Grow The Most INCREDIBLE WATERMELON PLANTS: 5 Expert Tips!

In this video, I share 5 expert tips to help you grow the most incredible watermelon plants! Growing watermelon plants can be challenging for new gardeners, but once you get the hang of it, growing watermelons becomes easy. I share 5 watermelon tips I've learned over the years to help you maximize success growing watermelon plants.
I use the following products* to grow watermelons in my vegetable garden:
Metal Raised Garden Bed (4X2FT): amzn.to/4bsMX2e
Metal Raised Garden Bed (6X3FT): amzn.to/3Qzh3cw
Weed Barrier (Many Sizes): amzn.to/4dUWVeC
Jobe's Organic Vegetable Fertilizer (4lbs): amzn.to/45YHmh2
Burpee Bone Meal (3lb): amzn.to/48bcBGw
Jobe's Bone Meal (4lb): amzn.to/3uC5klp
Espoma Plant Tone (36lbs): amzn.to/3Zgk98f
Alaska Fish Fertilizer: amzn.to/3XP5EHU
Crab & Lobster Shell Meal: amzn.to/3UBP5xF
Jack's All Purpose 20-20-20 (1.5lb): amzn.to/3MQ4I2A
Jack's / JR Peters All Purpose 20-20-20 (25lb): amzn.to/44DUV58
Grow Bags (Many Sizes): amzn.to/4a0MHa5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Intro To Watermelon Growing
0:56 Tip #1: Watermelon Variety Selection
2:23 Tip #2: Minimize Plant Stress
5:45 Tip #3: Fertilizing Watermelons
11:26 How To Transplant Watermelon Plants
15:30 Tip #4: Eliminating Pests
18:12 Tip #5: Mulching Watermelon Plants
21:54 Adventures With Dale
If you have any questions about how to grow watermelon plants, want to know about the things I grow in my raised bed vegetable garden and edible landscaping food forest, are looking for more gardening tips and tricks and garden hacks, have questions about vegetable gardening and organic gardening in general, or want to share some DIY and "how to" garden tips and gardening hacks of your own, please ask in the Comments below!
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EQUIPMENT I MOST OFTEN USE IN MY GARDEN*:
Miracle-Gro Soluble All Purpose Plant Food amzn.to/3qNPkXk
Miracle-Gro Soluble Bloom Booster Plant Food amzn.to/2GKYG0j
Miracle-Gro Soluble Tomato Plant Food amzn.to/2GDgJ8n
Jack's Fertilizer, 20-20-20, 25 lb. amzn.to/3CW6xCK
Southern Ag Liquid Copper Fungicide amzn.to/2HTCKRd
Southern Ag Natural Pyrethrin Concentrate amzn.to/2UHSNGE
Monterey Organic Spinosad Concentrate amzn.to/3qOU8f5
Safer Brand Caterpillar Killer (BT Concentrate) amzn.to/2SMXL8D
Cordless ULV Fogger Machine amzn.to/36e96Sl
Weed Barrier with UV Resistance amzn.to/3yp3MaJ
Organza Bags (Fig-size) amzn.to/3AyaMUz
Organza Bags (Tomato-size) amzn.to/36fy4Re
Injection Molded Nursery Pots amzn.to/3AucVAB
Heavy Duty Plant Grow Bags amzn.to/2UqvsgC
6.5 Inch Hand Pruner Pruning Shears amzn.to/3jHI1yL
Japanese Pruning Saw with Blade amzn.to/3wjpw6o
Double Tomato Hooks with Twine amzn.to/3Awptr9
String Trellis Tomato Support Clips amzn.to/3wiBjlB
Nylon Mason Line, 500FT amzn.to/3wd9cEo
Expandable Vinyl Garden Tape amzn.to/3jL7JCI
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ABOUT MY GARDEN
Location: Southeastern NC, Brunswick County (Wilmington area)
34.1°N Latitude
Zone 8B
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© The Millennial Gardener
#gardening #garden #gardeningtips #watermelons #watermelon

[@Liv-bf3wk]

Last year I let my grass grow high. When I mowed it I found a few well established volunteer watermelons near my burn pile. I did nothing to them and they grew me 3 large delicious watermelons. It was an insult on my previous attempts at growing watermelons which had been complete failures.

