Children of all ages love the sweet, juicy fruit of these hotweather african natives. The growing zones for watermelons home guides sf gate. China is now the worlds largest producer of watermelons. Gardeners with short seasons should prune off any flowers that form during the last 6 to 7 weeks before your first frost date, to encourage existing fruits to ripen in time. Overall, florida is shipping high volumes of watermelons and as we near the memorial holiday weekend may 2325, approaching 1500 truck loads per week. Read on to find out about the different varieties as well as how much space you should give these guys and exactly when you should plant. However, there are those who believe that watermelon arrived in the united states via african slaves. In fact, florida is the only state in the country that produces watermelon from december to.
In south florida, watermelon shippers are finishing their season, which is overlapping the early to midmay start of central florida watermelon shipments. Ahead of harvest, florida watermelon farmer talks fear. There are a number of varieties of watermelon that grow well in florida. This means, around day 75 or so, depending on how the season was, you can start watching for ripe watermelon. Now 39, willis is the sole proprietor of jfkw farms, growing 150 acres of watermelons and 65 acres of tomatoes. If you live in warmer climes, you can sow seeds directly outdoors, but wait until the soil temperature warms to at least 70f to avoid. Higher prices save florida watermelon season vsc news. Whats in season in may 2020, and other timely information. If you live in the northern part of the country and have a short growing season, it is best to buy the transplants or start the seeds yourself in peat pots in a controlled environment. Gardeners in colder climates can still have success in growing watermelon vines by starting seeds indoors and choosing shortseason varieties. Imported watermelon is in its peak season from march through may. In central florida, watermelons can be planted again in august. Select shortseason varieties such as million bucks hybrid or orange sunshine hybrid if your growing season is less than 90 days.
Watermelon planting dates range from december 15 to april 15, depending on the variety planted and the growing region. Mar 17, 2017 perfect growing conditions this year could start florida melons up to three weeks early, with good volume and quality throughout the season, growers say. July and august are the peak season for fresh and juicy watermelons. The end of april marks the beginning of watermelon harvest season in central florida, and for growers like andy mcdonald, its especially. With crops in the ground, florida watermelon growers face. Perfect growing conditions this year could start florida melons up to three weeks early, with good volume and quality throughout the season, growers say. Several kinds of melons grow well in florida, including casaba, honeydew, watermelon, and cantaloupe. Choose the cultivar with the shortest time from germination to harvest. Robin has been a contributor to the old farmers almanac and the allseasons garden guide for many years.
Growing watermelons, a summertime treat the spruce. Watermelons have crisp, juicy flesh thats perfect for summer eating. Floridas watermelon season starts in april, peaks in may and june, and typically ends somewhere around july. How to grow watermelon in the winter home guides sf gate. This was part of the companys innovation experience field days, which are hosted in different locations across the country. Cucumber beetles and vine borers are the worst watermelon pests. Watermelon demands warm temperatures both soil and air. Soil should be 70 degrees f or warmer at planting time. We are experiencing significantly high call volumes right now. Research in florida has shown that the presence of six smooth pigweed plants between watermelon plants throughout the whole season will reduce watermelon yield by 100%. When is watermelon season in texas, florida, california and georgia. First, many of the seasons are the opposite of what they are in more northern states since the summers get too hot for many crops. Watermelon fruits vary in size from small to quite large,and in color from dark green to yellow.
Jan 11, 2019 i was recently invited to attend a field day hosted by seminis seed company at its field station in felda, fl. You can either sow the seeds directly outside or inside for later transplant, which will add 24 weeks to the growing season. Ahead of harvest, florida watermelon farmer talks fear amid. Watermelons trending in central florida growing produce. Growing watermelon in florida varieties and when to plant. Always use discretion according to current weather patterns. We are still shipping orders and intend to stay open during the corona virus outbreak.
