Part One of Three:
Getting the Garden Bed Ready
1
Select the right location. Watermelons need a few things to grow properly, including lots of space and plenty of sun. A good location to plant watermelon vines is an open area that gets lots of direct sunlight throughout the day.
Watermelon vines can reach 20 feet (6 m) in length.[1]
2
Prepare the soil. Watermelons are heavy feeders, so it’s important to amend the soil with lots of nutrients a few weeks before planting. They also need well draining soil. Add some aged compost, manure, or seaweed to the garden bed and till it into the soil. Use compost specifically if you want to ensure your soil drains well.
The ideal pH for watermelons is between 6 and 6.8.[2]
3
Warm the ground with black plastic. Watermelons seeds need warm soil to grow, and if you live in cooler or northern climates, you should warm the soil a couple weeks before planting to ensure it heats up enough. Cover the garden bed with black plastic, and lay some rocks along the perimeter to keep the plastic from blowing away.[3]
You can either use large sheets of black plastic from a gardening store, or you can cut open black garbage bags and use those.
4
Pick the right time to plant. The soil temperature must reach at least 70 F (21 C) before you can plant watermelon seeds. You should also wait until at least two weeks after the last frost, otherwise the seeds won’t sprout.[4]
Getting the Garden Bed Ready
1
Select the right location. Watermelons need a few things to grow properly, including lots of space and plenty of sun. A good location to plant watermelon vines is an open area that gets lots of direct sunlight throughout the day.
Watermelon vines can reach 20 feet (6 m) in length.[1]
2
Prepare the soil. Watermelons are heavy feeders, so it’s important to amend the soil with lots of nutrients a few weeks before planting. They also need well draining soil. Add some aged compost, manure, or seaweed to the garden bed and till it into the soil. Use compost specifically if you want to ensure your soil drains well.
The ideal pH for watermelons is between 6 and 6.8.[2]
3
Warm the ground with black plastic. Watermelons seeds need warm soil to grow, and if you live in cooler or northern climates, you should warm the soil a couple weeks before planting to ensure it heats up enough. Cover the garden bed with black plastic, and lay some rocks along the perimeter to keep the plastic from blowing away.[3]
You can either use large sheets of black plastic from a gardening store, or you can cut open black garbage bags and use those.
4
Pick the right time to plant. The soil temperature must reach at least 70 F (21 C) before you can plant watermelon seeds. You should also wait until at least two weeks after the last frost, otherwise the seeds won’t sprout.[4]
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