[@alexasphotosgeneral3584]

I get it. I micromanaged my plants to ensure they got the best chances to mature, they nearly all failed. Yet, my dad’s plants are thriving from minimal care…I’m jealous 😅

[@BritInvLvr]

I totally relate.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The interesting thing about volunteers plants is, often, the ones that survive are the strongest plants, so they often have an advantage over varieties you buy from seed shops. However, I wouldn't recommend that growing method for the seeds you plant. The chances of that vine getting disease or pest damage is much higher than well-cared-for vines clear of grass and weeds. The strongest pepper plant I ever grew was one I didn't plant - it was a volunteer Tabasco plant that came up on its own: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHm7XmeQgMd-ecksi=XsY71obtqB9oFk_I

[@y0g_s0th0th]

My dad swore off watermelon this year, but yesterday he found a volunteer. He is going to give it another try. It's his rule. If you set it free, and it comes back by choice, you give it extra special care.

[@libertyandcheesesteaks8928]

😢 0:22 😮😅d😅

[@michaellovetere8033]

pruning:....When I started growing watermelons I started with the crimson sweet..These were like 25 -30 lb melons..first time I had vines growing all over the place and in my neighbors yard. They climbed everywhere....The next year I started pruning them and had bigger melons..These are a great variety, but too big for the average fridge.This year I'm growing the sugar babies to cut down refer space...Good luck to everyone that loves watermelons.

[@arbiterlane1661]

growing up in rural SC where the dirt was fertile me and my dad would plant watermelon+cantelope in the ground every year and had good results without ever fertilizing them. then when I moved out of state and bought a house in a less fertile suburban area, I tried the same and got absolutely wrecked. 6 plants and maybe got 2 small watermelons. I had always just assumed that you could just stick anything in the tilled ground and it would come up fine. Makes you realize why people fought all those wars over fertile land.

[@johndoh5182]

Often times in these urban areas that get built, they occupy land that was once very fertile farmland or forest. When the houses are built the top soil is removed, some may actually make it back onto the lot, but often other dirt is brought in for the area the home goes on and it's not very good soil. It's good for building on, but not for planting. It can take years of bringing in material to enrich that soil enough to have a nice garden. We have a decent clay soil, and after bringing in a lot of bagged top soil which the base was a more sandy soil mixed with wood which ALWAYS happens with those bagged soils, I now have soil that's a good balance and I just have to bring in the organic materials to make it more loamy. And this is for raised beds which are very large.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Here on the coast, we live on sandy loam where the only things that grow well are pine trees, weeds and fire anthills. But hey, the drainage is great, at least. If you're willing to truck in enough compost and mulch and fertilize things adequately, you can have great results. The dirt here is pale and sad looking until you work with it.

[@tripplefives1402]

Just do the hay bale thing.

[@andreahorsch286]

Same! Grew up in Central oh with glacial soil deposits. Moved to southeast Ohio where logging industries wrecked the soil and its all clay. Have been throwing organic matter on my garden for about 15 years now

[@tripplefives1402]

@@andreahorsch286 Logging didn't turn the soil clay, its been clay. There are different soil types. If you live in Florida there is zero clay and 100% sand for example. If you live in western Georgia the soil is deep blood red clay that turns purple when it rains, but in eastern Georgia its all sand.

[@electricbeing993]

This was the best damn video I ever seen on gardening. U hit on every question I had. No need to even watch any other vids. Thank u

[@mauric.7591]

Thank you so much for this video! its perfectly timed, and this helped me realize that I've been under fertilizing my melons!!! may you have a blessed harvest and have many melons!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad I can help!

