Watermelon is one of the most popular fruits in the summer, but how much do you know about it? The life cycle of a watermelon is what this blog post will be discussing. We’ll take a look at where they grow and when their best season is for harvesting, as well as looking at some history behind them!
If you are wondering where you can find this refreshing fruit, it is in tropical climates year-round. The majority of them are grown in Africa and China. Different varieties will be found all over Central America as well though! You might also find some growing on vines that have been trained along wires or cables to provide easy access for harvesting.
These plants require large amounts of watering so they should be near bodies of water such as lakes and rivers too. What’s their best season for harvest? If your family has always bought those fruits from the store then it’s likely summertime was when you first noticed them popping up at markets – which is definitely their peak season! The tastiest time to enjoy watermelons is in the summer.
Life Cycle of a Watermelon
Watermelon is a fruit enjoyed by millions of people around the world. While first domesticated in Africa, there are now over 1000 types of watermelons in existence that are available across the globe- from Japan to Southern California! If you enjoy this light and refreshing treat, it’s important for you to know how they grow into their large size because once picked off one plant or tree, they can’t be shared with other humans nearby without spoilage.
Lets dig into the Life Cycle of a Watermelon!
A typical life cycle starts as seeds planted about 20 inches apart outdoors on fertile soil typically during warm weather (March through July). The plants will take between 8-12 weeks before reaching maturity where harvestable fruits should start appearing every 3 -4 days at most depending on care given each day.
The Watermelon Seed
It all starts with the watermelon seed. Watermelon seeds contain vitamins and nutrients, including zinc and magnesium. Some people like to eat these seeds! However, it’s more common for people to plant seeds in the ground.
It’s essential to take care of the seeds before planting them. It begins with rinsing them off and setting them out to dry for about a week. Before planting the seed, it’s vital to make sure it’s the right time for you to do it. It’s best to plant seeds when the weather outside is warmer, making May, June, July, and August great months to start planting the watermelon seeds.
The seeds need to get planted in the correct type of soil. They’ll need soil with a pH of anywhere between 6.0 and 7.5. Some people plant the seeds in raised beds, while others put them directly in the ground. No matter which method a person chooses, the planting of the seeds starts the life cycle of a watermelon.
The Sprout
Once planted in the soil, it’s time to wait for the sprout. It signifies that you’ve planted the watermelon seeds correctly and your plants are growing. You can expect to see the sprouts appearing in the ground within three days of planting the seeds. In some instances, it can take a bit longer. It’s not uncommon for sprouts to appear up to ten days after planting watermelon seeds. The sprouts will look like small green leaves.
The Vine
As the plant begins to mature, the sprout grows in size, meaning the vine starts to appear. The vine is one of the most critical parts of the life cycle. Giant watermelons will expand on this vine, using it for support as they continue to thrive. The vines offer whole watermelons extra protection from the sun to prevent sun damage from occurring.
The Flower
Don’t be alarmed if you start seeing flowers appearing on your watermelon vines. It’s a normal part of the watermelon’s life cycle. Male and female flowers will begin to appear on the vine. They’re often a bright yellow, noticeable color. It’s common for male flowers to fall off the vine a week or so before the female flowers begin blooming. Don’t get discouraged if you see a few flowers falling from the vine because that means they were male flowers. The female flowers will blossom and stick to the vine to bear the watermelon.
Green Watermelon
It will feel like it almost happened overnight, but soon you’ll start to see green watermelons growing in your garden. When the fruit first appears, don’t expect it to look nearly as large as other watermelons that you’d find at the grocery store. The reason they’re smaller at this point is that they’ve not matured enough for harvesting yet. The green watermelon isn’t ripe. You’ll need to continue watering your watermelon plants regularly to keep them hydrated and growing until they reach maturity.
Ripe Watermelon
Give it enough time, and you’ll soon see large, ripe watermelons ready for harvesting. It can take as little as 70 days for watermelons to mature. If it doesn’t happen that soon for you, don’t worry. It’s normal for it to take 80-90 days for the average watermelon to reach maturity. Once it’s mature, you can examine its exterior and determine if it’s ready for you to harvest.
After harvesting the ripe watermelon, you can cut into it and enjoy it, saving the seeds to plant more watermelons! If you decide to plant more seeds, the life cycle begins all over again. It starts with adding the seeds to the soil, taking good care of the seeds, and watching them turn into full ripe watermelons in no time.
Essential Things to Know About Watermelon
Watermelons are a flavorful and fresh fruit that many people enjoy. If you’d love to know more about them, you’re in the right place. Check out these unique and interesting facts about the fruit that you might not have known!
- Watermelons get their reddish-pink color from lycopene. Studies show lycopene can reduce a person’s risk of developing cancer. If you’re not already eating watermelon to stay healthy, it’s a great time to start!
- The average watermelon weighs roughly eight pounds. Of course, some watermelons are much more giant than that and will weigh a lot more.
- If a watermelon is round, it’s going to have a sweeter taste. If you get a larger watermelon with an oblong shape, it’s likely going to taste watery because it has more water inside it.
- When you’re harvesting your watermelon, make sure to cut off the stem. You can use a knife or sharp scissors to remove the stem from the watermelon. You don’t want to keep the stem attached because of the bacteria it contains.
- Check for spots on your watermelon. An orange mark indicates that the watermelon tastes sweet, while the white spot often means the exact opposite.
- You can add different spices to your watermelon for flavor. Sprinkle a bit of ground cinnamon or tajin on your watermelon to take its flavor to the next level.
With valuable information like this, you can understand the life cycle of watermelon and what to expect when growing them in your garden.
The life cycle of a watermelon begins with the seeds and ends with ripe watermelons that you’ll harvest and eat with your loved ones. Watermelon is a fantastic fruit to eat on its own.
However, you can add it into fruit salads and even put it in water to give the beverage more flavor. It’s the perfect treat to serve when you have a barbecue with family and friends. Best of all, it’s not too hard to grow!
Get my Printable pack for the Life Cycle of a Watermelon!
12 pages of fun for those Pre-K and Kindergarten folks you know. We always had sheets like this printed out and in a “busy” box for the car. Add a few colored pencils and crayons – and you are all set for those road trips, longer restaurant waits, or even rainy camping days!
See it in our store HERE: Watermelons, Watermelon Life Cycle, Instant Download, Digital Download, Kid’s Worksheet, STEM
Other life cycle articles you may enjoy:
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