If you found this video helpful, please “Like” and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 How I Grew Watermelons In The Past 3:54 Growing Watermelons In Containers 5:13 Planting Watermelon In Ground Advantages 7:03 3 Watermelon Growing Tips For Success 9:37 Maximizing Production Of Your Melons 10:45 How To Hand Pollinate Watermelon Plants 12:45 Adventures With Dale

@nudrnanna

Жыл бұрын

The best way to find out if your watermellon is ripe, look at the vine the mellon is attached to...across from the attachment point you will find a little tindrel ,when that tindrel dries out the mellon is ripe.

@asefahaddis7190

8 ай бұрын

Can you write conscative details please? Thank you for yourteaching

@lifeisbeautiful_nz

6 ай бұрын

❤ You are the best..Thank you

@TheMillennialGardener

6 ай бұрын

@@lifeisbeautiful_nz you're welcome!

My Grandmother told me that her farming parents planted watermelons in bottom land by the river which means that they grew in sandy soil with part shade conditions, very similar to your experiment with planting beneath trees on a sterile above ground surface, only sand instead of landscape fabric. You are using an OLD proven method. I think that's AWESOME!

@Lochness19

Жыл бұрын

I'm growing mine in sandy soil up a trellis. The ground is pretty shaded now, both due to the watermelon growing up the trellis above, and due to neighbouring plants (ex tomatoes, trellised cucumbers) and trees creating some shade. The soil is sand mixed with peat moss, mushroom compost and lots of home-made compost. The plant stems are also only about 6 inches from the edge of my winecap bed, so the root system should definitely be able to tap into the mycelium network of those. Hopefully they turn out good, the plants look healthy for now, they're already reaching the top of my 8ft tall trellis, which seems pretty good considering I transplanted them only 7.5 weeks ago and daily highs averaged at only 76F during that time (I'm in Canada). I'm growing a small variety though given the trellis (Black Beauty). Hopefully it works well. Last year the fruits were tiny (like orange to grapefruit sized) due to being grown on the ground and crowded out by other plants (small garden problems).

@justjenn9011

Жыл бұрын

So its literally like the song we were taught as kids! 🎶Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow! 🎶 Basically saying watermeloms do best by the water! Thats awesome!

@kdavis4910

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this knowledge.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

That's funny. I fell backwards into this method. It wasn't really intended, but often the best inventions are discovered by accident. I'm glad I can at least spread it to others.

@TheAnalyticalObservers

Жыл бұрын

My grandmother from Ghana, in Africa told me, they grew naturally in the wild, with none of this.

That weed barrier increases the heat for those vines. Great for melons!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Figs, too. I find things grow better in general on the weed barrier.

I planted mine in the ground and spread cardboard boxes wherever they run. The are doing great!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Excellent. The cardboard probably helps keep some pests off.

Have always heard if you want a super size melon of any type, once the first melon starts growing past fertilizing stage, cut the vine off just past the melon, so everything goes directly to it alone.

Easy way to grow watermelon is on a hillside.I have a inground pool and on the deep end the they had to build it up. I plant three seeds in the same amended hole every year and always get big watermelon.The key is to keep them water never let the plant search for water.I only plant crimson sweet.

One possibility to try if you are growing them in a 20 gallon fabric bag is to put the bag in a kiddie pool with a few inches of water. Have drainage holes a few inches up the side of the pool. Keeping a few inches of water in the pool will allow the grow bag to stay moist on the bottom and the watermelon roots will never go dry.

This isn’t watermelon related but I have a recently learned tip for you. I’ve been going out in my garden in the mornings and evenings looking for squash bugs to spray with soapy water, thanks for that golden tip! I saw a tip today about using a piece of duct tape wrapped around your hand to pull off their eggs. Works like a charm! I hate squishing them and am loving the tape method. I have my tape and my soapy water, spray the hatched ones and adults and pull eggs off. I think I’m going to make a real dent in the population!

