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. Prefers warm, well-drained, soil, high in organic matter with pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Do Sugar Baby watermelons need a trellis?
Trellising is a great way to grow sugar baby watermelons if you don’t have a lot of space. If you do have room for your vine to roam, though, you might yield bigger fruit if you let your vine grow horizontally rather than vertically.
How big do Sugar Baby watermelon vines get?
‘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.
How much space does a mini watermelon plant need?
For small varieties, space the holes 4 feet apart in rows at least 2 feet apart. Miniature watermelon varieties produce bushy growth and don’t require the high growing mounds necessary for large varieties.
How long does it take a Sugar Baby watermelon to mature?
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.
How tall should a Sugar Baby watermelon trellis be?
5) Build sturdy trellises!
Given deep soil and good growing conditions, I normally expect to harvest 20-30 pounds of watermelon growing on a 4 foot wide and 7 foot tall trellis.
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.
What can I plant with Sugar Baby watermelon?
‘Sugar Baby’ Watermelon
Include flowers like dill, chamomile, cosmos and pineapple sage to attract predatory insects that eat melon pests, including beetles, caterpillars and aphids. Watermelon and other melons, including cantaloupe and musk melon, need plenty of sunshine to yield well.
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.
Can you grow a Sugar baby watermelon in a 5 gallon bucket?
You need a container that is at least 5-10 gallons when growing this variety. I would recommend using a pot that is 24 inches deep and 16 inches wide to grow the Sugar Baby watermelon plant. And grow just one plant per pot otherwise they will end up competing for nutrients and moisture.
Can I grow watermelon in a 5 gallon bucket?
You need to choose a pot that will be large enough for your container watermelon to thrive. Watermelons grow rapidly and require plenty of water, so it is recommended that you go with a 5-gallon (19 kg) or larger size container. Make sure that the container you will be growing watermelons in has enough drainage holes.
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.
What happens if you plant watermelons too close together?
In the case of spacing watermelon plants, those set too far apart waste valuable garden space while those set too close together compete for light, air and soil nutrients, resulting in a potentially compromised crop.
How close can you plant watermelon?
3 to 5 feet apart
Plant watermelon from late spring to early summer, once soil temperatures reach 70° F or above. Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
Can watermelon be grown in pots?
Yes, you can grow watermelon in pots. But there are some important guidelines you’ll want to follow to set yourself up for success. Watermelons are fun to grow in pots, but they must be cared for properly.
What month do you 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 is the sweetest watermelon?
Sultan. Sultan is one of the sweetest varieties you’ll find, this one measures 12.3 on the Brix scale. The fruits average 15 pounds and ripen within 95 days.
What is the sweetest small watermelon?
Sugar Baby
The quintessential icebox melon. Sugar Baby produces round, 6-10 pound, dark green fruits that are super sweet, and super cute!
Can I plant watermelon in a raised bed?
Raised beds are perfect for growing melons. Melons thrive in the warm soil raised beds provide. You’ll need at least a 4′ x 6′ area to grow melons on the ground. To save space in raised beds, grow them on a sturdy trellis.
Can you use a tomato cage for watermelon?
Use tomato cages to hold up stems as they grown for support and build wooden frame around box to hang pouches for the watermelon as they get large. Container watermelon. Use tomato cages to hold up stems as they grown for support and build wooden frame around box to hang pouches for the watermelon as they get large.
Should watermelons grow on the ground?
You can sow watermelons directly into the ground when the soil temperature is above 65°F. Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep, placing two or three seeds in groups 18 to 24 inches apart. Once watermelon seedlings are established, remove two and leave the best watermelon plant in each group.