Yellow flowers and watermelon fruit
Elongated watermelon Orange glo variety
Small watermelon variety Sugar baby
Moon and stars green and yellow watermelon
Watermelon seeds
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Citrullus lanatus, the watermelon
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Scientific classification
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Type
Citrullus
Species
Watermelon - Citrullus lanatus
Other names:Citrullus battich var. lanatus, Citrullus vulgaris var. lanatus, Momordica lanata
A true symbol of summer, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is appreciated for its thirst-quenching, sweet flesh. This member of the Cucurbitaceae family, native to East Africa, comes in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors.
How to recognize watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)?
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a creeping annual plant. It doesn't grow taller than 70 cm. But its white-haired stems with tendrils can reach 10 m in length.
The oval, indented leaves have 3 to 5 lobes. Light green, they measure up to 20 cm in all directions.
Watermelons produce both male and female flowers on the same plant. Both are yellow and have five petals, but the female flowers are easily distinguishable: a small swelling at their base - the ovary - already heralds the future watermelon.
As is often the case with Cucurbitaceae, the shape of the fruit varies according to variety. Watermelons can :
- Weigh between 2 and 50 kilos;
- Be spherical or oblong;
- Have a very dark green or light green rind, dotted with patterns;
- Have pink, orange or yellow flesh;
- Up to 60 cm in diameter.
Contrary to popular belief, the seeds are not always black: they can also be white, brown or even missing in some hybrid varieties.
Which watermelon varieties to plant at home?
Select the varieties that best suit your growing conditions (space, climate) and tastes. For example, you could choose :
- Sugar Baby: early and productive Watermelon Sugar baby yields round, dark-green fruit weighing 2 to 4 kg, with very sweet flesh;
- Blacktail Mountain: early, it adapts to cool climates and cold nights;
- Mini Love F1: ultra-compact, it produces fruit weighing 2 kg, perfect for small gardens and balconies;
- orangeglo: a very vigorous old variety with bright orange flesh and a taste reminiscent of mango and papaya;
- Moon and Stars: with ruby-red flesh and dark green rind dotted with yellow spots;
- Janosik: a yellow-fleshed variety that is particularly hardy and resistant to slightly lower temperatures;
- Charleston Gray: elongated, large-caliber (7 to 12 kg), this variety is known for its high resistance to disease (fusariosis, anthracnose) and intense heat;
- Crimson Sweet: disease-resistant, it can be transported and stored well.
Is watermelon toxic?
Watermelon is not toxic. It is grown all over the world for its edible fruit. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the flesh is sweet and juicy.
Even the seeds are edible: once roasted, they make an excellent aperitif.
Our maintenance tips
Watermelons like sun and warmth. If you live in a region with short, cool summers, place tiles at the foot of the plant to reflect the heat.
Watering
Watermelons like water. Don't let the soil dry out. Water at the base, without wetting the foliage, to prevent powdery mildew.
Use rainwater or tap water.
Repotting
Watermelons need space. Get a perforated pot of at least 30 liters (40 cm deep by the same diameter). You can line the bottom with clay balls or gravel to optimize drainage.
Fill the pot with a rich substrate, such as potting soil for vegetable plants. You can even add a slow-release organic fertilizer.
If you've sown your seeds in biodegradable cups, plant your pot in the center.
If you've sown your seeds in plastic cups, water the clod of your Watermelon to keep it whole. Carefully remove the pot so as not to damage the roots and plant your seedling. Do not touch the roots, even if they are rolled up. They are very fragile and you could damage them.
Pack and water generously, without wetting the foliage.
You can use a stake to help your Citrullus lanatus climb and save space.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Citrullus lanatus, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
Fertilize your Watermelon to provide it with the necessary nutrients. You must adapt your fertilizer to its growth. Choose :
- A nitrogen-rich fertilizer (special vegetable fertilizer or nettle manure) at start-up;
- A fertilizer rich in potassium (tomato fertilizer or comfrey purin) as soon as the flowers appear.
Prune
When the first fruits appear, prune your Watermelon.
Pinch off the end of the main stem withyour fingers or clean pruning shears. This action stops stem growth and encourages the growth of fruit already formed.
Remove any secondary stems that have no flowers or are crowding the plant.
Keep only 2 to 3 fruits per plant to allow them to develop properly.
Pulling out
Once the plant has dried out completely, you can pull it out.
When the foliage turns yellow and the stem becomes brittle, this is a sign that the root system is no longer functioning. You can uproot the plant to make room for other crops.
Take the base of the main stem (the stalk) with your full hand. Use gentle circular movements to loosen the roots, then lift gently. If the soil is compact, use a fork. Push it about 15-20 cm from the stem and pry up to dislodge the root ball without breaking it.
Pick up any dead stems and leaves lying around to prevent spores and fungi from remaining in the soil.
Plantation
Dig a hole 2 to 3 times wider and deeper than the root ball. If planting several plants, space them at least 1.5 m apart. Place a handful of compost at the bottom of the hole.
Plant your Citrullus lanatus without burying the crown. Fill in with garden soil. Use potting soil for vegetable plants ifyour soil is poor. Tamp and water.
Watermelons need warmth. If temperatures are still cool, protect your plants with a tunnel or a veil.
Seedling
Once the risk of frost has passed, you can sow your Citrullus lanatus seeds.
Sow your Citrullus lanatus seeds in pots. You can use plastic pots, but we advise you to choose biodegradable models. This way, you won't risk damaging the fragile roots during transplanting.
Fill your pots with sowing and planting compost or garden soil, topped up with a little compost.
Plant three seeds percup. Bury them under a centimetre of soil. Water lightly and keep the soil moist until the first leaves appear.
Frequently asked questions
Whole and uncut, watermelons keep for 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature, or a little longer in a cool place. In the fridge, it will keep for up to 3 weeks. A cut watermelon should be stored in a cool place, well protected (cling film or airtight box) and eaten within 3 to 5 days.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Lifecycle | Annual |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposure | |
| Substrat | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots In tubs |
| Category |
Vegetable |
| Tags |
Edible fruit Fritillary Large pot |
| Origin |
East Africa |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C) |
| Leaf color |
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| Flower color |
|
| Fruit colors |
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