How Long Does It Take for a Watermelon to Go from Sowing to Fruiting? A Detailed Guide to Planting Time and Methods

Watermelon is a seasonal summer fruit, originally native to Africa and later introduced to China. It is now widely cultivated across various regions of our country. So how long does it take for a watermelon to go from sowing to fruiting? When should it be planted? How should it be grown?

1. How long does it roughly take for a watermelon to go from sowing to fruiting?

The time from sowing to fruiting for watermelon varies depending on the variety, for example:

1. Early-maturing varieties

From sowing to harvesting the melons takes 90-90 days; the melons ripen quickly and are suitable for close planting.

2. Mid-maturing varieties

In the north, from sowing to harvesting the melons takes 90-100 days; the melons ripen slightly later, taking 30-40 days from female flower opening to maturity; the plants are larger and grow vigorously.

3. Late-maturing varieties

In the north, from sowing to harvesting the melons takes 100-120 days.

In addition, the growth period of watermelon includes the following stages:

1. Germination stage

At a temperature of 15°C-20°C, it takes about 9 days from seed germination to cotyledons.

2. Seedling stage

At a temperature of 20°C-25°C, it usually takes about 20 days; at a temperature of 15-20°C, about 15 days. This period can be divided into the two-leaf stage and the “vine-running” stage.

3. Vine extension stage

At a temperature of 20-25°C, it takes about 18 days from the “vine-running” stage to the opening of the female flower at the fruiting node toward the extending vine, after which a female flower opens every 3 to 4 days.

4. Fruiting stage

At an air temperature of 25-30°C, it takes 35-40 days from the opening of the female flower at the fruit-setting node to fruit maturity.

2. When should watermelon be planted?

Watermelon is generally sown in spring, but if grown in a greenhouse, it can be sown all year round. In addition, the sowing time for watermelon varies depending on factors such as region and environment; it can be done as early as March, or later from mid-to-late April, or sown in June-July.

3. How should watermelon be grown?

1. Sowing and raising seedlings

Before sowing, sun-dry the seeds for 2 days, then disinfect and soak the seeds, and place them at a constant temperature of 33°C to promote germination. After germination is complete, sow them on a previously prepared seedling bed. When sowing, place the sprouted seeds flat in a nutrient pot, 1 seed per pot, cover with fine soil 1 cm thick, and cover with plastic film.

2. Fertilizing and transplanting

Before transplanting, apply base fertilizer to the plot. The base fertilizer is mainly high-quality organic fertilizer and cake fertilizer, supplemented by inorganic fertilizer, generally accounting for 60%-70% of the total fertilizer application. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be reasonably matched, and the amount of fertilizer applied should be determined according to the variety and plot conditions. Early-maturing watermelons are transplanted at a seedling age of 1 month, mid-maturing ones at a seedling age of 20-25 days, and late-maturing ones can be transplanted at 7-10 days. Before transplanting, dig the planting holes and plant the seedlings at an appropriate density.

3. Field management

When the watermelon fruits begin to swell, timely topdressing and irrigation are needed, with the amount and type of topdressing determined according to actual conditions. Control water before flowering and fruit setting; after fruit setting, ensure sufficient water supply; and do not water in the 7-10 days before harvest. In addition, pruning and vine pressing of watermelon should also be carried out in a timely manner; generally, it is enough just not to do it on rainy days.

During the watermelon planting process, attention should also be paid to preventing damage from diseases and pests such as Fusarium wilt, anthracnose, Phytophthora blight, cutworms, aphids and red spider mites; it is best to spray pesticides in advance for prevention and control. If the watermelons are ripe and ready to be picked, it is best to do so in the morning; melons that need to be transported over a longer distance should be picked when they are 80% ripe.