The Procedures to Plant Watermelon in South Africa

How do I plant watermelon in South Africa?

Plant watermelon seeds 30 to 40 mm deep. This is done by hand or by mechanical planter. Make sure soil is wet before planting and irrigate immediately after planting to settle seeds or seedlings.

What spacing techniques is required for watermelon in South Africa?

Watermelon plants should be spaced 50 to 75 cm apart in rows that are 150 to 200 cm apart. Plant quantity varies between 8 000 and 15 000 plants per hectare depending on the watermelon variety, size and required use of the fruit.

When is the best time to plant watermelon in South Africa?

Planting of watermelon seeds normally starts at the beginning of spring in late August through to December in South Africa. First plantings start when the weather starts warming up and most important when soil temperatures are above 15°C. If soil temperatures are below this then uneven germination will occur resulting in uneven growth and in some cases seeds fail to germinate. To speed up production for the early markets, some growers will make seedlings in greenhouses during July and be ready for the right conditions to plant the seedlings. This can give them a two to three week advantage on entering the market over the growers that direct seed.

How long does it take watermelon to grow in South Africa?

The growing period is between 12 and 18 weeks depending on the cultivar and the weather conditions during the growing period. Smaller and seedless varieties of watermelon ripen quicker and are popular for catching the early market.

How to irrigate water melon in South Africa?

Before planting irrigate the soil thoroughly to field capacity and maintain this so that the new seedlings can develop their roots quickly and utilize the nutrients that have been applied prior to planting. Monitor soil moisture stress regularly by hand with spade or augur or by soil moisture meters. An average weekly irrigation is between 30 and 35 mm. This is normally divided into two or even three applications per week while the plants develop. As the fruit sets and the roots systems are more developed the frequency of irrigations can be reduced to once per week on the heavier loam soils.