Why Potted Watermelon Seedlings Won't Grow and How to Fix It

Do the seedlings you worked so hard to grow just refuse to grow? Most likely you haven't avoided these 4 pitfalls. Below we'll show you how to fix them so your seedlings grow like crazy!

1. Not enough light

Watermelons need at least 6 hours of sun a day; only with enough light will they agree to grow.

Lack of light: seedlings grow thin and weak, the leaves turn yellow, and forget about fruiting; they can't even grow sturdy on their own.

Solution: move them quickly to a spot with direct sun on the balcony, and if you're growing them in the open, choose a plot with no shade. With enough light the seedlings become tough and have strong disease resistance, so you basically don't have to worry about pests and diseases.

2. Watering too often
 
Watermelons are extremely afraid of waterlogging! They're very drought-tolerant, so don't water them every day.

Too much water: the soil stays soggy, the roots suffocate and rot, and the seedlings can't take up nutrients, so of course they don't grow.

Solution: control your hands! Wait until the surface of the potting soil is dry and hard before watering, water thoroughly each time but don't let water accumulate, and if you're growing them in the open, pour out the water in the tray promptly on rainy days. Better dry than wet is always right.

3. Wrong fertilizing

Watermelons love fertilizer, but you have to feed them the right way, otherwise it just holds back their growth

No fertilizer: the soil has no nutrients, so the seedlings grow very slowly.

Fertilizer too strong/too frequent: the roots get "burned"

Solution: 7-15 days, apply a light fertilizer once (well-rotted sheep manure water or diluted compound fertilizer both work), pour it along the edge of the pot, don't let it touch the leaves; only light, frequent feeding can push the seedlings to grow.

4. Unsuitable temperature

The most suitable temperature for growth: 28-32℃ by day, 18-22℃ at night; too cold or too hot and they go on strike.

Late-spring cold snaps/low temperatures: the seedlings get chilled and wilt, and stop growing.

High heat and blazing sun (above 35℃): the leaves curl and growth slows down.

Solution: in early spring, lay down black plastic mulch to raise the temperature and retain moisture; before a cold wave arrives, spray a little 0.3% monopotassium phosphate to boost resistance, and set up a small hoop tunnel to keep them warm; in high heat, shade them at noon and ventilate more in the morning and evening.