How To Grow Watermelon In Containers: 9 Steps To Follow

Do you want to grow watermelons in containers? You can do it quite easily. Read more to find out How To Grow Watermelon In Containers and the proper techniques.

If you are searching for methods to grow watermelons in containers, you have come to the correct place. Fresh watermelon is something everyone wants to plant at home.

If you think that you can not do it, you need to cease that thought process because you can do it!

Here we will know the entire process of how to grow watermelons in a small space. Enjoy the summer by getting fresh watermelons that you grow in containers.

Why Should I Grow Watermelons in a Container or Pot?

  • Just like cantaloupe the watermelons like heat and the soil in the container can heat up much faster than the soil in the garden or plant beds. Due to this, you can plant the watermelons in the containers earlier than in the other soils.
  •  The germination rates also elevate due to the warm soil. The watermelon seeds do not do well in wet and cold soil and end up rotting. With a warm location, the germination process can be a success.
  • The containers are not on the ground and hence there is a distance maintained between the pesky insects and the watermelon plants.
  • When your watermelon plants are in a container, you can have a better idea of the watering sessions. The watermelons require a good amount of water in order to grow.

How To Grow Watermelon In Containers?

How To Grow Watermelon In Containers

With the temperature warming up and the sun blazing at its full intensity, you might need a quick boost of refreshment. Watermelon is a great source of it.

However, the store-bought watermelon may not give you the same happiness as the one that you grow in your own containers.

Maybe you do not have sufficient space in your garden to get watermelons popping out of the ground; in that case, you can use containers.

1. Make Sure That The Size Of Your Container Is Correct

For a perfect size, you need a bucket that can withhold a capacity of five gallons.

With long taproots, the watermelon requires a large space in order to tap out. Make sure that the bucket has a depth of at least two feet so that the watermelons grow.

2. Do Not Forget To Drill Holes

You can not allow the container to get waterlogged. Hence, you need to make sure that you drill holes in the container to get rid of excess water that is present there.

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3. Use Potting Soil

You need to make sure that you know the type of soil to be used in the container. When you grow watermelons in containers, you need to use potting soil or a soilless mix in it.

If you use some other soil like topsoil or garden soil, it will consequently make it harder to grow watermelons in containers.

4. Control Their Footprint

In order to grow properly, watermelons require a lot of space. You can use a trellis which can allow them a platform to climb. Due to this, the footprint will be in control.

When the watermelon plant is growing in an upward direction, it will keep them from invading the space in the balcony or garden.

5. Allow one Vine To Be Present

The number of vines should be parallel to the number of seeds planted. If you have planted one seed, you should have one vine present.

When you spot the other vines in the development phase, you can chip them off. Due to this process, you will get a healthier vine than before.

6. Go For Hand Pollination

In the watermelon plants, you can see the female and male growing on the same vine. Bees and butterflies are natural pollinators when it comes to plants.

However, you can give them a little nudge and assist with hand pollination. Due to your helping out, the fruit-forming process can get a little kick-start.

7. Do Not Over-Populate The Plants

You should be carefully monitoring the number of fruits forming on the plant. A plant would have to share the nutrients when it has more load on it.

When the resources are divided, the fruits are bound to get lesser. To avoid this, you can reduce the extras and keep the quantity sorted.

For smaller fruits, you can use five to ten fruits. For larger fruits, you can allow two to three fruits to grow.

8. Provide Support To The Fruits

You can use a stretchable fabric like a T-shirt or pantyhose in order to provide some added support to the fruit.

Add the fabric like a hammock below the fruit. Due to this support, the fruit can get bigger without snapping off completely.

9. Water Them Properly

If the temperature is low and around 80 degrees, you can water the plant once.

However, if the temperature turns warmer than that, you have to make sure that you water the plant twice a day so that the soil does not dry out.

10. Use The Fertiliser Correctly

Watermelons are prone to using the nutrients swiftly.

For a liquid fertilizer, you can use them once a week while you are watering the plants. If you are using a granular fertilizer, you can use it once a month.

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Which Varieties of Watermelons Should I Use For My Containers?

When you are choosing a variety of watermelons to grow in a container, make sure that they are smaller!

You can keep them in a location that gets direct rays of the sun for at least eight hours a day.

Some varieties of watermelon to grow in containers are mentioned below.

1. Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’

This fruit was introduced in the year 1956. Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’ is known as a picnic watermelon, perfect for tossing in an icebox.

The fruits of this kind of plant are in sizes of seven to eight inches – which is a good fit for a picnic basket or a fridge.

The Brix value of the red flesh is high. The melons produced by this are round and small, with seeds that are black in color and dark green skin.

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2. Watermelon ‘Crimson Sweet’

This is a gorgeous fruit with light green melon that is striped with darker shades. This fruit is popularly known for its sugary content – which is high! Also, this fruit has a delicious flavor.

The seeds of this fruit are in a darker shade and quite small.

3. Watermelon  ‘Jubilee’

The watermelon ‘jubilee’ possesses a crisp and firm flesh that is bright red in color. The shape of these watermelons is oblong.

You can see a light green shade of green as a base along with a darker pigmentation of green in the stripes.

