Growing Watermelons For Profit: Tips and Tricks for a Success -

Watermelons are one of the most popular fruits in the world. They are juicy, refreshing, and nutritious. They are also a great source of income for many farmers who grow them commercially. Watermelon farming can be a very profitable business if done right. In this article, we will share some tips and tricks on successfully growing watermelons for profit.

Table of Contents

Selecting the Right Watermelon Varieties

Choosing suitable watermelon varieties is crucial for a successful harvest. There are many factors to consider when selecting the best watermelon varieties for your farm, such as:

The climate and soil conditions of your area
The market demand and preferences of your customers
The disease and pest resistance of the varieties
The yield and quality of the fruits
The maturity and storage time of the fruits

Some of the most popular watermelon varieties that are grown commercially for profit are:

Crimson Sweet: This classic watermelon variety produces large, oval-shaped fruits with dark green stripes and sweet, red flesh. It is widely adapted to different climates and soils and has good resistance to diseases and pests. It matures in about 85 days and has a long shelf life.
Sugar Baby: This small, round watermelon variety produces fruits with dark green skin and sweet, red flesh. It is ideal for small-scale farmers or home gardeners who have limited space. It matures in about 75 days and has a short shelf life.
Jubilee: This large, oblong watermelon variety produces fruits with light green stripes and sweet, red flesh. It flourishes in hot and humid climates and resists diseases and pests. It matures in about 95 days and has a moderate shelf life.
Seedless: These are watermelon varieties that produce fruits without or with few seeds. They are preferred by many consumers who do not like to spit out seeds while eating watermelons. They are also easier to cut and serve. However, they require more care and attention than seeded varieties, as they need pollinators (such as bees) to set fruits. Some of the common seedless watermelon varieties are:
- Crimson Trio: This seedless version of Crimson Sweet produces medium-sized fruits with dark green stripes and sweet, red flesh. It matures in about 80 days and has a long shelf life.
- Kingman: This seedless variety produces large, oval-shaped fruits with light green stripes and sweet, red flesh. It matures in about 85 days and has a moderate shelf life.
- Melody: This seedless variety produces small, round fruits with dark green skin and sweet, red flesh. It matures in about 75 days and has a short shelf life.

Preparing the Soil and Planting Watermelon Seeds

Watermelons are warm-season crops that require temperatures higher than 25°C (77°F) to thrive. They also need well-drained sandy loam soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7 and medium nitrogen levels.[1]

There are three methods to grow watermelons:

Growing from seed
Growing from non-grafted seedlings
Growing from grafted seedlings

Growing from seed is the cheapest method, but it takes longer (about 100 to 120 days from seeding to harvesting) and requires more care. Watermelon seeds need at least 18°C (65°F) soil temperature to germinate and optimum moisture levels to sprout. Some farmers soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing to speed germination. The seeds are sown in rows or hills at a depth of 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 inches), with a spacing of 60 to 90 cm (24 to 36 inches) between plants.

Growing from non-grafted seedlings is faster (about 78 to 90 days from transplanting to harvesting) and more accessible than growing from seed. Farmers start the seedlings indoors or in a protected environment about 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting. They transplant the seedlings into the field when the seedlings have 3 to 4 true leaves, spacing them the same as seeds.

Growing from grafted seedlings is the most expensive method, but it has some advantages over the other methods. Grafting is the process of joining two plants together to grow as one. In watermelon farming, the rootstock (the lower part of the plant) is usually a disease-resistant variety. In contrast, the scion (the upper part of the plant) is a high-yielding variety. This way, the grafted plant inherits the best traits of both types, such as improved vigor, yield, quality, and resistance.

The grafted seedlings are also started indoors or in a protected environment for about 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting. They are transplanted into the field when they have 3 to 4 true leaves at the same spacing as seeds.

Regardless of the method, preparing the soil well before planting watermelons is essential. The soil should be tilled, weeded, and fertilized with organic matter or compost. Some farmers also make raised beds or furrows and cover them with black plastic mulch to warm the soil and control weeds. They also install drip irrigation systems to provide water and nutrients to the plants.

Watering and Fertilizing Watermelon Plants

Watermelon plants need regular watering and fertilizing to grow and produce high-quality fruits. Watering should be done through drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to the roots and prevents water loss due to evaporation or runoff.