@PeteCorp

Жыл бұрын

Spray with spinosad

@LittleKikuyu

Жыл бұрын

It’s extremely poisonous though…

@DebRoo11

Жыл бұрын

I actually really enjoy taking off the eggs with the duct tape 🤭 its kind of satisfying! I didnt like the squish either and this doesn't bruise and break the leaves

@YOUR-WORD-IS-YOUR-BOND

11 ай бұрын

Does the duct tape not stick to the leaves?

@DebRoo11

11 ай бұрын

@@YOUR-WORD-IS-YOUR-BOND no. for some reason it doesnt stick to the leaves much at all. Just the eggs. You press it on to the eggs and they stay on the tape

I've been growing in weed barrier cloth for about 3 years now. We burn holes and drop seeds or burn a larger hole for larger plants. It sure beats pulling weeds. What comes up around the plant is minimal and if kept up with every day or so it's therapeutic. I will never garden without it. Total game changer. I am growing watermelons for the first time this year. Fingers crossed!!

@sandymartin642

Ай бұрын

This is what I do and it works. I don't think of it as ruining the bag even tho I put a hole in the bottom of it. It's a gateway for the roots to go to mother nature. I have enough weeds I have to keep out of the flower beds lol

I have a bit different of an approach to gardening. I put down about 6"-1' of wood chips and about an 1" of tea/coffee grounds over my entire yard(& cardboard of course). That gave me nearly a clean slate as far as weeds were concerned. I decided early on that I was going to pick my weeds, so when my lettuce bolted I let them all go to seed. Now ever few months a grab an old dry stalk and bet it and twist the little pods open and let them drop wherever as I walk around my yard. When I eat watermelon I do it outside and spit the seeds everywhere, etc. I'm a bit south of you so I've already eaten my first big beauty. Now I'm just waiting for the rest to ripen. I don't know if it would work or not, but you might try putting your grow bags into kitty pools and then drill a hole about 1" above the bottom, so it always holds just a little bit of water and fertilizer. Good luck and thanks again for the fruit fly video. That really helped.

@donnavorce8856

Жыл бұрын

My technique is similar to yours. There really aren't rows here. It's beds of all different plants mixed together. It's so fun to have everything growing in a big riot. My garden is a big mix up. When I go out to get food, it's a hunting and gathering adventure every time. Cheers

Hey bud . Before you pick the watermelon, take a piece broom straw out of a broom . Lay it cross way the melon . The piece of straw will start moving. If it stops straight up and down the melon it’s ready to pick . I went my the brown thing on a sugar baby. Put the straw on it and was amazed when it started moving ,, it stopped at about 5 to 10 after , 12 is where you want it . And sure enough the melon was beautiful red and smelled good but needed more time . So I’m taken the straw and check them before I pick next time . Try it see if it works for you .

@ddognine

Жыл бұрын

That has got to be the strangest advice I have ever heard. Watermelons are ready to pick (not ripe) when the little, curly tendril growing from the vine where the melon attaches has completely dried up all the way back to the vine (not halfway or 9/10s of the way). And even then it is best to wait a few days before plucking off the vine. Then, once they are picked, it is best to leave the melon to ripen for a few days more before cutting it open. This allows the melon to dry up just enough to concentrate the sugars and flavor. You don't want an overly juicy melon that squirts out water when you cut into it. The bigger the melon the longer this ripening process will take. Patience is a virtue when it comes to growing monster melons that are sweet and flavorful!

@donnavorce8856

Жыл бұрын

I'll give it a try. Can't be any worse than the song and dance I already go through to test for ripeness. I'm like a major league pitcher going through all the motions before the pitch. 😄

@daredeardeal7901

Ай бұрын

Old old trick❤❤

You tapped into the natural energy of the earth to grow your watermelons.

Giant watermelon growers do the same thing. Like 300+ lbers. They put down a weed barrier for the vines to grow on. So your on to something there. They also grow 2 to 3 plants per hole/planting site. Something to think about. I did the same thing this year and had a good 11 melons and counting harvest! Good luck, good tips.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I'm probably going to experiment with growing watermelon in between my fig trees next year and letting them sprawl all over the vines. I may throw something like a pumpkin in there, too, because...why not? Maybe a butternut squash? Not sure just yet, but seeing how well they do, I'll be trying new things for sure.

