[scientific name]
Sustainable Ewe favourites:
Quick Reference |
|
| Optimum Soil Temperature | |
| Days to Germination | |
| Days to Harvest | |
| Direct Sow or Transplant | |
| Distance Apart | |
| Soil pH | |
| Annual/Biennial /Perennial | |
History |
Growing |
| Storing harvested [name]:Seed Saving: |
Maintenance |
| Feeding: |
Fun Facts |
Problems |
| Botrytis, grey mould – flowers and fruit rot. Usually strikes in humid conditions
Downy mildew – leaves become blotched and yellow, sometimes mould will appear on undersides. Can be worse in cool, moist conditions. Wilting of leaves – large leaves loose moisture in warm weather. Mulch and water frequently. Excessive leaf growth – excess Nitrogen Fruit yellow and bitter – over-maturity Leaf spot – water soaked spots on leaves, leaves crack. Immature fruit may fall. Crop rotation. Destroy diseased leaves and parts of plant. Anthracnose – Brow-black spots on leaves. Crop rotation (four years) Shortage of fruit – Poor pollination. Lack of bees or weather too cold. Hand pollination may be possible Predominance of male flowers. – stress conditions, poor nutrition, low light, low temperature, low water. Ensure plants have food and water. Damaged skin with pale discoloured patches – Fruit exposed to wet, damp soil. Place a tile or hay under the fruit. Lack of flavour – not ripe enough. Watermelon is ripe when skin becomes bumpy on the side of the fruit that is in contact with the soil. |
Pests |
| Whitefly – undersides of leaves covered with white insects that fly when disturbed. Control may be difficult once a population has build up so best dealt with early on.
Mites – leaves yellow (stippled or mottled), dehydration, fine webbing on underside of leaves. More severe in warm weather. |
Companion Planting |
From southern Africa
Citrullus lanatus
Like free drainign soil. Hungry – especially for nitrogen and potassium.
Mulch to retain heat, keep down weeds, hold moisture.
Like hot weather towards the end of their growing season. May need 2 to 4 months of growing season
Flick on rind – watermelons should go “punk’ when ripe – a muffled sound. A metallic note is a sign it is not ready yet. The closest tendrils to the fruit should be brown or dead. The patch where the watermelon touches the ground should be yellow