“She planted them the usual way — and nothing grew” 🍉❌ Want big, sweet watermelons this summer? It all starts before the seeds even hit the soil 🌱 From warming tricks to the one ingredient your soil might be missing, here’s what gardeners swear by. Read the full guide in the article below 👇🌞
Many people enjoy juicy, sweet, and refreshing watermelon. But to grow big and tasty fruits, it’s not enough to just plant them—you also need to take good care of them. Below, we’ll explain how to do it right.
When to Plant Watermelons
You should plant watermelon seeds only when the weather is warm and steady enough—daytime temperatures should be at least +15 °C, and nighttime should stay above +8 °C. In most regions, the right time to plant is usually in April.
Getting the Soil Ready
It’s best to start preparing the area in advance—in the fall or at least two weeks before planting. Dig the soil and add organic matter like compost or humus (about 6 kg per square meter). You should also add some mineral fertilizers such as potassium sulfate and superphosphate. If you’re doing the prep in spring, use nitroammophoska instead (about 30 g per square meter).
If the soil is heavy and full of clay, mix in a bucket of sand for every square meter to make it looser. To warm up the soil and help the seeds sprout faster, cover the bed with film or garden fabric.
Getting Watermelon Seeds Ready
Good seed preparation helps the plants grow quickly and evenly. Start by sorting the seeds—throw away any that look damaged, moldy, or suspicious.
Here are a few ways to prepare the seeds:
Warming: Soak the seeds in warm water (about 50 °C) for three hours. Keep changing the water to maintain the temperature.
Growth stimulant: Use a special product to boost growth. Follow the instructions carefully so you don’t harm the seeds.
Disinfection: Soak the seeds for 30 minutes in a weak solution of chlorhexidine (0.05%) or in diluted Phytosporin. Rinse well afterward with clean water.
Germination: Wrap the seeds in wet gauze, put them in a plastic bag, and leave them in a warm place. Make sure the fabric stays moist. Sprouts usually show up by day 7. If they don’t, the seeds likely won’t grow.
How to Plant Watermelons
Before planting, loosen the soil. Make small holes about 4 cm deep. Leave about 1 meter between holes and 2 meters between rows.
Place one sprouted seed in each hole. If the seeds are dry and not sprouted, place two in each hole just in case. Cover the seeds with soil and water them using room temperature water. When the soil settles, add a little more on top.
To help the seeds sprout faster, you can cover the holes with agrofiber or plastic film. Once the sprouts come up, remove the cover. If the temperature is still low, you can build a small greenhouse over the bed to keep the plants warm until the weather improves.
If you found these tips helpful or if you’ve tried growing watermelons yourself, let us know in the comments! Share your own experiences and tricks—you might help someone else have a sweet harvest this season.