This is my first season growing watermelons. I don't normally grow them because my growing season can be a little short but I received some free watermelon seed from one of my seed companies and I thought I'd give it a try. I have them growing up my cattle panel tunnel as well as sprawling all over the weed barrier that surrounds my tunnel. So far they are doing very well and I have a couple of little baby melons. Whenever I see a female flower, I go full on pimp and remove a male flower to hand pollinate it. Thanks for the video!

First time watermelon grower here. I used a large 20 gallon grow bag and cut the bottom out of it. Place it on the soil I had dug up. I have plenty of leaves from last fall and I spread them out into my yard to help the vines have something to grow on. In addition I placed old window screens in front of the bags for part shade. Hope I’ve done something right. Comments welcome.

Wow, even in the plant kingdom we still see the differences between male and female. Both have a different yet important role. I just lost a small female fruit and did not realize it needed fertilized to produce. It actually died and fell off the plant and I was not sure why. Thanks for the great video!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Yep, it aborted due to lack of pollination. If you hand pollinate like this, you’ll never lose another fruit. This works on ALL cucurbits: cucumbers, squash, cantaloupe, pumpkins, gourds, watermelon, honeydew…they’re all in the same family.

@MachineDr.

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you for letting us know. I appreciate hearing from you and others that had to learn the hard way. I will put to use what you are passing on.

@41rhondalee

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener I learned that with zucchini as well. Also, that the flowers only open in the early morning hours for bees to pollinate. They have to go to a male flower and then the female flower to make the zucchini. I watched a video on how to prune back the plant to make it easy for the bees to pollinate and for the plant to continue to grow throughout the season producing zucchini. 😉This is my 2nd year doing watermelon, and I did the same with the weed barrier in the corner back of my yard. My watermelon plants are thriving! I have harvested 4 large melons and have at least 10 more about to be ready. 😁

@RocketPipeTV

Жыл бұрын

You clearly have no idea 🤪! I just bought seeds for transsexual watermelons this year. Some of the females decided to be males and some males decided to be females. Now I don’t have many fruits, actually just one and it’s a Squash. So clearly the left over male and female plants decided to become squash. This is completely normal and should be encouraged by not watering too much (drought), spraying them with roundup to protect them from sunburn (the sun with give them diseases you can’t imagine).

@dross10001

Жыл бұрын

What about trans fruit?

This is a great video , I finally know why the best watermelon I ever grew did what it did, long story short, it was a happy accident, the plant was in the ground next to our asphalt driveway the fruit and vine loved it .. there's more to the storie, thank you so much! Now we know why it worked and why our other attempts failed

I'm so glad I found this! This helps me so much! I tried to grow watermelon last year, big fail. Super excited now!

I love learning from your garden adventures. Thanks! And hugs to doggie.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I’m glad the videos are helpful. Dale says hello 🐕

As always you gave me a great idea! This year was my 1st year growing melons. I laid down a tarp at back of property and grew small varieties in 20gal grow bags along a chain link fence. Next year I'll pull the tarp 2 ft away from the fence and grow inground and add larger varieties as well. 👍🏻

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I love hearing the videos are inspiring. That's why I love doing this - just to get the gears turning. Experimenting with new ways of growing is how we find the best ways to grow!

I have gotten 3 or 4 sugar babies so far. Its been great on a HOT day.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Very nice. Our nonstop rain is diluting the flavor, unfortunately. Watermelon during drought are just AMAZING 🤩

Thanks! You also have ants crawling around the plant, and they are excellent pollinators. Poor Dale.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Yep, ants can also pollinate if they move from male to female flowers! Dale has had a rough month. It has stormed 23 out of the past 24 days. We can't get a break.