[@tammyohlsson7966]

I’ve had good success growing but harvesting at the perfect time is a struggle. SE TX a hot as fire. 26 melons 5 picked at the right time! Some too early some too late. Learning! TY for your wisdom! Blessings!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Please get yourself some shade cloth. If you're not using it, it'll change your life: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYCQhmStjqyNbrMsi=E2Mn6pBmzR50DzaW

[@valenciasainz]

Just planted some seeds a couple of weeks ago without any knowledge and guidance, but the watermelon gods are listening and all my favorite gardening channels are uploading watermelon videos.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching!🍉TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 Intro To Watermelon Growing 0:56 Tip #1: Watermelon Variety Selection 2:23 Tip #2: Minimize Plant Stress 5:45 Tip #3: Fertilizing Watermelons 11:26 How To Transplant Watermelon Plants 15:30 Tip #4: Eliminating Pests 18:12 Tip #5: Mulching Watermelon Plants 21:54 Adventures With Dale

[@WilliamMiller-nr5gb]

This is a great video! Thank you for it! ☺️👍♥️🙏

[@candancestiles5128]

21:46 thank you so much

[@AlexanderOsuna]

I love how you tie in the ecology of the plants in how they should be planted I wish more people thought like that

[@kayault2068]

According to Scott brand mulch theirs is from forest trees only no pallets or harmful wood. Right now it’s on sale at Lowe’s for $2 and a little more at Walmart. I’m planning on using it in my gardening.

[@NubianP6]

I checked the Lowe’s app, but the only Scott’s mulch I see is the stuff that has been dyed. (Color Enhanced, in their words). Perhaps it depends on where you live.

[@carolann4035]

So glad I found your channel. Your tips are perfect for me I live in Wilmington, I am now 74 and growing postage stamp gardens and container gardening. Thank you !

[@martinaparrrish5397]

Thanks,Anthony your video came out just in time.Iam trying watermelon for the second time.My first time was a miserable failure.

[@lindag9975]

Thanks. I love Sugar Baby personal watermelons. They seem to work well in our short Phoenix area growing seasons. It often gets too hot during July and August so they fry. You always have to figure out the right amount of shade cloth. And the seeds won't germinate too early in the season. I love your idea of planting them under the shade of trees.

[@Danyelljackson5489]

Thank you so much! Very informative and helpful ❤

[@tayjahrivera7156]

Thank you so much! I just set out my watermelon plants.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@shanageddins1694]

Wow! I have only recently found your channel and I am learning so much!! I am just getting ready to start a garden and have so much to learn still❤

[@randyo6019]

Great tips as always buddy. Look at that steak dinner!! Wow! Dale is living the life. Love it

[@TheMillennialGardener]

We caught a skirt steak sale and he capitalized 😂

[@Katydidit]

​@@TheMillennialGardenerDale looks and acts alot like my Happy girl drool and all!!

[@adrianf1969]

Thanks for the tips, I’ll be trying them this year.

[@charlesfoster8814]

I planted mine this year in spot, I burned a huge brush pile. After that, I made three large piles of horse manure. My soil is very sandy. I spread the manure and tilled in February. I checked the long term weather and it looked like we were past out last freeze here in SE Texas. This was going to be my first attempt at growing a watermelon! I hilled up the three mounds of soil that was dominated by horse manure. Before May 1st I had a variety of of watermelon seedlings in the ground. I really think I had them in the ground too early, they struggled to do much. So I kind of forgot about them. The vine were roughly 20 feet long when I noticed the first watermelon. I have no clue what kind it was but by all indications it was ready the middle of June. By far the best watermelon I have ever had! I have eaten the melons from Hempstead Texas and they are awesome, but this melon topped them! So I saved seeds from it. I think it came from HEB because I didn't have a seed packet that looked like this watermelon. Once I started nursing this melon, I started finding our melons on the vines, which took over a 20'x20' area. Suger Babies, Hempstead (saved seeds from the year before) and another verity of small personal watermelon that looks similar to the "UFO" watermelon that was so delicious. Made a big mistake trying to prune vines that had left the fenced are of the garden. There a ton of vines that had left the garden area. So I didn't run over them with the mower. But once I watched a video about pruning I decided to prune everything outside the fence! Turned out my three biggest Hempstead watermelons had left the garden area but runners had grown back inside the fence! I've noticed that the vines have hairs like a tomato and anywhere a leaf is there are roots if the plant is touching the soil. So with the two larger watermelons I dug a 2' long trench and laid the vines in the bottom with three or so leaves just before the melon. I covered that with chicken manure and watered it in heavy. The tropical weather that hit Texas this week watered the patch job for the last three days. Looks like it's going to work on the smaller of the two. The leaves look like they are still alive. The bigger melon the leaves have died but the vine is still a good color. So as long as the vine looks of, it will stay. If the vines starts to dry up, it will be chicken food! Sorry for the long post!

