You must first log in or sign up before accessing this page.
Legend
- Start Indoors
- Transplant
- Start Outdoors
- Care
- Harvest
- Succession Plant
- Vine
- Warm, Hot, Long days
- Annual
Sweet tropical fruit related to the cucumber, perfect summer snack
The watermelon has a thick smooth outer rind and a fleshy sweet juicy interior with a high water content (it may be up to 95% water). This succulent tropical fruit originated in Southern Africa, but was cultivated in North Africa by the ancient Egyptians 4,000 years ago (it is depicted in hieroglyphs). From there it made its way around the Mediterranean and to India and Europe. It was introduced in the Americas in the early 1600s. The watermelon is best eaten fresh all by itself, however it can also be used in, salads, drinks, soup, sorbets, and Granita. The fresh flavor and water content make it perfect for experimenting in the summer heat. It pairs well with arugula and goat cheese for a crunchy summer salad.
Cucurbitaceae Citrullus lanatus
This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.
Cutworms
Agrotis, Amathes, Peridroma, Prodenia spp.
These caterpillars (the larvae of Noctuid moths) spend their days hiding underground and their nights feeding on the surface. They feed by wrapping themselves around the stem of a plant and eating it until the plant falls over. It can be very frustrating after you have spent weeks nurturing your transplants, to have them destroyed within days of planting out. If you suspect cutworm damage (it’s pretty obvious - the fallen plants will be laid on the ground with the stem still sticking out of the ground) dig down into the soil around the plant to find the culprit. During the day they hide in the soil near the fallen plant, so, it’s almost always there if you search around. If Cutworms are very bad you can deter them by putting little collars of cardboard or aluminum foil around the stem of each seedling. Night patrols can catch cutworms in the act.
Image: Eugene E. Nelson, Bugwood.org
Last Frost Date (LFD) refers to the approximate date of the last killing frost of spring.
Example first frost date on April 08.
First Frost Date (FFD) refers to the approximate date of the first killing frost of winter.
Example first frost date on November 01.