This reminds me of my method for slightly different reasons. I have a raised bed about two feet wide between my driveway and a fence, so the vines sprawl over concrete. To maximize the space, I have a trellis against the fence for the vines to climb on. I just make sure to remove any melons growing on the trellis while the driveway provides a ready platform to support the melons. Since the vines are on the east side of the fence, they are shielded from the afternoon sun which creates a microclimate. I prepped the bed last winter by digging pits and burying all kinds of compost including meat and bones. I also make sure to keep the number of melons on each vine to only one or two otherwise they will be smaller. It is also a good idea to shield your melons from the sun as too much can slow down their growth. I grow only two vines in this space and harvested three 20 pounders from the vines last week that were over 15 inches in length. Not the biggest melons ever, but huge considering how compact the area actually is. Watermelons are technically a desert crop from the Sahara. They like hot days and cool nights and don't tolerate high humidity very well. What vegetable plant does for that matter? So while we have had record breaking heat and drought this summer and most of my garden is stressed, it has been great for the watermelons and the fig crop. I still have a couple of young melons on the vines, but I am not sure if the the vines are spent or can produce anymore monster melons. We'll see! EDIT: In case anyone is wondering, I practice seed saving, so these vines are from a late season melon that was small and didn't fully ripen last summer. It is the reason I always grow two vines next to each other, so I can maximize genetic diversity. The funny thing is even though these two vines are from seeds saved from a single melon, the melons are quite different in shape and color. It's part of the fun creating my own heirloom varieties that are perfectly adapted to my garden.

Thanks for sharing. It will save us all a lot of trial and error! You're a champ! (P.S. we're freezing here in Australia atm. Coldest winter in 10yrs!)

@fussyrenovator7551

Жыл бұрын

I’m in Victoria and for the first time in my life I’m over winter. We are racing to get vegetable gardens moved and filled to cut down on the grocery bill. $13 lettuces🤪

I'm excited for you! Sometimes we ssf tumble onto something in gardening and have great success! Two years ago I grew watermelon for the first time but in an area where I didn't water much so they didn't do well. Last year I didn't plant it at all but seeds came up throughout my entire garden and didn't hurt anything, just covered the garden and kept the weeds at bay, I didn't use landscape cloth, they sprawled through my sweet potatoes and under my tomatoes and anywhere they wanted. I had squash bugs bad last year so I didn't grow one squash but I got about 60 large watermelons. I bought a freezer to store them and I am still enjoying watermelon smoothies.

@ironleatherwood1357

Жыл бұрын

On another note. My garden does have some kind of mulch covering like Woodchips last year, a combination of Woodchips and straw this year, so that could be why I did not get a bug infestation.

Yesss!! I love garden successes 👍🏼 This is my third year growing watermelons and I have had the same success. I have 2 plants in the ground in a 14 sq ft space. They are sprawling all over my thick straw mulch and they LOVE it. I have 2 giant watermelons on both plants 😋

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Excellent. Any pests in the straw mulch? I've found straw to be pretty good to keep pests away - better than the hardwood mulch. I love straw mulch, but wish it were easier for me to get. This watermelon vine has 5 melons on it now. It's a total MONSTER.

@amyk6028

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener No problems at all with the straw mulch so far. This is my first year using it and other than the cost, it’s a winner in my book 👍🏼

@scottburgle2169

Жыл бұрын

@@amyk6028 are you buying straw from a nursery or feed store? I know not everyone has access but farmers will sell it for 1/3 price that nurseries do.

Nice watermelon...what variety is that? Watermelon is my absolute favorite food! 😋 I got my best results growing them in a straw bale. Thanks for the knowledge share.👍 You know a little pup ice cream would cheer Dale up.🐕

I have been eating the most wonderful melons this year. Cantaloupe, vine peach, kiku, tiger and kajari. We really have had a blast with it. We cut up our first watermelon today. Very good, but lots of seeds.

@kdavis4910

Жыл бұрын

I'm growing vine peach also. They are said to make excellent preserves.

@christines2787

Жыл бұрын

@@kdavis4910 - KZread videos had me expecting them to be plain and boring. But ours are tart and tasty.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Kajari melons are great. So underrated and little known. I may try seedless melons next year for fun.

@christines2787

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener - me too!

Watermelon are like tomatoes in the way that they can grow roots anywhere the vines touch soil. I bury my vines with a couple inches of soil in sections a couple inches long every 3 feet or so along the vines. Just make a little pile of soil over a spot of the vine every few feet. This gives extra roots to vine to give even more nutrients to the melons.

