Your email address will not be published. Watermelon plants Watermelons have a very deep root system which allows them to access soil moisture efficiently. Privacy Policy, « Eggplant Varieties: Best Bets and Easy-to-Grow, Tomato Seed Saving: Open-Pollinated Tomatoes ». Photos provided by Tom Isakeit, Department of Plant Pathology, Texas A&M University. Plant watermelon seeds about 3/4-inch deep in a sunny location after all danger of frost is past and soil temperature is at least 70 degrees. Anasa wilt, caused by the squash bug, can be mistaken for Fusarium wilt. Melon Varieties. Fax: (979) 845-0627 |. Watermelon Growing Problems. Watermelon is a fairly easy plant to grow once the vine starts growing. Melons demand special care but reward gardeners with juicy, sweet fruit. Mulching and planting vertically are environmentally friendly ways to reduce or prevent pests and plant infections. Consult our disease guides below to help you to diagnose common diseases that may affect your watermelon plants... Click on a plant disease to be taken to a page full of useful information about how to identify it and prevent problems. The plants should be mulched around the base once they are 4 inches (10 cm.) Harvest To Table Most winters our soils freeze deeply and can be slow to warm up, and melons must have truly warm soil to thrive. Problem With Watermelon Plants Shrivelling Up Leaf Pests. Last year I grew two nice-sized, ripe watermelons with no problems. Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Name – Citrullus lanatus Family – Cucurbitaceae or gourd family Type – fruit. This will help to keep grass and weeds to a minimum. Phone: (979) 845-5341 |
Soil that’s under a mulch layer will retain its water much longer, rather than losing it to evaporation. Watermelon flowers can die for a few reasons (the same goes for the small melon): (1) inconsistent moisture; keep the soil evenly moist; do not let it go dry; (2) insufficient pollination; the flowers were not fully pollinated and so they aborted; you can hand pollinate; (3) temperatures too high–temperatures over 87F can cause plant stress; to survive the plant will abort flowers and fruit. Key watermelon facts. The Texas A&M System is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity. Watermelons produce both male and female blossoms and require a transfer of pollen from the male to the female blossom. Horticulture/Forest Science Building |
The other main problem with growing watermelons is mildew, a fungus that makes the leaves look as if they were coated with white powder. To prevent disease problems, always water the plants at ground level and not from overhead irrigation systems, which wets the foliage. Anthracnose; Bacterial Fruit Blotch; Bacterial Rind Necrosis; Belly Rot; Blossom End Rot; Bottle Neck; Cross Stitch; Fruit Cracking/Scarring; Lasiodiplodia Fruit Rot / Diplodia Stem-End Rot; Pimples; Splitting; Sunburn; Watermelon Insects; Watermelon Root & Vascular Diseases. Gardeners in northern climates should choose early ripening varieties … Watermelon plants have competition from weeds growing in the planting site, which reduces the plant’s intake of moisture and nutrients. China has been cultivating watermelon since the tenth century and Native Americans were growing watermelon bef… Keep the soil moist during germination, which takes between seven and 10 days. Wind movement of young plants on plastic mulch can cause damage to the stems, leading to wilt. This family also includes cucumber, … Reduce watering once fruit are growing. Watermelon growing problems like bugs and disease are easier to prevent than cure. The fruits reach maturity 80 to 95 days after planting.