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Best Time To Plant Watermelon For Enjoyment Throughout The Summer
By JENNIFER PASSMORE
Watermelon is a staple fruit of summer that can be enjoyed on its own or as a refreshing drink and frozen treat. Originating from Africa, watermelons can take over 100 days to grow, and they should be planted in late spring's warm soil to enjoy the delicious, juicy fruit during the summer months.
Watermelon seeds germinate at around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, so you might want to start sowing your seeds indoors a couple weeks prior to your final frost date if you’re in a cold climate. If you live in a warm climate, you can lay black plastic over the soil to warm it up to at least 65 degrees, and then plant them directly into the ground one to two weeks past the final frost date.
Plant the seeds in mounds or hills approximately ¾ to one inch deep in well-drained soil with a lot of sunshine and two to three feet away from each other. They should get around two inches of water every week, and when you see that the tendril near the stem is brown, your melons are ready to be picked.