I have harvested 10 watermelons from 3 raised garden beds. Sadly, the plants became infested with aphids. :/ Yesterday, my plants received a serious pruning, cutting off all of the infested vines and essentially leaving only the base and good roots in place. I’m hoping that the established roots will continue to grow new, healthier vines. I also reseeded, just in case. Yesterday I also had weed barrier installed in my garden, so I’m really hoping for healthier plants, less insects, and at least as much production. 🤞 Thank you for sharing your experiences and ideas. I appreciate you.🍈🍉🥒

Grow food before the grocery stores become empty.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I don't think the grocery stores in the US will come close to empty due to the way supply chains are designed, but the costs are going to go up a whole lot more. While there will be food available, it's going to become lower quality and dramatically more expensive.

@mochamommyATX

Жыл бұрын

I agree. And teach you children as well.

@theredboneking

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener I sure hope that you are right. Have you seen the map of North America of Food Processing and Food Manufacturing Plants that have been burned down in the last two years? Also the additives needed for Diesel engine oil are running out. Two of the three companies that produce the additives have closed because of Covid and lockdowns.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

@@theredboneking I have not, but there is so much bad news out there that I don’t think it is possible to wrap our minds around it all. The US is at the top of the supply chain, so supplies will preferentially go here at huge cost increases. Smaller countries, I fear famine. This is going to be one of those once in a century events I fear. Stock up on seed this winter and be prepared is all I can say.

I planted a watermelon in a fire ring that my corn had burned up in from the heat. I have a tarp down beside it that I have other container plants in. The watermelon is growing over the side of the ring and down on the tarp. It's still too young to see what happens but maybe by accident I may have the same thing happen. Great tips on growing watermelon.

Great. I'm growing watermelon for the first time. Newbie here - it's in a raisedbed on top of landscape fabric. I have 1 probably about 9 inches in diameter and 1 baby one like you've shown. I'm gonna go try the pollination tip you showed in the morning. 🙂

Fantastic!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@Mark4WorldPeace

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener Do you have a preferred brand of Weed Blocking Fabric?

Another great idea, thanks

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! Thank you for watching!

Good video, congrats on the huge melon, I particularly liked hearing about some of the failures along the way

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. They aren't failures - they are simply lessons learned. The only way you can fail is to give up!

This is another fantastic video, full of amazing information. Thank you so much. 😃 I've moved from Ballarat to Horsham, where I will have more heat and sunshine to hopefully grow amazing watermelons 🍉 like you. 👍 aaawwww big pats to poor sweet Dale 🐾

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad the video was helpful! I'm not sure which country you're in, but when I lived in the state of Pennsylvania, I lived about 30 mins from a town called Horsham!

@joolsmonash9855

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener Hi, I'm in Victoria, Australia. I love your videos.

I think i have an area in ground where i wanna put my smaller plants. I hate the area, the grass hardly grows there cause its sandy. So im gonna put down a weed barrier and grow them there. I think they'll do well there, plus the benefit of the water drainage spout from my roof hits near there, so theyll get plenty of water. Thanks for all the tips!

I did the same thing you're doing brother but step I cut the bottom out of my container so that the roots can tap into the ground trust me it works so good perfect and I only grow sugar babies God bless you and everything you do brother

Last year was my first successful year growing watermelon. But I think I can do better this year. Thank you.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! Every year, mine get better as I tweak things. There are always small improvements to be made.

Excellent video!!!! Thank you so much for sharing this.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Thanks so much for watching it. Watermelons have been a challenge to get right. I’m getting closer.

