Watermelons are a great treat for beating the heat. They also prefer the heat if you’re thinking about growing your own this year. Soils need to be at least 70 degrees to avoid problems with germination. You can start the seedlings indoors, or in a greenhouse, then transplant them when the weather is favorable. Watermelons prefer a slightly acidic soil and a lot of water and nitrogen to get themselves going. When it’s time for the garden, they require at least a couple feet of spacing between each plant. The plants will spread up to ten feet from their roots. It’s also important to only water the plant’s roots, rather than the leaves, to prevent the possibility of fungal diseases. Watermelons take between 70 and 90 days, depending on the variety. They do not continue to ripen off the vine, so it’s important to wait for them to be ready. You can usually tell if they’re ripe by the creamy, yellowish color on their bottoms.