Florida crops in season florida department of agriculture. To help you with growing watermelon, our comprehensive guide gives you all the details about planting, harvesting, companion plants and pests to look out for, so you can grow your own fond memories. Perfect growing conditions this year could start florida melons up to three weeks early, with good volume and quality throughout the season. Growing watermelons may be started from directly seeding the ground or from transplants purchased from a nursery. In florida, its watermelons, watermelons everywhere central. In cool climates with short growing seasons, start seeds indoors 2 to 3 weeks before your last frost date. Florida is famous for its citrus, and rightly so, but plenty of other fruits and vegetables grow in the sunshine state.
To keep them growing steadily, side dress midseason with a layer of compost. In texas, the watermelon season is from june to august. Watermelon gardening solutions university of florida. Bob hochmuth, regional specialized extension agent for vegetable crops at the university of florida uf institute of food and agricultural sciences north florida research and education center in suwannee valley discussed. Warmerthanusual growing conditions accelerated maturities and is bringing bigger volume to the market. Honeydew is a variety of cantaloupe with smooth skin and. While its generally considered a summer fruit, growers in florida are lucky enough to be able to plant watermelon for harvest in the winter as well. Although watermelon is available year round, domestic watermelon is in its peak season from may through august. Florida is the perfect climate to grow watermelons. Watermelon gardening solutions university of florida, institute of. My husband took me to florida for my first time picking watermelon which is a family tradition every summer. Give plants a fabulous start to the growing season by improving native soil with several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Growing conditions for watermelons include lots of sunshine during the day and warm nights. The united states is fourth in world production with florida, texas, california, georgia and arizona consistently leading the country in production.
On a hot summer day, nothing tastes better than a nice slice of watermelon. If you live in a climate with a short growing season, consider starting your watermelon seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting seedlings into the garden. Days to maturity range from 70 to 90, depending on the variety. Overall, florida is shipping high volumes of watermelons and as we near the memorial holiday weekend. Weve created an inseason produce calendar for florida so you can easily see when its the right time to find the freshest cantaloupe or watermelon, or if youve missed citrus season. It thrives in regions with long growing seasons and warm temperatures. She and her partner tom have a small greenhouse business and also sell plants, cut flowers, and vegetables at their local farmers market. Florida watermelon shipments archives haul produce. At one time, i was the only commercial watermelon producer in hillsborough county, says willis, who left the farm briefly after high school for a stint in the nursery business, but returned to farming in the mid1990s. In warmer climates with long growing seasons, sow seeds directly outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your last frost date, as long. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and keep well watered until germination. Although watermelon is a popular treat in the summertime, the watermelon season will slightly vary from different states. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 11.
To help you with growing watermelon, our comprehensive guide gives you all the details about planting, harvesting, companion plants and pests. Apr 17, 2020 ahead of harvest, watermelon farmers in north florida face uncertainty amid coronavirus on thursday, the monticello chamber of commerce announced the annual watermelon festival in june has been. Today, varieties of the warmseason annual range from 1pound. Fresh from florida watermelons can be found in grocery stores across north america. If you live in the northern part of the country and have a short growing season, it is best to buy the transplants or start the seeds yourself in peat pots.
Growing watermelons in florida svn saunders ralston dantzler. Florida has a great climate for growing watermelon, and is actually a leading producer for the nation. Watermelons need a long growing season at least 80 days and warm ground for seeds to germinate and grow. Gardeners in central and south florida can plant earlier in the year, where warmer springtime temperatures make planting ideal from january through march. Apr 18, 2012 this years florida watermelon season is running two weeks earlier than normal. In 20102011, florida growers planted 25,900 acres of watermelons and harvested. The watermelon citrullus lanatus is a warmseason plant native to africa. Weve created an in season produce calendar for florida so you can easily see when its the right time to find the freshest cantaloupe or watermelon, or if youve missed citrus season. Best offers for your garden when to plant watermelon in florida. To keep them growing steadily, side dress mid season with a layer of compost. The 2018 florida watermelon season posed challenges for most growers that resulted in lower yields and higher fruit prices. However, watermelon plants maintained free of emerging smooth pigweed for four weeks suffer no yield loss as a result of competition from smooth pigweed plants emerging after.