Hey a little bit of advice. Get some thin cloths and cover the top side of you watermelon, it keeps the sun from scorching it and will help it get bigger. A lot of folks swear by it. Good luck and God bless.❤

You are a gardening genius. Why would a 20 gal bag restrict the root ball? The roots never seemed that deep.. I love this plan though..makes sense

@_xO_Ox_

Жыл бұрын

True, his problem is the water evaporates very quickly in his 20 gal bags and the roots may get too warm too.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. That's very nice, but I just like experimenting. I'm more curious than a genius 😆 Containers are restrictive, plain and simple, and they change the way a root ball grow. They cause spiraling and weaving more than planting in earth. The bigger problem is the wild fluctuations in moisture and how quickly the bags dry out, the lack of soil microbiology, the way they wash out the nutrients every time it rains...containers are just inferior. I also put 2 melon plants in each bag, so that certainly didn't help things. By the size of my container garden, I clearly do like container gardening, but in-ground is almost always best. Containers just cause a lot of problems and deficiencies.

@anitaostrander4301

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener thank you!

Love it. Very clean and permaculture/foot forest like.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

I grew watermelons for the first time. Grew about 50 as have unlimited space. Got heaps and heaps of watermelon at least double the size of yours. No disease, I thought they must be the easiest thing in the world to grow. I just put grass clippings around them. Must of got lucky.

I mound up compost/soil and like you I have weed barrier fabric over my entire garden/over the mound. Then I cut holes (about 10 inches square) and add a watering / fertilization funnel next to each plant. My two watermelon plants have explosive growth across the top of the fabric. As of 7/27/2023 in SW Michigan 6A I have two plants producing 7 total watermelons, three are quite large for this stage, and four more are growing nicely. I have been removing some along the way because I think 3-4 per plant is enough and some vines have been putting out multiple fruits. Late this fall I plan to peel back the fabric, put down new compost/soil, cover it over again and plant the same way next year. The only difference is I plan to put a WHITE tarp over the mound to keep it cooler. Overall, so far, no disease and no pests AT ALL this year! Besides the mound and the ground cover, I haven't done anything except water and fertilize normally.

New subscriber from the North Ga mountains. Thank you for the great tips! I love your dog and hope I see more of him.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for subscribing! We feature Dale at the end of every video, and sometimes in between. He’s the real star ⭐️

I've always struggled with watermelon, i often tried different ways and i always got little melons and you figured it out great job 👍

I did all these trials too, I settled on growing them in my apple orchard. I placed 3 watermelon per apple tree around the base of the trees. It helped mulch my apples and helped the watermelon too

Wish I saw these tips before I planted this year ha. My watermelons have overtaken my paths and beds. Now they are trying to choke out my peppers

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I learned the hard way last year, too. Luckily, we always have next year to correct. This year was a better success thanks to those hard lessons learned.

I can't wait until you offer a calendar for gardeners of your best advice, monthly seed starting and planting recommendations, seasonal soil prep and measures to help plants flourish. Please include lots of colorful photos of you in your tank top...oops, I mean, of you in your beautiful garden. I love the hot weather in North Carolina. I live in Zone 10 in southern California. Lots more plant irrigation happening out this way. Your videos are great! Very useful info for me. Thanks for listing products that you use. Im delightfully surprised at the end of each episode to see your fur buddy up to something. Dogs rule! Thanks for your efforts to make these videos.

Great video. I will give this a go for our Aussie summer (if it ever stops raining).

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I feel your pain. Yesterday was the first day all July it didn’t rain, but it made up for it today with TWO separate storms 😣

@goto8438

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener we have been getting massive amounts of rain across large parts of Australia. Lettuces reached $12 a head believe it or not and tomatoes are $12.99kg, broccoli $9.99kg, snow peas $32kg etc... i am definately going to try to grow more home produce. Thanks for your terrific channel.

I grow Lemon Drop watermelon (1 to 4 lbs) in open bottom 5 gallon containers, so like a raised bed, at the base of a cattle panel set up like an arch. I buy I box of cheap knee high pantyhose that I cut in half, and wash and reuse, so that my Melons rest in a hammock til ripe. They're delicious and very productive.

I did the same thing this year I grew all my fruits & vegetables on biodegradable mulch.I think the black mulch gets too hot for the bugs! Thank u for passing on all your knowledge!!

