Let us discuss the watermelon growing stages. Watermelons are hot-weather plants that were once only found in Africa but are now grown in other parts of the world.

Want to start your own patch and continue this rich history? Continue reading. 

The stages of watermelon growth will be thoroughly explained in this text. Finally, we’ll give you some advice to make sure you have a bumper crop. 

8 Watermelon Growing Stages

A watermelon plant develops from a tiny seed into a huge fruit over the course of three months. 

Let’s start by breaking down the watermelon growing stages into its component parts. You will then be able to comprehend the sequence of events and the growing-stage chronology. 

1. Planting 

The weight of a single watermelon can reach 25 lbs. But the watermelon’s growth cycle starts with a tiny, dark-brown seed. The length of this flat, teardrop-shaped seed is less than half an inch. 

You’ll need to choose a variety before you plant any seeds. The selection, for instance, can be daunting given that there are over 1,000 different varieties of watermelon. 

While choosing a variety, keep the following factors in mind: the presence of seeds or not, whether the flesh is red or yellow, and its size, shape, and flavor. Yet, the plant’s growing season is likely the most crucial factor for novice gardeners. 

You should probably choose an early variety if you reside in an area with shorter summers. Harvest time for early-season watermelon varieties is 70 to 75 days (roughly two and a half months).

Major Season Varieties That Are Popular 

• Black Diamond Watermelon – red flesh, 30-50 pounds of weight 
• Charleston Gray – red flesh, 25-35 pounds of weight
• Crimson Sweet – red flesh, 15-25 pounds of weight 
• Honey Heart – yellow flesh, 8-10 pounds of weight.

Prepare to plant in the early spring if you’re trying to produce watermelon in a region with a colder environment.

Determine your region’s latest spring freeze date first. After that, go back four weeks. You should sow the seeds on this day. 

Start with indoor watermelon seed planting. Transplant the seeds once the soil temperature reaches 70 degrees. 

You have greater freedom in your planting schedule if you live in a warmer region with lengthy bright seasons. (The stages of watermelon growth won’t change, but the precise timing might.) 

Raised rows of loamy, well-drained soil should be used to sow the seeds. These hills aid in optimum soil drainage and heat absorption.

Each watermelon seed should be buried one inch below the earth and spaced out 2-3 feet apart. Keep a distance of six feet between each row. 

2. Sprouting and Germination 

Growing watermelon seedlings. 

When you place a seed in the ground, germination of the seed begins. The seed must then fully germinate for 3 to 14 days. 

A small stem known as a hypocotyl develops from the seed during germination. The plant can take root in the ground thanks to this stem. The seed embryo then grows radicles, which mature into the main root. 

(The root system when completely matured will go down around six feet.) 

When a seed germinates, it develops cotyledons, which are embryonic leaves. These two leaves will pierce the soil’s top layer.

The most fragile stage of watermelon seed growth is the time between germination and sprouting. Prevent animals and the cold from harming your plants. While moisture is essential for germination, it’s important to avoid overwatering the seedlings. 

3. Vegetative Development 

Plant growth quickens after the seedlings have sprouted. 

The tiny embryonic leaves will be replaced by four or five leaves in roughly five to ten days. The first true set of leaves is this new development. 

Real leaves are vegetative growths that resemble the leaves of an adult watermelon plant. They provide a larger surface area, which facilitates photosynthesis in the plant. 

Plants turn sunlight into energy, this process is known as photosynthesis. This energy drives further growth. The plant’s capacity for photosynthesis increases with the amount of growth available.

Within two weeks, the leafage grows longer and more robust. The plant also makes the main vine at this period. 

More leaves will start to develop along the runner vine once it is a foot long. 

Every 3 to 5 inches, dark green leaves appear along the vine. Both the leaves and the vines are covered in spiky hair. 

4. Branching 

You’ll notice new vines sprouting from the main vine around a month after you plant the watermelon. The length of the vines will eventually reach 10 to 12 feet, depending on the type of seed used. 

A single watermelon plant can yield several melons thanks to branching. (One watermelon can grow on each branch.) 

3-5 branched vines can be supported by healthy watermelon plants. Remove weak and excess branches if your watermelon plant struggles to develop robust growth.

It takes extra nutrients and water for this branching. The plant has the best chance of producing fruit when the branches are thinned. So, it takes slightly over a month to finish the branching stage. 

5. The Growth and Pollination of Flowers 

Both male and female flowers are produced by watermelon plants. Every single yellow flower has 4-5 petals and is roughly 1-3 inches wide. 

The female flower develops at the tip of a mature vine branch after the male bloom, which often grows first during the branching period. 

An anther on male flowers is pollen-coated. A stigma is present on female flowers. The male flower will wilt after one day even though these blossoms allow the watermelon to pollinate.

