For a juicy harvest, it is important to understand watermelon growing stages to give it the right care at every step of its development.
If you will get the details of watermelon growing stages, you will cultivate it better while avoiding the mistakes, which will result in a guaranteed juicy and bigger fruits!
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Watermelon Growing Stages
1. Seeds
This is the first stage where you will get the seeds of the plant and sow them in a well draining mix. You can do this either in a container, or on the ground – marking the first day of it.
2. Germination
Anywhere between 8 to 14 days, the seeds will sprout and you will see very fragile and tiny stem and leaves, known as cotyledons. This kickstarts the plant’s photosynthesis.
3. Vegetative Growth
After a period of 30 to 45 days, you will see the plant sprawling with stems and leaves, really coming onto its own with a lush development.
This is the stage where you need to be careful with watering, sunlight exposure, and fertlizer. The plant will continually seek for the nutrients, as it is busy developing structures necessary for flowering and fruiting in subsequent stages.
4. Flowers
Around 60 days after planting (this may vary however, depending on the climate, soil type, and variety), the plant will begin to bloom, producing tiny yellow flowers.
It will produce male flowers first, which are smaller in size, followed by the female blooms that you can identify by their small swelling (the ovary) at the base that resembles a tiny watermelon.
Don’t worry about the pollination – bees will do the job for you!
5. Fruiting
In about 55-70 days from seed planting, after the flowers are pollinated, the plant will start to develop fruits. The process can be rapid or slow, depending on how much sunlight the plant is getting. Also, watering is crucial at this stage.
It will be a good idea to keep the individual fruits on a plastic stand to keep them away from the ground. This eliminates the chances of pests and rot.
6. Harvesting
In about 70-90 days, the fruits will develop in size, getting bigger and turning from white to a yellowish color. This indicates that they are ready to pick!
At this point, perform a thumping test – tap with two fingers on the rind. If you hear a hollow sound, well, its time to feast!
