Basics

Ease of Growing
Moderate
Grown as
Annual
Days to Maturity
70-80 (Spring/Summer), 0 (Fall/Winter)
Growing Habit
Vine
Hardiness
Very Tender

Melons can't tolerate cold weather.

Crops
Spring Transplant, Summer
Growing Season
Long
Cultivar Type
Early
Growing Conditions
Warm, Hot, Long days

Melons must have hot (ideally 90Ż F) sunny weather if they are to make the sugar needed to produce sweet fruits. In cooler areas you need to give them as much sun and heat as possible. They should also be sheltered from cool winds.

I must emphasize that if Melons don't get enough heat they won't taste very good (even if they successfully produce fruit.)

Outdoor Growing Temp
65°F - 95°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp
70°F

Melons need warm weather, so don’t plant them until all danger of frost is past and the soil temperature is at least 70˚ F.

Start Indoors
Yes
Start Outdoors
Yes
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Warm, Hot)

Watermelon is a desert plant and needs full sun.

Water
Moderate

Watermelons need to produce a lot of leaves to make enough sugar to produce sweet fruit. To do this they need a constant supply of water. The best way to water them is with a drip system or soaker hose, as they don't like having wet leaves (this encourages fungus disease).

Feeder
Heavy

Not surprisingly for such a large and vigorous plant, watermelons are fairly hungry feeders. Melons don't need a lot of nitrogen as it encourages leaf growth at the expense of fruit. They do like phosphorus (give them colloidal phosphate) and potassium (wood ashes), as well as boron and magnesium.

Suitability
High heat, Needs lots of space
Small Gardens?
No
Containers?
No

Most Watermelons are too big to comfortably grow in containers, but a few of the smaller cultivars will work if the container is big enough (at least 18" wide and deep and preferably bigger). This is sometimes done in cool climates, where the plants are grown in greenhouses.

When growing such large plants in containers you have to be particularly attentive to watering. You will probably need to support them too.

Attracts beneficial insects?
No
Color
Dark Green
Fruit Size
15.0 - 19.0"
Plant Height
18.0 - 24.0"
Plant Diameter
60.0 - 72.0"
Hardiness Zone
4-11
Disease Resistance
Taste Profile

Deliciously sweet.

Rotation Group
Fruits: Solanaceae + Cucurbits