In mature form, this fruit can weigh around twenty-five pounds or even more. This fruit is resistant to wilt and enriched with vitamins.

4. Watermelon ‘Moon & Stars Yellow’

This watermelon has a flesh of yellow color. Contrary to most watermelons, this one possesses white seeds. This fruit also tastes sweet.

The length of the fruit can often extend to two feet while the weight can reach 12 pounds. It has a flavor that can stay in your memories for a long time.

You can also grow other kinds of watermelons in the container like Watermelon Early Moonbeam, Watermelon Jade Star, Watermelon Mini Love, and so forth.

Growing watermelon vertically

Growing watermelon vertically is an easy way to get a big fruit.

There are many types of growing watermelons, so it’s important to find the one that fit your needs best.

Advantages of Growing watermelon vertically

  • Vertical growing helps avoid pests and diseases and produces larger fruits with less work.
  • By growing the watermelon vertically, you will have more space to grow the fruit and make more money.
  • Vertical gardening can also add an extra layer of value to your produce while allowing you to save on space.
  • Vertical growth accelerates water uptake and production, increasing yields by 25%.

If you’re looking to grow watermelon vertically, there are a few things to keep in mind.

  • First, make sure your soil is healthy and free of pests.
  • Second, get a good tree for your vertical growing operation.
  • Lastly, consider how to best position your tree so that the fruit can reach its optimal production.

steps for Growing watermelon vertically

There are many ways to grow watermelon vertically, but some of the most common methods include planting in mesh baskets, using stakes and wires, or using a trellis system.

Growing watermelon vertically is a great way to get your fruit fixed while avoiding the stress of growing fruit in a pot or soil-grown environment.

Vertical growing can be done in a number of ways, but one option is to purchase a hydroponic watermelon grower, read more to understand (Hydroponic System).

This device consists of an airtight container filled with water and plants that are designed to produce fruit horizontally.

  • First, make sure your hydroponic watermelon grower has room to accommodate your desired growth rate and size.
  • Then, get started planting the watermelon.
  • Additionally, make sure you have enough light and space for your plants to grow without competition. Finally, don’t forget about irrigation!
  • Finally, monitor the progress of your watermelon plants and make sure they are getting the needed water and nutrients.

By following these steps, you can grow your own watermelon easily and enjoy delicious fruit all summer long!

How To care Watermelons in Containers

When you are growing watermelons in containers, you need to make sure that you are giving them adequate attention.

  • The watermelon plants have to be watered every other day without fail in order to produce fruits that are juicy and healthy.
  • If you are located in an area that has a temperature that is usually below eighty degrees, you can opt for a proper watering session once a day.
  • If you live in areas that are comparatively warmer than that, you can opt for watering the plant twice a day.
  • The nutrients in the container drain out quicker than they would have in a garden; you would need to apply the fertilizer more often.
  • You can take time out and go through the application of a liquid fertilizer once a week.
  • However, you need to ensure that you do not fertilize the watermelon plant too much because it can end up destroying the plant.
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How many watermelon plants per container

If you plan to plant watermelon plants in your garden, it is important to know the number of watermelon plants per container.

Many people think that planting too many watermelon plants will lead to a low yield because they do not have enough space to grow them.

Dont plant more than 3 seeds per container in order to grow them well.

Final Thoughts

Watermelons are a fruit that is typically eaten in North America. They are a type of squash and are round with a reddish-hued skin.

When you have limited space for gardening, you can use the above-mentioned tips for watermelons.

On a hot summer day, nothing can provide you with the instant refreshment that watermelon can do.

It may be a bit difficult to grow watermelons in containers at first but eventually, you will get the hang of it.

Growing Watermelon In Pots FAQs

Q: Can Watermelons Grow In Pots Or Not?

There is no reason for the watermelons to not grow in the pots if you are doing everything properly.

Make sure that the soil you are using is good, along with a sun-facing location and adequate watering and fertilizing techniques.

 Make sure that the pot has drainage holes to avoid water logging.

Q: Do watermelons prefer sun or shade?

Watermelons are a major fruit crop in the United States, and they are also a large topic of discussion when it comes to gardening.

Do watermelons prefer sun or shade? The answer is yes they need direct sunlight in order to thrive all year round.

Q: How many months does it take to grow a watermelon in pots?

Watermelon will typically take 3-6 months to grow in pots, but can take up to a year if left unchecked.

When growing watermelons in pots, be sure to properly water them frequently and make sure to give them plenty of sunlight and airflow.

Q: What is the best month to plant watermelon?

Watermelon is a fruit that is indigenous to Central America.

The best month to plant watermelon is May because the weather in Central America is milder then usual during those months.

Q: What happens if you plant watermelons too close together?

Watermelons have a long life expectancy and are high in Vitamin C.

If they are planted too close together, they can suffer from a disease called Pythium species.

Pythium is a fungus that affects watermelons and can cause them to develop yellowing, stunting, and other problems.

If left untreated, Pythium can kill the watermelon.

Q: Do you need 2 watermelon plants to get fruit?

Not really, every watermelon plant has both male and female flowers that produces fruits. But yes if plant is cared in a fair conditions can produce 5-6 healthy fruits.