[@MariaInSoFla]

Just planted my first try at Sugar Baby in 10 gallon grow-bags, so thank you for this video. I know it's going to be like work to keep them watered and now that they're planted in full sun, I need to figure out how to offer the roots some shade. It made me smile to see a dirty 5 fingers at the end of the video. I'm sure I'm not the only one that can relate. Here's hoping our future holds nice juicy melons!

[@smffboe7733]

Mulch and then more mulch

[@smffboe7733]

Or grow cover plants around it

[@nabhnabhmonarch6805]

Same. I used grow bags and I’m hoping they grow up on a small trellis

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I strongly recommend mulching the plants well and moving the plants into shade, but letting the vines sprawl into the sun. You are going to have your work cut out for you irrigating them. I can't stress this enough - if you work full-time and leave for the day, you will get to the point where the vines can literally dry out and die over the course of a work shift, so please keep them sheltered to protect them from the sun. You may also want to get yourself a large plant saucer and set the bags in them to retain moisture. I grew Sugar Babies in 20 gallon bags and had good results, but even in 20 gallon bags, they needed water 1-2 times a day here in NC. If you're in South Florida given your username, you're going to really have to stay on top of them.

[@wandamoses]

Thank you! I love watermelon 🍉

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@karenburrell5188]

Thank you for sharing your experiences it is so very helpful.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@garfielda34]

Great tips, and I love seeing Dale!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! Dale says hello

[@melindaroth5796]

Thank you Brother Anthony for reminding us and teaching us all 😊❤

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@angelacalloway8125]

Great tips! Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@PlantObsessed]

Good solid education. Thank you.🎉🎉

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@mslascorpia]

WOW, Best tips EVER for growing watermelons. Just great! Thanks a lot

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@mytuyettokyo]

i really admire the layout of your garden, so neat, and thank you so much for sharing in detail

[@chrisyoungs3896]

Thank you.

[@lastofthebohicansbowles5262]

Yummy watermelons Dale

[@anbuflix5472]

Thank you for the tips sir! Great video

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I appreciate it! Thanks for watching!

[@kathleenthomas3275]

I love any of your videos with Crystal❤️❤️❤️❤️ Great to see how you guys eat a bit differently. Best wishes on the summer garden!

[@478Johnnyboy]

I had a lot of success last year growing them for the first time in grow bags. Definitely learning what i could have done better.

[@He4vyD]

Thanks for the tips! I hope my wife will grow some nice watermelons now.

[@spoonnwithsunshinehomestead]

Great video 👍🏽

[@christinebrooks6364]

I'm growing melons this season. What a great video with plenty of hints,& tips on how to get the best from your melon plants. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@julienfowler8274]

Great video as always👍 My favorite watermelon is jubilee, very sweet, crisp and large.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I appreciate it! I'm trying seedless for the first time this year.

[@GreenthumbFL]

Amazing tips, love it

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joycee5493]

Thank you. I guess I’ll be fertilizing my watermelons more😁

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@PorchGardeningWithPassion]

This is an incredibly well done video. Excellent work Sir! 👊🏻🌻👊🏻

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I appreciate it! Thanks for watching!

[@MattyDemello]

Great video

[@marvinbrock960]

I’ll be laying out weed barrier Fabric tomorrow and bumping up the fertilizer! Thanks! Mine are around 4’ long at this point in time!

[@Bouje-Prepper]

Thanks for the tips I'm in a watermelon growing challenge so I will be using your tips. I do have to figure out how to give some shade for the days we hit 90's here in SC. Thanks again! Happy Gardening! 💚🌱

[@proudboxermom3104]

I would use shade cloth cuz I live in Arkansas, and the temps are (90+ and 96 one day this week) almost intolerable cuz we also have high humidity, so it feels like you can't breathe (the air is so thick)!! Good luck and happy gardening!!

