Hot to Make a Watermelon Trellis Whatever you choose, make sure it can support the weight of 2-3 watermelons per plant (sugar baby watermelons work great for this method and eliminate issues trying to support enormous melons)
Can you put watermelon on a trellis?
Watermelon plants grow fast – as much as 1-2 feet per week! They will not climb a trellis by themselves, so you need to tie the vines to the trellis as they grow. Don’t count on their tendrils to hold the plants secure – especially during wind storms or when they have heavy fruits hanging from them.
Is Sugar Baby watermelon bush or vine?
An ideal plant for gardeners with limited space, the vines of sugar baby bush only reach around 3 feet in length. This is an early producer; the juicy and sweet little 6-12 pound fruit should be ready harvest in 75 days. Flesh is a deep scarlet; skin is a dark green with no striping.
How tall do sugar baby watermelons grow?
‘Bush Sugar Baby’—Compact vines grow 36 to 42 inches and yield up to two fruits (six to 12 pounds). Ripens in 75 days. Good choice for containers.
Should you trellis watermelon?
Swelling fruits will definitely need support on the trellis, and an old T-shirt makes a perfect sling. Once the plants set fruit, support the burgeoning melons with slings, which can be made with cheesecloth, nylon stockings, or old T-shirts.
How do I protect my baby watermelon?
Install fine netting on a simple hoop frame to protect watermelons from birds, insects, and small animals. Use fencing to protect watermelons from small animals, or to protect your melon patch from deer. Place melon cages over your watermelon plants to protect them from birds and animals.
How do you keep a watermelon on a trellis?
Watermelon Vine Supports
To create an individual melon support, simply cut a square of the fabric and draw the four corners together — with the fruit inside — and tie together onto the trellis support to create a sling. Watermelon trellis growing is a space saving option and makes harvesting simple.
How much space do Sugar Baby watermelons need?
Vines are compact. Plant about 4 feet apart.
Can sugar baby watermelons grow in pots?
Compact varieties like Sugar Baby work well for containers. Compact varieties of watermelon work best for containers. I’m growing Black Tail Mountain and Sugar Baby watermelon in 20 gallon Smart Pots containers.
How do you grow sugar baby watermelon in the garden?
Direct-seed 1 to 2 weeks after average last frost when soil is 70 F or warmer. Plant 1 inch deep, 6 seeds per hill, hills 4 to 6 feet apart; or 1 foot apart in rows 5 feet apart. Can plant at closer spacings if trellised. Thin to 2 to 3 plants per hill.
Will Sugar Baby watermelon ripen off the vine?
Like other melons, they won’t continue to ripen once you’ve picked them off the vine. If you don’t take the time to learn when to harvest them, you might end up with inedible fruits and a lot of wasted time. So, how can you tell if your Sugar Baby watermelons are ready for picking?
How long do baby watermelons take to grow?
75 to 80 days
Sugar Baby melons, like all watermelons, require warm, dry temperatures to thrive. This early watermelon cultivar was first introduced in 1956 and is an early maturing variety, maturing in 75 to 80 days.
What would happen if a watermelon plant is a climber?
Although watermelon plants are vines, they cannot climb without a strong support. Watermelons become heavy, which can topple the average trellis, so supporting and training watermelons to grow vertically instead of horizontally can be a chore.
How deep do watermelon roots go?
Watermelon roots commonly grow 8 to 10 or more inches deep; the hole and mound become a reservoir of moisture and nutrients. More tips: Watermelon Seed Starting Tips. Care. Space watermelons 6 to 12 feet (1.8-3.6 m) apart; don’t let plants compete for soil moisture or nutrients.
Should I trim my watermelon vines?
Pruning watermelons promotes healthier vines and increases fruit size. Look for irregular or rotting fruit to prune from the plant. Removing the less than perfect melons will enable the plant to focus energy towards growing bigger, healthier, juicier melons.
What do you put under growing watermelon?
In order to grow great watermelons, you’ll need to put a barrier between the watermelons and the ground. This is to reduce the risk of rot and disease. Good ground barriers are straw, or even cardboard.
What can you plant with watermelon to keep bugs away?
Plant buckwheat, cowpeas, or sweet clover to attract predators of watermelon pests. Interplant with radish, tansy, and nasturtium to discourage cucumber beetles from feeding on watermelons.
Why are my baby watermelons rotting?
Blossom rot in watermelons is caused by a lack of calcium, but simply adding more calcium isn’t going to help the situation. More often than not, watermelon blossom end rot occurs when water levels are fluctuating during fruit initiation.
How many watermelons do you get from one plant?
2-4 fruits
Healthy watermelon vines produce 2-4 fruits per plant. The vines produce both male and female flowers. Both are needed to set fruit and there are fewer female flowers compared to male, about one female for every seven males.
When should I fertilize my Sugar Baby watermelon?
Fertilizing watermelon is typically done at the time of planting by incorporating fertilizer into the soil. If you don’t do that, apply a weak fertilizer solution when you water. Fertilize again when fruit begins to set using fish-emulsion spray or compost tea.
What month is the best time 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.