When to Plant Watermelon for Sept 1st Ripening

in-too-deep · May 10, 2012

Roughly same latitude as Fargo in western MN. Clay loam soil. Any idea when to plant seeds? Thanks!

Errin OH · May 10, 2012

What kind? They range from around 75 - 100 days. Could be anything from about now to mid june.

in-too-deep · May 10, 2012

Thing is, day count is kinda iffy cause we have such long days up here.

Nebraska Cowman · May 10, 2012

LOL, good grief, can you grow watermelon that far north?

in-too-deep · May 10, 2012

bradley martin · May 10, 2012

I would be starting them now in pots, keep them warm and protected. Transplant them later on.Melons like it hot.

in-too-deep · May 10, 2012

Think I could put down black plastic for the vines to grow on?

Royse · May 10, 2012

We used black plastic in Michigan when I was a kid, but I'm pretty sure we were done by September.

Mike (WA) · May 10, 2012

Easy. If you think it won't freeze anymore, put them out tomorrow. If they don't freeze, you'll get watermelons when you get them, secure in the knowledge that you got them out as soon as you could. If they do freeze, well, you put them out too soon, try again later with the plants you saved back from the first planting (you did save some back, didn't you?). Repeat until you are either out of plants, or you get past the last freeze. If they all freeze out, make notes on the calendar for future likely freeze dates, and watch for the sales in the late summer, where you can buy 100 lbs. of watermellons for what you paid for the seeds.

A little snarky, but the principal in the northern climes is very simple- start plants in the house or greenhouse, and put them out as soon as it quits freezing at night. You need the longest time possible for fruit to ripen.

DownSouth · May 10, 2012

I"m in deep South Texas and I waited real late this year, but here is what I planted if it"s any help:
Sugar Baby 78 days to harvest

Crimson Sweet 85 days to harvest

Mickylee 88 days to harvest

Jubilee 95 days to harvest

I planted them all on 3/31/12. I was out there yesterday and the vines are everywhere and I mean everwhere. I see lots of yellow blossoms so hopefully we will have more than we can give away this year! If I remember, I"ll wander back out there tomorrow and snap a picture.

Best of luck with yours!

teddy52food · May 10, 2012

Years ago I had one that weighed 76 #. I am in central MN. Sugar baby and black diamond grew for me. I direct seeded them.

Mike in Mn. · May 10, 2012

I'm planting mine next week, 25 miles west of downtown Mpls.

John B. · May 10, 2012

I planted some the other year, Black Diamond. I borrowed a one bottom ripper and then started the seeds inside and transplanted them right into the cavity where I had ripped. they grew great and never wilted in the hot summer sun. I was impressed.

LonM · May 10, 2012

I am about 80 miles south of Fargo in Roberts County, SD. I direct seeded mine (black diamond) last Thursday right before 1.3" of rain. Hopefully it wasn't too soon, but I have extra seed if it was...
Good Luck,
LonM

Anonymous-0 · May 10, 2012

You will get a lot of info from the search engine.i.e. don't grow from melons you buy in the shop because they may be hybrids, pig feed. but you can from your crop in the 2nd year if you get the heritage seeds in the beginning.
also see where there is an item where maybe it is a substiute for viagra.

Whoa neddy,stop ploughing all that land.

GordoSD · May 11, 2012

Forestburg SD. World famous watermelon producers.

Bill(Wis) · May 11, 2012

If you don't get them in by May 15th, wait until next year.

When to Plant Watermelon for Sept 1st Ripening

in-too-deep

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Errin OH

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in-too-deep

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Nebraska Cowman

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in-too-deep

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bradley martin

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in-too-deep

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Royse

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Mike (WA)

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DownSouth

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teddy52food

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Mike in Mn.

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LonM

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Bill(Wis)

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