[@Bouje-Prepper]

@@proudboxermom3104 Thank you! 💚🌱

[@deancitroni4447]

I've been following your channel for 2 years. It's great that you tell us where you are growing from and your conditions. A lot of growers on KZbin don't do that. You're testing and fighting nature with alternate solutions is exceptional! I'm growing my first dwarf and determinate tomatoes this season because like you I live south in Atlanta ga. Started indoors mid-march and planting a second round in the next two weeks. The beit alpha cucumbers or a game changer! Keep up the great work I will always watch

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I try to make that clear, because gardening is so regional. Not all tips are valid in all areas, and I don't want people in Michigan planting their watermelons in part shade. That won't end well. I think you'll like the dwarf and determinate types. They pump out food quicker. I have to say, I like the cucumber Party Time even better than Beit Alpha now, and so far, I'm getting great results from a cucumber called Merlin. I really like those English types.

[@deancitroni4447]

@@TheMillennialGardener thanks for the reply I will have to try the other cucumbers as well

[@lynnlovessoil]

Had great success with sweet mountain yellow watermelon last year. This year I expanded the growing area and planted 3 watermelon varieties: sweet mountain yellow, black diamond , and orange Krush. Plus, 3 smaller melons: tam dew, model melon and Hales best cantaloupe. Thanks for the 5 growing tips. Wishing you large juicy sweet melons this year.

[@HollenbergR]

I'm in Idaho same zone and I just ordered these seeds. Thanks for the recommendation! I had no trouble growing watermelon in the ground in Illinois without any ammendment 2 years ago, but my husband had struggled to grow them at this property in the past. I have another new bed I hadn't decided where to set up yet, as the next logical place was partly shaded, but this video helped me realize it might be perfect for my melons!

[@ronjackson449]

Cool thx

[@jimhoward1655]

Those wire panels might benefit the vines not blowing around on the slick black ground cover. A friend planted his melons on the weed mat and high winds would easily blow them in a bunch so i would leave one or two if you ever find a place to use the wire panels. Thanks for your videos really appreciate your knowledge.Crimson Sweet variety here in Missouri.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Once they get melons on them, they don't move anymore. They're like bowling ball sized paperweights.

[@jimhoward1655]

@@TheMillennialGardener thats for sure but there is a time with no melons and lotsa vines to blow around. I had thought you placed the wire panels just for that reason and suggested he lay something down for them to tendril to alleviate the blowing in a bunch problem.

[@roccoconte2960]

Very complete instructions and great video.Watermelon to tuff to grow in Boston, but I've had great success with musk melon.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think you can do it if you select smaller varieties like a bush Sugar Baby, or something like Mini Love, which only get to be a few pounds. Especially if you let them sprawl on that black weed barrier. It gets 3-5 degrees warmer when the sun is out. It doesn't sound like a lot, but over 80-100 days, it accumulates like an avalanche. It's a game changer.

[@pattiethompson9154]

Thank you for the helpful info on the watermelon. I made my watermelon patch on mounds this year and now I am going to put them in a raised bed and shade them. I have the bone meal and plant tone but use Land and Sea compost by Espoma. I hope this year they don't get too hot. ❤

[@GODPROPERTY125]

Thank You the weed barrier suggested is great I already put it down & the watermelon is growing great only thing I have to put a cover over the main area the sun is burning it I do use bone meal-2wk, fish emulsions- 1wk blood meal -2wk I do plan on put watermelon holders cause the weed barrier is Hot!!😋

[@kittyskid1]

watched then re-watched. going to buy the fabric cloth your link and fertilizer with tomato from big box store today. happy 😀

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The weed barrier is a game changer! It's eliminated so many problems for me.

[@Detour4it]

Great job 👍

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you!