Watering should be done every 2 to 3 days during the vegetative stage (from planting to flowering) and every 5 to 7 days during the fruiting phase (from flowering to harvesting). The amount of water depends on the soil type, weather conditions, and plant size, but it should be enough to keep the soil moist but not soggy.

Fertilizing should be done according to a soil test or a recommended schedule. In general, watermelon plants require higher levels of nitrogen during the vegetative stage and increased amounts of phosphorus and potassium during the fruiting phase.

A balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) can be applied at planting, followed by a side-dressing of nitrogen (such as urea) every 2 to 3 weeks until flowering. After flowering, a side-dressing of phosphorus and potassium (such as superphosphate and potassium sulfate) can be applied every 2 to 3 weeks until harvesting.

In Case You Missed It: Essential nutrients for plants: A comprehensive guide

Managing Pests and Diseases in Watermelons Plant for Profit

Watermelon plants are susceptible to various pests and diseases that can reduce their yield and quality. Some of the common pests and diseases that affect watermelon plants are:

Pests:

- Aphids: These are small, soft-bodied insects that suck the sap from the leaves and stems of watermelon plants. They can cause the plants to wilt, curling, yellowing, and stunting. They can also transmit viral diseases such as watermelon and zucchini yellow mosaic viruses. You can control Aphids by spraying insecticidal soap, neem oil, or pyrethrin-based products on the infested plants.
- Cucumber beetles: These are small, yellow, or green beetles with black spots or stripes that feed on the leaves, flowers, and fruits of watermelon plants. They can cause holes, scars, and deformities on the fruits. They can also transmit diseases such as wilt and cucumber bacterial blight. You can control Cucumber beetles using row covers, sticky traps, or insecticides such as carbaryl or permethrin on the infested plants.
- Squash bugs: These are large, brown, or gray bugs that suck the sap from the stems and fruits of watermelon plants. They can cause wilting, yellowing, and collapse of the plants. They can also transmit viral diseases such as squash mosaic virus and cucumber mosaic virus. You can control Squash bugs by hand-picking them off the plants or using insecticides such as carbaryl or permethrin on the infested plants.

Diseases:

- Powdery mildew: This is a fungal disease that causes white, powdery spots on the leaves and stems of watermelon plants. It can reduce photosynthesis, growth, and yield of plants. It can also make the fruits less sweet and more prone to sunburn. You can control Powdery mildew by using resistant varieties, improving air circulation, avoiding overhead watering, or spraying fungicides such as sulfur or copper-based products on infected plants.
- Anthracnose: This is a fungal disease that causes dark brown spots on watermelon plants’ leaves, stems, and fruits. It can cause defoliation, fruit rotting, and reduced yield of the plants. It can also spread through seeds or infected plant debris. We can easily control Anthracnose by using resistant varieties, practicing crop rotation, removing infected plant parts, or spraying fungicides such as chlorothalonil or mancozeb on the infected plants.
- Fusarium wilt: This is a fungal disease that causes wilting, yellowing, browning, and death of watermelon plants. It infects the roots and vascular system of the plants, blocking water and nutrient transport. It can also survive in the soil for many years. You can control fusarium wilt by using resistant varieties, practicing crop rotation,

Harvesting and Storage of Watermelons

Watermelons are ready for harvesting when they reach their full size, color, and sweetness. Some signs indicate the maturity of watermelons, such as:

The tendril (the curly stem) near the fruit turns brown and dry.
The ground spot (the part of the fruit that touches the soil) turns white to yellow.
The skin becomes dull and rigid and resists scratching with a fingernail.
The fruit sounds hollow when tapped with a knuckle.

Hand harvesters use scissors or knives to cut the stem about 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 inches) from the watermelon fruit. After harvesting, handlers carefully transport the fruits to avoid bruising or cracking. Watermelon farmers can store the fruits for 2 to 3 weeks at 10 to 15°C (50 to 59°F) and maintain a relative humidity of 85 to 90%. Avoid storing watermelons with other fruits that produce ethylene gas, like apples or bananas, as this can accelerate their ripening process and lead to a loss of quality.

Conclusion

Growing watermelons for profit can be rewarding and lucrative if done correctly. Watermelon farming requires careful planning, preparation, and management of the soil, water, fertilizer, pests, diseases, and harvest. By following the tips and tricks in this article, you can grow watermelons successfully and enjoy the sweet fruits of your labor.

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Growing Watermelons For Profit: Tips and Tricks for a Success