My garden is rather limited in size, be it ground space and vine space, so my personal best shot at growing my 1 watermelon plant is putting it next to the cucumbers, watering and fertilising a bunch and let the vines crawl around the mulched ground. Most of the rest of the garden has cucumbers, peppers, some herbs, and cabbage, most of the plants wouldnt mind having the melon crawl around on the ground i guess, since they all grow tall (with the exception of the cabbage ofc)

They say when picking a watermelon at the store, to make sure that the green stripes are 2 fingers width apart from each other. I'm sure that also works when determining ripeness on the vine.

Wish I I saw this in the spring lol I put mien in a 20 gallon pot and let it go up a trellis well there's always next year I guess haha

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

It may work out well. The reason I don’t grow watermelons up a trellis is because the vines can’t hold the weight and the melons snap off. You’ll need a way to support the melons and take the weight off.

I have 4 raised beds and put that black fabric weed barrier over the beds then cut slits to put my seedlings in. I have 1 bed dedicated to only watermelons and I have 3 good size melons so far. no pests either or leaf damage. I do have an automatic irrigation system I had to put in from not getting alot of rain this yr. I cant wait til they are ready to harvest. I am hoping they will be good juicy sweet ones.

@Stoutluvr

Жыл бұрын

So you have your watermelon plants growing out of the weed barrier? I am just starting to get an area ready for planting and have drip irrigation with it. I was planning on covering the area with weed barrier and then opening up holes in the cloth to plant the watermelons. Do you see any problems?

Wow this was great. Thanks!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

Grow bags put black plastic down on dirt pop holes and plant tuck the plastic between the soil and bag .. holds moisture.

I loved this video! Sweet cute dog, love Dale! We have 2 dogs, an Aussie boy hyper Sullivan and a sweet Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever girl named Lady. I want one more dog, a lap dog, small size, with lots of fur and not a huge barker, no chihuahuas for me though. Something like a Maltese mix or cockapoo. I live your gardens and that was interesting about the watermelons. Ours are slow growing this year because we planted the p,ants kind of late, but we are ok with that. We get watmelons from our neighbors and near by farms. We also planted honey dew and cantelope.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you like Dale. Dale's the best thing that ever happened to us. He's a rescue from a shelter that we volunteer with/donate to often. They're amazing. If you're looking for a third pup, check out the local shelters and rescues. There are so many good boys and girls out there that need a home. Watermelon plants take awhile at first, but once they get going, you start getting inundated. They're great producers.

This is great! Had to remove all my pumpkin and butternut squash plants due to squash bugs. Can't wait to try this!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

They are just AWFUL. For squash bug control, I recommend regularly spraying with pyrethrin at sunset. It'll keep the population down, but it's impossible to get rid of them all it seems. I'm growing my new squash plants under an insect netting to keep them off.

Thank you MG! It’s always great info and always helpful! 😊👍

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! I'm glad the video was helpful. Thanks for watching as always.

Thanks! You always have great and timely advice.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful and timely! Thanks for watching!

So well informed. Thank you for all of your hard work!

Thank you for sharing great tips, God bless you👍

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! Thank you for watching!

Thank you for the great video! I learned alot, and will maybe have better luck next year with watermelon growing. They are in containers this year - and produced a small melon.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! It may not be too late to start new seed. They produce sooner than you think, especially smaller varieties.

Thank you. I’m doing this next year and I have the perfect spot! Im currently growing Sugar Babies in a grow bag and they are growing vertically and they’re happy so far. I lost one due to non-pollination. Will hand pollinate now.

I am really enjoying your teachings, again many thanx

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

Some of the best watermelons I've had are in the sandy HOT soil of Southern Utah. Don't know why. I don't have the same conditions where i am now. Thanks for this video.

Great info!! I love your videos they are very informative!! Thx for helping all the new & older gardeners!!😊

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! I'm glad to hear the videos are helping.

Thanks for these tips. I'm participating in a watermelon challenge who can grow the biggest heaviest watermelon and I need all the tips i can get. Thank you so much for sharing this. If you have anymore suggestions plz let me know? Tfs

Thanks for the tips! Growing sugar baby watermelons for the first time and I hope I get some fruits. Your video for me is real helpful and timely. Thanks again!