[@CrestoneColorado-yj4we]

Great vid! I just soaked some sugar baby seeds and planted in big pots in my greenhouse. Gonna give it a go here in the high Rockies! My GH really warms up and Im thinking it will heat the pots n soil and make this elusive fruit happen this year!

[@healthy4lifenc]

Dang, I’m glad I found your channel because I’m in Wilmington too and attempting to grow my first garden. 🙃

[@hcambo5373]

Good

[@davidlucas598]

I mulch around my melons . Central Arkansas here . I grow jubilee melons use bone Mill and tomato tone when planting and trible 13 . Keep watered

[@james_the_engineer]

If you don’t want to watch the entire video, here is the summary: First tip, start from small watermelon and move up from there. Second tip, put your watermelon bed inside the shade. Let the weeds slowly creep out of the shade, but keep the roots themselves inside the shade. Tip #3: Fertilize you watermelon, and feed them a lot. There are two parts. His first part involves using All Purpose Fertilizer, Bone-Meal, and Lobster/Crab mix (third one is not required but recommended). The second part is water fertilizing, which involves first using Alaskan Fish Water, then Jack’s All Purpose 20-20-20 Water. Fertilize these plants twice a month. Then each plant needs around 2 sq ft of space per each watermelon. Use two tablespoons of fertilizer per each plant and apply twice a month. If you use the Jacks Water, use 1 tbsp per gallon. Tip #4: Grow your plants on top of a weed barrier. This keeps bugs away to at will kill your watermelon. Tip #5: Mulch your watermelon only after your watermelon is settled into its planting bed. Use any NATURAL mulch, it is best for your plant. Some counties offer free mulch. Please like this comment🙏🙏🙏

[@cooldud11122]

I set up my tomato garden bed using those cage trellis panels you have. I made an A shape out of them using 1 panel on each side and wire tying them in the middle.

[@deecooper1567]

Thank you 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome!

[@ABCDEFGH-kk8ln]

I plant mine under my grape arbor, works fine for me

[@earthisflat]

This video came out just in time, i live in Phoenix and ive been working on half an acre of open desert to start a micro farm i had just planted my watermelon plant in my raised bed under full unobstructed sunlight however i did add a nice layer of mini flake to the bed but now after watching this video im thinking i probably need a shade cloth too 😅

[@Dolemite74]

I love Dale

[@tinabloomfield7228]

I'm trying sugar baby watermelon for a second year. Last year we lost them all to a critter that climbed over my fence. This time I'm trying to grow them up a trellis at my own home instead of my hain garden at moms. Praying hard that I get some this year lol

[@tripplefives1402]

In rural areas there are so many places to buy fertilizer by the bag that you don't need to pay high walmart prices on a tiny bag. They sell it in any NPK you ask for and mix it on the spot. Though you need to buy at least 50 pounds at a time. Their typical ag customers buy like 40,000 pounds at a time though.

[@valjalava1951]

Sounds great would this work for cantaloupe,and other vegetables as well I mean your fertilizer

[@ltgemini1599]

Ive marked my 📅 to fertilize!! Just planted 3 vines today in community garden in Ohio. I planted them in a mound. Not sure why. Less drowning of roots? It poured rain this evening so maybe it was a good idea. I started them in the house a couple months ago and managed to keep a few alive. No idea what variety as I had a wash out from a storm and everything was all over and not sure which recovered. So, hopefully I'll find out and they're delicious!

[@Rachad2317]

Very informative video as always. Thank you. I am (web worm) problem. Any advise. Thanks

[@johndoh5182]

I've seen another interesting way of dealing with the sprawling vines which is to train them up a sturdy trellis, not a tall one and then have a top to the trellis so the vines crawl over a flat surface of trellis, although an arch would work fine too, and then when the fruiting starts, direct the fruit to hang below the trellis and as they get big enough, support each fruit with a netting. I KNOW this has to help with SOME pests and disease but it's not going to protect against everything. This method also provides shade for the base of the plants and root system so that seems to be a common theme in hotter areas, which is where this was done. Hey good video, once again I'm getting stuff stuck into the brain to think about when I decide to grow watermelon. I'm more of a squash guy, though I need ones that can grow in more tropical areas.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I do not recommend trellising watermelons. I tried this one year, and the problem is the vines cannot hold the weight of the fruit. As soon as the melons get to be a few pounds, they snap off and explode on the ground. It's a total disaster. You have to take folding chairs or stack concrete blocks to support them. It just doesn't work. I grow small melons like Kajari, Honey Rock cantaloupe, Lemon Drop and a few others, and those small melons can be grown vertically, because they only weigh about a pound. Watermelons should only be sprawled on the ground due to weight.

