The watermelon is a low lying to climbing annual plant which can grow up to ten metres long.
Most varieties have red flesh.
The fruits mostly weigh between 4 and 25 kg.

They like a sunny, warm space, protected from the wind with loose, well drained garden soil which is rich in nutrients.

From the seeds from a watermelon, provided it is not a hybrid variety. You can often recognize these with the ending "F1".

Beetroot, Broad beans, Bush beans, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Peas

Potatoes, Tomatoes

Plants that are well suited for next year cultivation:

(not specified)

The following plants should not be planted in the following years:

How many years:

Not to plant:

Not applicable.

• Water regularly.
• Fertilise regularly.
• Mulch.
• After the 4th pair of leaves pinch out the growing tip.
• Pinch out the side shoots after the 5th leaf.

The fruit sets will then be on the resulting side shoots.
Tip:
The plant's roots are very sensitive, so avoid damaging them when pricking out and planting.
When sowing and growing watermelons use small turf pots or egg boxes which will rot away when planted.

Pests: Aphids, wireworms, spider mites, cutworms, melon ladybird
Diseases: Downy mildew and powdery mildew.

During warm weather, watermelons will ripen in about four months.
A watermelon is ripe when

• A muffled noise results from knocking on it
• The colour of the lower side has changed from white to a pale yellow
• The curly tendril on the watermelon's stem has dried out.

Freshly harvested watermelons will keep for about 10 days.

Watermelons are usually eaten raw. Its peel can be conserved or candied. It nutritious seeds can be roasted and eaten.