Watermelons are one of the few plants I have in the dirt this year, even my potatoes are in miracle grow soil mixed in the dirt. I have my container plants inside a greenhouse raised about 2 inches off the ground for drainage, the plants are growing fast but I dont know how well it'll fruit for a while. The idea in my head is they love water and all my tomatoes and stuff will drain into the dirt where the watermelon is planted, and it's working, but first year using this greenhouse... Quictent is highly reccommended, My ladybugs and mantis are keeping the pests at bay, screens keep birds from eating my berries... and hardware cloth keeps out critters.

Love your explanations. Very clear and logical. Thanks

Thanks for the wisdom and advice

To save money you can use flattened grocery store cardboard boxes for the weed barrier. They should overlap. Put dirt over the edges so the wind doesn't blow them away.

Very informative. Liked how you explained your process of discovery and your interpretation of why one method worked or didn't.

Set up a water reservoir and float valve

As always, great video!!!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

Excellent information. Thank you!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

Very nice! Thank you for this information❗️👍

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

This was a lot of good information, thank you.

I mound my watermelons and only fertilize at three key points. But I have sandy soil so I use black cow and garden soil and use old boxes as weed barrier

🍉 watermelon is my favorite, so I'm going to try this out for sure... I'd love to have fresh watermelon from my garden....TFS 👍...ME in AZ...🌺

I have one that’s ready to be transplanted in the ground. I think I’m going to wait until it’s a little bigger, so I can put it under my second story patio, and then let the vines go out into the sun. But instead of a weed barrier, I’m going to try to break down this 5-tier shelf I have and let it grow on top of that.

Thankyou, I didn't know about male and female flowers, I knew that w pumpkin. It's still young so I'll get out there today and re-figure the space..

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

All cucurbits pollinate this way: watermelon, pumpkins, zucchini/squashes, cucumbers, gourds, etc. They all have separate male and female flowers, and hand pollinating will prevent the female fruits from aborting (turning yellow and falling off). Many think they have a problem with blossom end rot, but it's actually lack of pollination.

Great video. I will be growing three types of watermelon this summer for the first time. I will give the fabric a try but I noticed some little crawlers on your vines. Where they ants

Thanks so much! I'm going to try that. No more squishing squash bugs! I hope this works for vine borer as well.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

It seems to help with squash bugs. I do not know about vine borers. I've been reluctant to grow squash plants on weed barrier, because they prevent the squash from rooting along the vine, so when the borer gets in, the plant will likely die since there are no other roots to help keep the plant alive. On watermelon vines, it doesn't matter since they don't root along the vine.

Awwww lol .That's how I treat my minnie, lol. Yuuup gotta ❤️ it.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Dale's being a lazy bum now that it's so hot out 😅

Thank you so much for sharing your video with us! It’s a good information and I will try doing the same 😁

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

in another video elsewhere, the gardener mentioned the same technique of confining one fruit to a vine to make them larger

Thanks We are growing watermelon this year. We have 2 small watermelon on one vine .Will try the weed barrier. We live in S W Florida

This is fantastic. Beautiful, even. Thanks for experimenting!! I grew some watermelons last year with a little success... I'm really looking forward to this year's crop!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

My watermelon are doing well so far in a bed, however the raised bed is 6’x4x24”. I also have weed barrier on the ground around my beds so the vines can grow down on to the barrier. This allows for deep roots.

Great tips! Awesome video! 💚

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@thebusybrownangel5829

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener You’re welcome!

Just found your videos. Thanks for the tips.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! Thank you for watching!

@beachbum8215

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener I'm in Brunswick County, NC.

I'm going to tempt growing watermelon this year. This will help.

I love how much you love your dog.❤

@TheMillennialGardener

9 ай бұрын

He's the best boy!

I had something similar happen this year w/ a Pumpkin. I composted about 20 pumpkins last Fall, so had several Pumpkin Volunteers this year where the compost was spread. I top dressed a Red Plum w/ the compost and cow manure and a Pumpkin volunteer is taking off like a rocket. The 3 year old Plum also set fruit for the first time.