Which month is suitable for planting watermelons?

Watermelon , an annual climbing plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, is deeply loved by people and is known as the star of summer fruits. With its sweet, juicy flesh and cooling properties, it is an ideal choice for quenching summer heat and thirst. In addition, watermelon is not only delicious, but also rich in various nutrients, so it is very popular in the market. Let’s take a look at which months are suitable for planting watermelons?

Which month is suitable for planting watermelons?

The timing of watermelon planting depends primarily on local climatic conditions and the time required for maturity. Generally speaking, the best time to plant watermelons can be divided into several different crops:

Spring crop: Usually sowing and seedling raising begins in mid-to-late March. If planted in a greenhouse , the time can be advanced to around mid-to-late February. It can be planted in mid-to-late April and harvested in late June.

Summer crop: sow in late May to early June and harvest in mid-to-late August.

Autumn crop: sow in late June to mid-July, and harvest in September-October.

For watermelons grown in the open field in early spring, the appropriate time to sow is when the ground temperature is stable at around 15°C. Watermelon prefers a sunny, dry and warm climate. It may suffer from cold damage when the temperature is below 5℃, and stop growing when the temperature is below 10℃. The temperature between 10~40℃ is very suitable for the growth of watermelon.

Watermelon growing conditions

Temperature: The suitable temperature range for watermelon growth is 18-32℃. It can tolerate higher temperatures and can maintain a certain assimilation efficiency even at 40°C. However, watermelon is not resistant to low temperatures. When the temperature drops to 15℃, its growth slows down, its growth stops at 10℃, and the above-ground parts may be frozen at 5℃. The suitable temperature for root growth is 25-30℃, while the minimum temperature for root hairs to occur is 13-14℃. Flowering, fruiting and fruit growth require higher temperatures. The minimum temperature for stem and leaf growth is 10°C, and the minimum temperature for fruit setting and fruit growth is 15°C.

Sunshine: Watermelon is a light-requiring crop. The saturation point of photosynthesis is 8×10^4lx and the compensation point is 0.4×10^4lx. It is very sensitive to light conditions. Sunny weather is conducive to the compact growth of the plant, while continuous rainy weather and insufficient light conditions will cause the internodes and petioles of the plant to elongate, the leaves to be thin and light in color, and easy to get sick.

Water: Watermelon has a deep and wide root system that can absorb and utilize water over a wide area and deep in the soil. The suitable soil moisture content is 60% to 80% of the soil water holding capacity. The soil moisture requirements at different growth stages are different: 65% at the seedling stage, 70% at the vine extension stage, and should be maintained at around 75% during the fruit expansion stage. Watermelon's sensitive periods to water include around the opening of female flowers and during the fruit expansion period.

Gas: Watermelon needs to absorb carbon dioxide to carry out photosynthesis. Within a certain range, increasing the carbon dioxide content in the air can improve assimilation efficiency and thus increase yield.

Soil: Watermelon has a wide adaptability to soil, but the most suitable soil is loam or sandy loam with deep soil layer, good drainage, rich organic matter, fertile and loose. Watermelon can grow normally when the soil pH value is between 5 and 7. When the soil salt content is below 0.2%, the plants can grow normally.

In short, the specific planting time should be adjusted according to local climatic conditions and the required maturity period. In warmer areas, you may be able to start seedlings in February or March, while in cooler areas you may have to wait until April or May. In general, spring is the main time for growing watermelons in most areas.