How to plant a potted watermelon
The editor answers for everyone how to plant a potted watermelon and the key points of caring for a potted watermelon in terms of floriculture knowledge, keep reading!
If talking about a fruit that is popular in both north and south during summer, it must be watermelon. Watermelons are commonly seen in supermarkets and street stalls in summer. Buying and putting them in the refrigerator to chill, even if you don't eat dinner and just have a few pieces of watermelon at night, it feels satisfying and comforting. But did you know, you can also grow a potted watermelon? Keeping a watermelon seedling on your own balcony, watching the small vines grow strong, watching the watermelon bloom and bear fruit, slowly expanding, must be a wonderful thing, and the watermelon will definitely be extra sweet. Today, let's talk about the small matters of potted watermelon and turn your balcony into a small melon garden.
1. Variety selection
Although many friends have already grown various vegetables on their balconies, considering the operability and space, the variety of potted watermelons should be chosen first. We recommend two small varieties, one is Zaochun Hongyu and the other is Texiaofeng watermelon. The difference between these two varieties is that one has red flesh and the other has yellow flesh, but both are sweet and have low disease resistance and fertilizer requirements, which can save unnecessary trouble for many later management tasks. Also, considering cultivation and later health, it's best to buy seedlings directly.
2. Pot and potting soil
Whether growing vegetables or fruits on the balcony, the choice of pots and potting soil should be different from that of flowers and green plants. Although the two varieties of watermelon we choose are small in size and have low fertilizer requirements, the soil should be rich, which requires the pot to have enough depth and width for soil placement. For the soil, considering the nature of watermelon, it's best to choose a sandy soil that is loose, has a thick layer, and good drainage, with slightly acidic soil being more conducive to its growth and expansion.
3. Daily management
The entire growth process of watermelon should ensure sufficient lighting conditions. For friends with poor sunlight on their balconies, special attention should be paid to creating conditions or operating carefully. Moreover, watermelons are drought-tolerant but not flood-tolerant, and water supplementation should not be excessive or too rapid. Although small watermelons have low fertilizer requirements, appropriate application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can ensure the sweetness and expansion of the fruit.
4. Appropriate trellising
Watermelon is a vine plant. If the balcony space is large enough, the seedlings can grow along the ground. After the melon buds appear, some protection should be done at the bottom to prevent the watermelon from twisting back and forth due to ventilation issues. For smaller balconies, trellises can be set up to help the vines grow upwards. As the watermelon grows, net bags can be used to prevent it from falling due to its weight.
Whether growing vegetables or fruits on the balcony, friends should realize that the balcony environment is different from the open field environment, and the yield should be optimistically viewed. The two small watermelons introduced this time, under normal grower care, may yield 5-10 fruits per plant, but under potted conditions on the balcony, ensuring 1-2 fruits is already quite objective. If you want more fruits and turn your balcony into a real small melon garden, you can plant several more plants according to the size of the area.
Have you understood the detailed introduction of how to plant potted watermelon and the key points of caring for potted watermelon shared above?