Native to africa, melons need warm temperatures up to 80f during the day and a long growing season. As mentioned, growing watermelons in zone 5 is a challenge but, with some garden tricks, is possible. The florida watermelon association represents the growers, brokers and associated companies of the watermelon industry in florida. Watermelon availability follows the following regions. Planting watermelons is a great way to use your property and provide a healthy and delicious treat for the summer. Those in north florida can plant watermelon in march and april and again in july and august. They are great sliced, in fruit salads, and the rind is even used hollowed out as a serving basket or bowl. You will generally get only 2 to 3 watermelons per vine. Growing watermelons is a wonderful thing to do, especially if you love fruit in the summertime. Select short season varieties such as million bucks hybrid or orange sunshine hybrid if your growing season is less than 90 days. Those delightful oversized melons so common in the united states south are not wellsuited to grow in areas of the country with short summer seasons, but there are some delicious, sweet, well.
Watermelon planting dates range from december 15 to april 15, depending on the variety planted and. Start watermelon seeds indoors and use black plastic mulch. Get inspired by robin sweetsers backyard gardening tips and tricks. Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrientrich, welldrained soil with a ph of 6. According to the 2017 usda census of agriculture, levy county has the largest acreage of watermelons in the state, with gilchrist a close second. Sow watermelon seed directly, or set out your transplants 3 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date in spring.
They are the largest annual horticulture crop in texas. The watermelon citrullus lanatus is a warm season plant native to africa. Watermelon is a warm season fruit loved by just about everyone. The tropical climate stretches the growing season yearround and makes florida the source of winter produce for much of the eastern u. There are a number of different watermelon varieties that will grow in florida. Watermelon conjures fond memories of hot summer days, chins dripping with juice and happy kids running around. Although watermelon requires a long growing season, if you start this sprawling plant early enough in the year, you can enjoy its fruits from late summer to early fall. Adam marschel, a seminis market manager for the eastern u. The sunshine state has been home to watermelon production since the 16th century. Pan american produces watermelons start the season in south florida just in time for the spring, then we follow the prime domestic growing seasons through florida, georgia, delaware, and back to florida for fall melons watermelon availability follows the following regions.
Depending on your place in the state and the years growing conditions, growing seasons and crop availability will vary. Watermelon planting dates range from december 15 to. Watermelons can be grown in florida, but require a large amount of space, on your solution for floridafriendly gardening from the university. This years florida watermelon season is running two weeks earlier than normal. Ahead of harvest, watermelon farmers in north florida face uncertainty amid coronavirus on thursday, the monticello chamber of commerce announced the annual watermelon festival in. We went for 10 days where we picked thousands of watermelons daily. Whats in season florida produce calendar infographic. Jul 01, 2016 my husband took me to florida for my first time picking watermelon which is a family tradition every summer. All florida department of agriculture and consumer services offices will be closed to the public until may 17 the department is working in collaboration with other state and local officials to ensure the safety of our employees and community.
Harvest season starts in april in the lower rio grande valley. I was recently invited to attend a field day hosted by seminis seed company at its field station in felda, fl. This article will go into detail on growing watermelons in florida and what you need to know. The best time to plant watermelon in florida is in the early spring and once again in the early fall. Feb 18, 2018 best offers for your garden when to plant watermelon in florida. Florida has an ideal climate for growing watermelon and is a leading producer of the fruit. This is definitely true for texas, california and georgia.
Watermelons require a long, warm growing season and grow best under. Sep 24, 2018 the 2018 florida watermelon season posed challenges for most growers that resulted in lower yields and higher fruit prices. Florida is one the top producing states for watermelons in the u. Pan american produces watermelons start the season in south florida just in time for the spring, then we follow the prime domestic growing seasons through florida, georgia, delaware, and back to florida for fall melons. Florida yearly planting schedule warm season vegetables. Plant watermelon from late spring to early summer, once soil temperatures reach 70 f or above. Growing watermelon in florida planting watermelons is a great way to use your property and provide a healthy and delicious treat for the summer. Grown all over florida, it is grown as far north as jackson county and as far south as collier county. More than 20% of the states watermelon crop is produced in these two counties.
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