Plant Profile: Watermelon

Is there much better than a cold, fresh slice of watermelon on a hot summer’s day?

Watermelon is a cucurbit and belongs to the same family as cucumbers, pumpkins, squash and zucchini. They have the same rambling habit as their relatives so make sure you have plenty of space, however there are also some compact varieties suitable for smaller spaces to be grown in big pot.

If you’re after something a little different to grow, it’s time to plant a watermelon!

Sunlight: Watermelons will love a sunny spot in the garden (at least 6 hours of a sun a day), with plenty of space for them to ramble through the garden

Watering: Allow the soil to dry between watering.

Soil: Make sure your soil is properly prepared before you sow seeds or plant seedling. Watermelons will need plenty of organic matter in the soil, so dig in ActivGrow Soil Improver along with some ActivGrow Fertiliser Pellets to prepare, and then work it into mounds. Also ensure the soil is loose and friable, not hard.

Mulching: Mulching around the plants is ideal, especially to protect fruits as they form from touching the bare soil which can cause some blemishes.

Train: Train vines upwards if you’re short on space, and use a strong secure support able to handle heavy fruits.

Varieties: Sugar Baby, Moon & Stars Red, Mountain Sweet Yellow, Sweet Siberian, Golden Midget