Absolutely yes, if they were harvested from a mature (fully ripe) watermelon. In fact, watermelon seeds should be kept dry until they are planted. If you keep them moist the whole year between harvest and planting, they’ll like get a fungus infection and rot.
Do watermelon seeds need to be dried before planting?
Simply scoop the seeds out of a Watermelon, and rinse them under water to remove any fruit pieces or fruit juices, and let them air-dry on a paper towel. In general, seeds stay viable for approximately four years. Though, the longer you wait, the lower your chances of optimal germination.
Can I grow watermelon from fresh seeds?
The best time to plant watermelon seeds is from late spring to early summer, or when the soil temperature reaches 70 degrees or above. Watermelon seeds germinate easily and quickly, and seedlings don’t usually transplant well, so there’s no need to start them in a pot or seed tray.
Can you plant watermelon seeds right out of the watermelon?
You can save the seeds from your watermelon to grow more plants, but you’ll have to wait until next spring to plant them. If you save the seeds from a grocery store melon, you might be surprised at the variety of fruit you produce.
How do you treat watermelon seeds before planting?
Plant watermelon seeds in a soilless potting mix. Keep seedlings warm and moist until outdoor temperatures consistently stay above 50°F or warmer. Don’t start watermelon seeds too early, as large plants transplant poorly into the garden; once planted, watermelons don’t like their roots disturbed.
How long do watermelon seeds need to dry?
The ambient heat from the light is enough to dry out the seeds in about 36-48 hours. When they are dried enough, the seeds will be harder, more brittle and they’ll have shrunk a little bit. You can then put the seeds inside an envelope and store them in a jar in your refrigerator.
How many watermelon seeds do you plant in one hole?
How many watermelon seeds do I plant per hole? 2 to 3 seeds are sown per hole. Few weeks after germination, only single, healthy seedling is allowed to grow at one spot & other slow growing seedlings are thinned out.
What is the best month to plant watermelon?
Watermelons need about 100 days of warm weather to produce an edible melon. If the warm, late fall and winter weather of recent years continues, you may get a watermelon for Christmas. The best times to sow seeds for watermelons are early March and early August.
What helps watermelon grow faster?
To maximize the size of the melon, water the plants regularly in deep water sessions that keep the soil moist. Side dress the Watermelon plants with fertilizer prepared for edible crops or fertilizer tea to feed the plants. Fertilizer encourages growth to produce large melons.
How many watermelons do you get from one watermelon plant?
The number of vines determines how many watermelons there are per plant as each vine can produce between two to four melons during the growing season. Watermelons grow best in a planting site that has a lot of open space. Watermelon vines ramble, so your plants are going to spread out around your garden as they grow.
Do watermelons need full sun?
Regardless of what variety you grow in your pots, be sure to site the containers in a location where they receive a minimum of 8 hours of full sun per day. Watermelons will not form flowers or fruits if they don’t get enough sun. ‘Sugar Pot’ and ‘Bush Sugar Baby’ are the best two choices for container growing.
Can I start watermelon seeds indoors?
Start your watermelon seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost. This gives your melon plants some time to grow before transplanting them outdoors in the garden.
What do you put under a growing watermelon?
While the plant is growing, use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Once the plant starts putting out fruits, switch to a fertilizer that has a heavier amount of phosphorus and potassium. Water thoroughly. Watermelons are made of 92% water, so make sure your plants stay well watered if you want juicy fruits!
How long does it take watermelons to grow from seed?
Generally, watermelons reach harvest 70 to 85 days after sowing. As might be expected, smaller varieties will usually be ready before larger ones, but not always. Some early watermelons, of six to 10 pounds, ‘Golden Crown,’ ‘Sugar Baby,’ ‘Yellow Baby’ and ‘Yellow Baby,’ mature in 70 to 75 days.
Is it better to direct-sow watermelon seeds?
Direct-sowing watermelon seeds is a good option for those living in warmer spots where the growing season is longer. Most folks opt to direct-sow their watermelon seeds right into the garden because it’s quick and easy. Just make sure that the soil has warmed up enough.
Can you save seeds after they get wet?
You may, indeed, be able to save wet seed packets. Perhaps, only the seed packet is wet. Open it and check the seeds. If they are still dry, repackage them in a dry bag or jar, seal and re-label them.
How do you start a watermelon plant?
How to Plant Watermelons
- Sow seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep outdoors or 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in seed-starting pots indoors. Tip: To allow for more root growth, use larger starting pots than you would for most seeds.
- If direct seeding outdoors, sow 4 to 6 seeds per hill, eventually thinning to 2 to 3 seedlings.
How deep do you put a watermelon seed?
Plant watermelon into 12-inch-tall hills of soil that are spaced at least 6 feet apart. Sow 6–8 seeds per hill, later thinning to 3–4 plants per hill. Sow watermelon seeds ½-inch deep.
What can you not plant with watermelon?
For companion plants, you’re going to want to plant it with things like radishes, lettuces & then avoid things like cucumber, zucchini, and basically anything in the melon family. Basically they make it difficult for the plants to grow and mature and can attract diseases.
Can tomatoes and watermelon be planted together?
Bad Neighbors for Watermelon
To make the most of watermelon’s allelopathic properties, try growing this vining fruit as a living mulch below tall, established plants like okra, tomatoes, or corn. The watermelon vines will limit competition from weeds as the vines spread out and cover the garden bed.
Can I plant watermelon in April?
In zones 7 and 8, sow watermelon seeds and plant seedlings in mid-April. In the subtropical zones 9 through 11, plant watermelon as early as mid-March. Stagger plantings in the long growing season of the southern zones to enjoy watermelon for a longer period.