Watermelons can’t pollinate themselves. They depend on pollinators like bees, insects, or even people to help them. When the pollen from the male flower touches the ova from the female bloom, pollination takes place. 

When Do Watermelons Start to Grow After Flowering? 

Within a few days of the plant’s successful pollination, a marble-sized fruit starts to grow. As the fruit develops, the female flower will finally wilt and fall off. 

Among all the watermelon growing stages, this one could be the most interesting at this point. In less than a month, the fruit will grow to its full size from its current size of marble. 

6. Producing Fruit 

A small bulge starts to develop behind the female flower after pollination. Over the course of a month, this fruit will gradually enlarge and turn into a watermelon.

Unbelievably, a watermelon plant’s fruit is actually a berry. To be more accurate, a pepo. It has a rind, or hard outer skin, and soft, watery flesh. 

The size, color, texture, rind thickness, and flavor of the watermelon are all influenced by the variety. 

A spherical fruit is, for example, a sugar-baby watermelon. Its rind is solid dark green and not stripped. A crimson sweet watermelon, however, is more oblong in shape and has stripes of light green and yellow color. 

Variation has an impact on a watermelon’s maturation process as well. Smaller kinds typically grow faster than larger varieties. Within the melon’s flesh, seeds grow as the fruit matures.

7. Harvesting 

After the initial fruiting, watermelons need around a month to achieve full maturity. However, the precise period of time will change based on the watermelon variety and the climate. 

Towards the end of the growing season, tap the melon to check its ripeness. Watermelons that are ripe will make a hollow sound. 

Many visual signals might also be relied upon. For instance, a ripe watermelon will have yellowed where the fruit contacts the ground. The vine’s tendrils may have also turned brown in a similar manner. 

It’s time to pick the melon after the fruit is totally mature! To remove the fruit from the vine, use a small pair of shears.

8. Drying 

The watermelon vine will start to dry out once the fruit has been picked. Regrettably, because this plant is annual, it will perish at the conclusion of the growing season. 

It’s not all terrible news, either. You might be able to harvest mature seeds from the watermelon depending on the variety you grew. 

Dry off these seeds. The watermelon growth stages can then be restarted by planting them again the following spring. 

Tips for Growing Watermelons 

You now know the watermelon growing stages. Let’s go through a few quick pointers to make sure that each stage of growth is successful. 

You will learn how to produce watermelon plants from seed to fruit in this manner. 

• Growth Conditions: Before you begin planting, be sure your area has the right conditions for watermelon. The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 65 and 95 F. For the greatest growth of melons, soil pH should be between 6.0 and 6.5. 
• Watering: Depending on their growth stage, watermelons have different watering requirements. After planting, thoroughly hydrate the seed because water is essential for germination. Water the plant regularly so that the soil is moist but not soaked as the plant develops vegetative growth and blooms. But after the fruit develops, stop watering for the best-tasting melons. 
• Germination: Before planting, think about chitting the seeds. By forcing seeds to germinate outside of the soil, this technique makes sure that you only put healthy seeds.
• Sprouting: Bigger watermelon plants transplant poorly, according to sprouting. Transplant the plant outside once it has developed a set of genuine leaves. 
• Vegetative Growth: Remove any yellow or dead leaves from the main vine as it grows new foliage. You can get rid of side vines that are lanky or frail. The plant can conserve energy thanks to this pruning. 
• Pollination: Watermelon is unable to self-pollinate. You might have to pollinate the blooms yourself if there aren’t many pollinators in your garden. Pollen from the male flower should be applied to the stigma on the female bloom using a cotton swab. 
• Watermelon without Seeds: This sterile hybrid fruit has no seeds. Regular watermelons must be planted, along with seedless melons, for pollination.
• Setting Fruit: As watermelon plants are generating vegetative development, balanced fertilizer will be beneficial. Nevertheless, switch to a low-nitrogen fertilizer as the fruit starts to grow. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How Much Time Does it Take a Watermelon to Grow? 

A watermelon grows from a seed to a completely developed fruit in about three months. The first two months of the plant’s life are spent in germination, sprouting, vining, and flowering. 

After the blooms have been pollinated, the fruit begins to grow and takes about a month to reach its full size. 

What is the Lifespan of a Watermelon? 

A watermelon plant only produces fruit once a year because it is an annual. Watermelon plants need between 70 and 90 days from seed to develop fruit. 

Watermelon can be stored in the refrigerator for two weeks after being harvested.

Read: Onion Growing Stages

Conclusion 

Reading this article again about the watermelon growing stages will be helpful, especially if you want to try and grow them for the first time. On a scorching summer day, watermelons are just what you need to cool off.

At various phases of growth, a watermelon has distinct requirements. For instance, after flowering, they require a lot less water than they did previously. 

In order for you to grow watermelons on your own and take advantage of their delectable fresh taste, we have provided you with brief care instructions. Wishing you luck and happy gardening.