[@tinad6812]

Perfect timing. I just built an A frame trellis and I was wondering what could go on the backside that may get some shade from the front. I am trying to fit in lots of plants in a small backyard. I’m growing sugar baby and a Minnesota midget cantaloupe, plus other squash and zucchini. All in grow bags.

[@akmetalhead95]

Awesome video! I've never managed to successfully grow watermelon here in Alaska, with our cooler climate and short season. 😭 I'm hoping maybe this year I'll pull it off, if I try a very early, small variety.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That would definitely be a challenge. I think you'd need a greenhouse to have a fighting chance. If you don't, maybe grow them on black weed barrier to maximize warmth (or build a hoop house and place agricultural fabric on top to lock in warmth) and grow a small variety like Mini Love. You may be able to grow that variety.

[@DanlowMusic]

I use More Bloom with my Fish Fertilizer for a water saluable.

[@jonwebb3235]

Have you tried the morbloom from Alaska? It is 0-10-10. I use the fish fertilizer and the morbloom together in a water can all the time for pretty much everything.

[@jasaraponton6168]

What’s growing on!! Lol love your channel. Thank you for all the helpful tips and tricks. I am in Philadelphia. The weather here just started consistently warming up and I wanted to start growing watermelons in a container. I have some mushroom organic fertilizer and liquid kelp plant food would that be sufficient for the watermelons? Again love love love your channel! Thank you so much.☀️🙌🏼💜💜

[@asha.m]

This will be my 2nd summer attempting watermelons 🤞🏻I'll be trying most of your steps. I've procured jacks and alaska here in Canada. Will you be doing a video on pruning? To or not to snip the ends, how many fruit per plant etc. Also, tips if we have to grow vertically? Thanks

[@grownfolksperspective2988]

Hi, new gardener here. You used 5-3-3 fertilizer. I have 12-5-7 fertilizer. Can I just use half as much? And thank you so much for the wealth of information. You have no idea how much you've helped me. I'm in the piedmont of NC, so I experience a lot of the same things you do.

[@06075345]

Thank you very much for the educational video as ever. Question: do these instructions apply to growing cantaloupes in raised beds as well?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! For the most part, yes. I grow my other melons the same way as I grow my watermelons, except I grow my small melons vertically up trellises to keep the fruit off the ground. If you're growing large cantaloupes that cannot be trellised vertically because the fruit weight is too large, I would grow them identically to these watermelons.

[@mintgreen292]

The recommendations you give always have the perfect level of detail and reasoning, it's so easy to understand. I definitely have not been fertilizing my melons enough. Is there a reason why you skipped the bone meal on the roots when transplanting?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks! The bone meal was mixed into the fertilizer blend. I show in the video how I combined all three components. There was plenty of bone meal in that planting hole and top dressed over the plants.

[@mintgreen292]

@@TheMillennialGardener Wow I don't know how I missed that, thank you!

[@teresadelgado1372]

Very interesting. As always I enjoyed your videos and learned from them. Have you tried other type of melon in your garden, like honeydew or cantaloupe? Do they require special care as the watermelon?

