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Growing Watermelon Year-Round

by Bailey Sons – December 31, 1969

If you’re a watermelon fan and an avid gardener, you should try growing a watermelon patch.

Many gardeners do not grow a watermelon patch because it takes up a lot of yard space, but if you have some extra time and a broader landscape, it may be just the thing for you.

You should note that a watermelon patch should be grown in an enclosed area and away from the front yard since you don’t want thieves, both human and animal, messing with your watermelon garden.

A watermelon patch also needs plenty of space, so be sure to make plenty of room in your garden. As with any vegetable or fruit, the soil should contain the proper ingredients: nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Check with your local nursery for the exact proportion of necessary ingredients for growing a healthy watermelon patch.

It will be your choice whether or not you want to buy a melon starter plant from your local nursery or to grow your melons from the ground up with seeds—place them in an area that will get at least six hours of sunlight daily. Leave the soil for around 2-3 days and sprinkle mulch around the soil bed to prevent weeds from intruding and choking your melon patch.

Mulch is also a good thing to use because it traps heat and retains moisture for your plants. Make sure to plant in soil that is at least 65 degrees in temperature. Watermelons thrive in warmer climates, so be sure to get started after winter has passed, preferably early spring, so your melons will get plenty of sunshine throughout the spring and summer.

Pull back any mulch and place the seeds a couple of inches in the ground. If using a starter plant, then separate at least two inches apart from one another. Use discretion in dividing watermelon plants as they grow; you want them to get plenty of room. Water every three days, but do not overwater since your melon patch requires little water. Since each melon stores the right amount of water inside the meat, you do not need water. While your melons are growing, look for weeds and pests.

For weed treatment, use organic pesticides when treating or preventing weed infestation. Natural weed killer is always a good alternative since you do not want harmful chemicals on your plants. Observe tiny insects and fungal growth. Watermelons are fresh for harvesting in a month. To test for full ripening, knock on a melon, and if a dull sound echoes back, they are ready to be pulled from the garden.

If you notice any signs of wilting, be sure to water extra. Prune your plants regularly to maintain proper shape, preventing melon plants from crossing each other’s path. Because melons grow lush with leaves and vines, it is always essential to maintain a clean melon patch as your plants are growing.

Source of Information on Growing your Watermelon Patch

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Jack In The Pulpit

Jack In The Pulpit Is a woodland perennial known for its distinctive, hood-like spathe that covers a spiky, upright structure called the spadix, and it features two or three large leaves, typically found in shaded, damp environments. Jack in the Pulpit (Ariseama triphyllum), also known as the "Indian turnip," is an unusual spring wildflower with striped, hooded green blooms. This eye-catching plant makes a beautiful and unique addition to shady gardens. Habitat Of Jack in the Pulpit It is a native plant that grows in moist woodlands, oak-hickory forests, and tree-filled swamps in eastern and central North America. This perennial can live 25 years or more, and it will spread and colonize over time. Appearance Of Jack in the Pulpit As individuals grow, they will sprout one or two leaves, each of which splits into three leaflets that spread out from their stalks. The plants can rise to a height of one to three feet. Their characteristic bloom appears on a separate stalk between April and June. Its spathe, or "pulpit," is a green hooded cylindrical structure with a maroon-to-brown striped interior that surrounds and conceals its spadix, or "Jack." When you look inside the spathe, you can see tiny greenish-purple flowers at its base. After they bloom, they go dormant or become hermaphroditic. In late summer, usually during August and early September, a cylindrical cluster of bright red berries will form on the pollinated flower stalk. Adding Jack in the Pulpit to Your Garden When adding them to your landscape, it helps to plant them in a setting that will mimic their natural habitat, like a woodland garden or boggy area. When conditions are right, they will naturalize and form small colonies. It makes the greatest impact when it's planted in clusters and surrounded by ferns, wildflowers, and hostas. When it goes dormant in the summer, you can fill in the bare soil that surrounds it with annuals like impatiens. Ecology Of Jack in the Pulpit When red berries appear on your plants in late summer, they may attract birds and small mammals to your garden. Thrushes and wild turkeys will eat the plant's fruits, which have a tomato-like consistency. Jack in the Pulpit Add Intrigue to Your Garden If you're looking to add a unique flower to your garden that's sure to be a conversation starter, consider planting them. These classic wildflowers will add a touch of mystery to your landscape and delight your eyes for years to come.

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