth, Texas need warm soil 15C... Counties are Hidalgo, Brooks, Knox, Gaines and Wood deep, drained. Stage when the stem is partially separated from the plants will drop their blossoms clay. Plants break through the soil near the point where the melon plants break through the soil over all. Of instructions on how to plant Vegetables in Fort Worth, Texas... how to grow giant in. In melon sorbet, or the roots will be damaged, and if vines! Hills 2 to 3 feet apart in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a lot of space, watermelons! In Houston around early March … planting first killing frost a dozen sweet, juicy watermelons from vine... Caused by mellowing of the season loam soil with a lot of space especially! Life Sciences but this is caused by mellowing of the region, Knox, and! The largest producers of watermelon in the same place more than once every 3 4! And watermelon TX ( Zone 8a ) May 10, 2011 requires skill and experience pH, bees. Season is from June to August feet of row long history of growing and eating.! 4 to 5 feet apart for muskmelon and watermelon or salsas, in Houston around early March … watermelons! Plant, when to plant watermelon in texas bees must be present to cross-pollinate the flowers for growing watermelons … to.