[@nicoledreamcr4666]

Growing Grafted watermelons this year first time ever. They should be way more resistant to illnesses and with bigger yields. Wish me luck

[@stephenremo9200]

Anyone in a colder area try black tail mountain watermelons. They don't mind cool night time temperatures and will still ripen at 50 degrees. And they are very vigorous. Haven't had any problems since i started growing them. Zone 7 They don't always like to be transplanted if the roots are really overgrown. So use a bigger container for them or plant out before roots get too big

[@aliceboyblue]

I freaking love your channel!!! ❤️❤️❤️ Ive gotten compost from my local county dump. Would you recommend using compost from the dump good for gardening? You mentioned the mulch. Both are free for residents

[@sylvia10101]

Great video, as usual! Thank you MG! 😊👍👍

[@SilverSaabArc]

In Michigan, I just couldn't grow a Melon to save my life until Bi tried small varieties like Minnesota Midget, Kajari, and Horned Melon. Complete game changers!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

These tips will help you even more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ_WhZJ8lr2bY5osi=YNAIcQtVTXfI6Xxk

[@Mstymntntop]

Have you tried a fertilizer doser ? I have one that injects at a 4% rate and is based on flow alone. Hooked it up to my hose and can deep water or lightly spray the plant depending on the nozzle. The fertilizer injectors I have used in the past ,EZ Flo, suck if you use organic fertilizers as the fertilizer just sinks and never empty the tank of the fertilize unless you have a way to keep the fertilizer suspended, which defeats their purpose.

[@ozzy7109]

I was clearing off the top layer of grass and just leaving dirt so i can mulch it and get rid of weeds around my raised beds... Was looking the other day... Coming through the mulch are about 13 volunteer Watermelons 🤣

[@nascarhippie1]

I live near a de-lmonte melon farm that's full sun, but they cover their mounds in white plastic. We have hot summers as well but they seem to grow freely

[@Pinochet1969]

I just LOVE Dale!! Going PRIMAL with the 🥩!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I thought Dale loved cheese a lot...his love for cheese is nothing compared to his love for steak. He gets this look in his eyes like he's no longer present and has left his body. I can relate.

[@user-zx4nj3qc2c]

Can you please do a similar video for different squash plants such as zucchini, acorn, pumpkins? 😊 This is very helpful, and it seems like a lot of this applies to the pumpkin squash I’m “attempting” to grow.

[@lucasmachado1500]

Amazing video as per usual! Can you do a video explaining male and female flowers like you mentioned at 11:33?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think I can try to squeeze something like that in. I have it mentioned in a lot of videos, but I don't think I have a dedicated video for it.

[@percisionshot4331]

I planted my watermelons via seeds putting 4-5 seeds per hill. I didn’t expect 100% germination but I did. My question is should I thin them to out some. Thanks.

[@davidlucas598]

I do use MG

[@johnbaxter189]

I'd say peg the cattle wire where it is. U say it don't need no trellis but I'd say give it some to vine around which cud stabilise against the wind more.

[@jhorsch94]

I’ve been using fish emulsion for a few years now, and for some reason, I’ve been using 1 tablespoon per gallon of water, or 2 tablespoons for my 2-gallon watering can. I was wondering why you were using 2-3 tablespoons per gallon, so I decided to look at the label on the bottle. Sure enough, it says 2 tablespoons per gallon. I haven’t had any problems with under-fertilizing, so it never occurred to me that I wasn’t using the recommended amount of fish emulsion.

[@BrandonHvlogs]

The thing with landscape fabric it doesn’t last long uncovered here in Texas. The sun will dry rot the fabric in a month or 2. I put compost mulch over mine it helps create a good environment for earth worms and help my soil.

[@lightscameraalana]

Can I keep the roots cool by putting straw on top of the soil

[@claudiadiaz3]

Question, can I use coco coir on top of my raised beds?

[@rickwashek478]

I have been growing sugar babies the past few years. They grow easy and don't take much room. Hard to believe the number of seeds in one of those small watermelons. But they taste great. Plus I have tons of seeds for the next year

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you grow the bush-type sugar babies, they're very compact. I believe there is also a vining type that produces larger melons, but it takes up more space. I do have fond memories of sugar babies, but like you said, they're very seedy. I'm trying to grow a seedless watermelon this year. We'll see if it works out.

[@JudyJR-il2ww]

How about shredded paper for mulching? Is it safe to use?

[@teresabrockett7525]

I always enjoy your tutorials, but it sure is hard gardening in Maine when I compare! 🤔

[@ruthmonroe-dz8oy]

Can't you use straw to keep the moisture in instead of mulch