When the thermometer climbs in the warm summer months, there are few things that help cool you down like a slice of sweet, juicy watermelon. But store-bought? Who really wants to pay $5 for a melon with mediocre taste that leaves you yearning for something better? Growing your own can give you fruit that tastes so superior.
But what about your beautifully manicured lawn? There's no space to put in a garden, especially for watermelon plants that grow huge vines. With these tips, though, it’s possible to grow delicious, sweet watermelons in containers on your patio or balcony.
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1. Container size
Start with a 5-gallon bucket or larger. Watermelons have long taproots and need plenty of room to “stretch” out in the container. A bucket at least 2 feet deep is best.
Start with a 5-gallon bucket or larger. Watermelons have long taproots and need plenty of room to “stretch” out in the container. A bucket at least 2 feet deep is best.
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2. Drainage holes
Nobody likes to be waterlogged, and the roots of your watermelon are no exception. Make sure the container has plenty of holes drilled at the bottom to allow excess water to drain.
Nobody likes to be waterlogged, and the roots of your watermelon are no exception. Make sure the container has plenty of holes drilled at the bottom to allow excess water to drain.
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3. Potting soil
Fill the container with potting soil, or a soilless mix bought from a garden center. Garden soil or topsoil will compact easily, making it difficult for the watermelons to grow.
Fill the container with potting soil, or a soilless mix bought from a garden center. Garden soil or topsoil will compact easily, making it difficult for the watermelons to grow.
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4. Vine support
Watermelon plants need a lot of space to grow. If you give them a trellis to climb, and train the plants to do so, you can control their footprint. Making them grow upward will keep them from taking over your yard or balcony.
Watermelon plants need a lot of space to grow. If you give them a trellis to climb, and train the plants to do so, you can control their footprint. Making them grow upward will keep them from taking over your yard or balcony.
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5. One vine
For each seed planted, it’s best to allow only one main vine to grow. As side branches/vines develop, pinch them off. This will result in a healthier, more productive vine.
For each seed planted, it’s best to allow only one main vine to grow. As side branches/vines develop, pinch them off. This will result in a healthier, more productive vine.
6. Hand pollinate
Watermelon plants will form both female and male flowers on the same vine. Pollinators such as bees and butterflies will naturally pollinate the plants, but a little extra assistance from you through hand pollinating will only help the chances of fruit forming.
Watermelon plants will form both female and male flowers on the same vine. Pollinators such as bees and butterflies will naturally pollinate the plants, but a little extra assistance from you through hand pollinating will only help the chances of fruit forming.
7. Limit the number of fruits
A plant can take in only so many nutrients from the potting soil. More fruits mean these nutrients are divided, resulting in each fruit receiving less. Balcony Garden Web recommends removing extra fruits from the vine, keeping two to three per vine for large varieties and five to 10 per vine for small varieties, to get the best-quality fruit.
A plant can take in only so many nutrients from the potting soil. More fruits mean these nutrients are divided, resulting in each fruit receiving less. Balcony Garden Web recommends removing extra fruits from the vine, keeping two to three per vine for large varieties and five to 10 per vine for small varieties, to get the best-quality fruit.
8. Fruit support
As fruits develop, use a stretchy material like pantyhose or a T-shirt to create a hammock under them. This will support them as they get bigger and keep them from snapping off the vine.
As fruits develop, use a stretchy material like pantyhose or a T-shirt to create a hammock under them. This will support them as they get bigger and keep them from snapping off the vine.
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9. Watering
If temperatures are below 80 degrees F, water plants once a day. When temperatures climb higher, water them twice daily to keep the soil from drying out.
If temperatures are below 80 degrees F, water plants once a day. When temperatures climb higher, water them twice daily to keep the soil from drying out.
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10. Fertilizer
Watermelons will quickly remove all the nutrients available in the container. If using liquid fertilizer, fertilize them once a week at the time of watering; fertilize once a month if using a granular fertilizer.
Watermelons will quickly remove all the nutrients available in the container. If using liquid fertilizer, fertilize them once a week at the time of watering; fertilize once a month if using a granular fertilizer.
Good luck! Make sure to share this article on Facebook, and pass along these handy hints!