Watermelon Crops Guide
| Estimated Cost | $700 to $1500 per acre |
|---|---|
| Water Requirements | 15 to 20 inches water per acre during season |
| Minimum Size | 1 to 10 acres |
| Risk Factor | Moderate; seedless types – high |
| Other Limiting Factors | Early freeze, weeds, diseases, rain and insects. Must have honey bees for crop pollination. |
How much can you make from watermelon farming?
When it comes to watermelon farming, it is a very profitable crop due to the income per acre and increasing demand. By growing watermelons in a farm, farmers get a profit of 2 to 3 lakh in 3 months.
Is watermelon a cash crop?
Growing watermelon –if done rationally and on a scalable basis- can be a good source of income. In a few words, most commercial watermelon growers start the crop from seeds (hybrids) in an indoor protected environment.
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.
How many years does it take to grow watermelon?
How long does it take for a watermelon to grow to full size? Watermelons require 80-90 days from seed sowing to grow a full-size watermelon. Some smaller-sized watermelons (like Sugar Baby) can reach maturity in closer to 70 days.
How many watermelons can you plant per acre?
A watermelon is 90 percent water. Native to central Africa, watermelons were first cultivated by ancient Egyptians. Farmers plant 1,600 to 1,800 watermelon plants per acre. One commercially-grown plant produces one or two melons in the field.
How many watermelons can you harvest per acre?
A commercially grown watermelon typically produces one or two melons per plant, and most farmers grow about 1,600 to 1,800 watermelons per acre. Watermelons are 90 percent water, making them a good crop for a small farm.
Which state grows the most watermelon?
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Summer means relaxing by the pool, barbeques and refreshing slices of watermelon and no one produces more of this favorite summertime fruit than Florida. The Sunshine State is the top producer of watermelon in the United States.
How long does a watermelon plant live?
How many watermelons per plant? About 2 to 3 melons can be obtained per plant in its single lifespan of 3-4 months. Usually, gardeners purposely keep only one watermelon per plant to harvest big sized fruits.
How much is a watermelon 2022?
In 2022, the approximate price range for US Watermelon is between US$ 0.53 and US$ 0.56 per kilogram or between US$ 0.24 and US$ 0.25 per pound(lb). The price in Euro is EUR 0.53 per kg. The average price for a tonne is US$ 531.05 in New York and Washington. US’ import price for watermelon in 2019 was US$0.50 per kilo.
Why do you plant watermelons on a hill?
Hills allow better drainage and warm the soil for the plants, which is important because watermelon seeds need a soil temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate. Hilling is important, especially when growing watermelons in heavier soils that do not drain as well as sandy loam.
How many watermelons do you get per plant?
How Many Watermelons per Plant? 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.
What grows well with watermelons?
Watermelon Companions
Cultivate flowering plants — including members of the aster family, like sunflowers, cosmos, coneflowers, and coreopsis, and herbs in the mint family, such as mint, oregano, thyme, and rosemary — to attract sweat bees and other pollinators.
What to put under watermelons while growing?
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.
Do watermelons need a lot of water?
Typically, watermelon plants need 1-2 inches of water per week so that the soil stays moist but not wet. If you’re not getting enough rain each week, make sure you give your plants an extra drink.
What is the best fertilizer for watermelons?
Choosing the best fertilizer for watermelon is the key to a quality harvest.
- BEST OVERALL: Dr.
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Espoma Garden Tone 3-4-4 Plant Food.
- PREMIUM PICK: Organic Plant Magic Super Premium Plant Food.
- BEST ORGANIC: Jobe’s Organics Granular Fertilizer.
- BEST LIQUID: Neptune’s Harvest Hydrolyzed Fish Fertilizer.
What is the best climate for growing watermelon?
As mentioned, watermelons are warm season plants, and they grow best in hot weather. Once seeds sprout, plants prefer temperatures ranging from 70-90°F during the day and 60-70°F at night. So if temperatures in your area are hotter than that, try using straw mulch under your plants to keep the soil cool.
How many seeds are in a acre of watermelon?
One needs 4,000 seeds for planting in an acre, Njagi said. With a harvest of two fruits per plant weighing 11 kg, a farmer who practices good crop husbandry can harvest 8,000 watermelons. If they weigh about 11kg, then the fruits will give 88,000 kilos from the one acre.
How much does a watermelon yield?
Pounds of Watermelon to Cups. According to the Watermelon Board, an average large watermelon weighs about 20 pounds and contains roughly 32 cups of cubed fruit.
How often should I water my watermelon?
Watering Watermelons
They require plentiful regular, even watering for quick growing. Give watermelons 1 to 2 inches (2.5. -5cm) of water every week (1 inch equals 16 gallons/60.5 liters.) Keep the soil moist until the fruit reaches full size then stop watering while the fruit ripens.
How do you prepare soil for watermelon?
Melons grow best on well-drained, sandy loam soils, with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Soils with a pH less than 6.0 will produce plants with yellow foliage that set few or no fruit. You can improve your soil by adding well-rotted manure or compost in spring or fall.