If you wonder what do watermelon plants look like, then we’re here to help you out! Watermelons are incredibly appreciated plants from the cucurbit family with fleshy edible fruits; these juicy plants are grown worldwide and we can use them in a number of purposes.
In modern cuisines, watermelons aren’t only eaten fresh, but they can be baked, roasted, turned into ice cream, or even squeezed for their precious and refreshing juice.
If you are wondering how to recognize a watermelon plant, let’s answer some questions first!
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How Can You Identify a Watermelon Plant?
You can identify a watermelon plant by its big lobed leaves that are fleshy with serrated edges. They have small yellow flowers similar to those of a cucumber plant, and we all know that the fruit has a green rind on the outside and bright red flesh on the inside.
Watermelons grow on vines that come from seedlings planted during summer. They usually take up to three weeks to start producing growth, so there’s some patience included with growing watermelons.
Watermelons can be easily recognized when they have fruit on them, but if you’re looking at a bare plant in your vegetable garden and wonder if it’s a watermelon, you’d probably want to address a few things first.
– Leaves
The leaves of a watermelon plant begin as small buds at the node center and then grow out until they reach their full size. It has big lobed leaves which are unique to all watermelon plants. These leaves look a lot like those of an oak tree but grow much bigger and fleshier with serrated edges.
The leaves are oval or triangular-shaped with pointed tips. They are usually dark green on top and light green below. Some can say that they are similar to cucumber leaves, but that’s because of a cantaloupe watermelon variety. However, watermelons produce more triangular-shaped leaves.
The leaves of a watermelon plant grow rather large, growing up to four feet long and reaching two feet wide when mature. The color can vary depending on the age of the plant, starting yellowish green and then turning dark green when fully developed. The center of the leaf is pale green with a stripe down its length.
– Flowers
These plants bear small yellow flowers similar to those of a cucumber plant. These blooms often have four to five petals and have small follicles below them.
Watermelons have both female and male flowers. Blooming is an important life phase of watermelon plants. Being members of the cucumber family, watermelons don’t cross-pollinate but they rely on insects, elements, birds, and bees to pollinate them. If you’re growing them in your vegetable garden, you can pollinate them by hand.
Pollination is done by rubbing the pollen-rich stamen against the stigma of the flower to make sure the pollen sticks to it. Always pollinate the female flowers first as they are most successful and productive at forming fruit. You’ll definitely have to be quick as flowers only last a single day!
– Fruit
Watermelon fruits are one of the most popular around. They are sweet, juicy, and refreshing, and the perfect way to beat the heat in the summertime. But what does a watermelon fruit actually look like?
These come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, but the most common type is round, with a bright green rind on the outside and bright pink or red flesh on the inside. The bright pink flesh is dotted with hundreds of edible black watermelon seeds. There also exists a seedless watermelon, but more on that later.
Watermelons can range in size from a few pounds to over a few dozen pounds, and some of the larger varieties can even be used as decorations. Watermelons are also rich in vitamins and minerals, making them a healthy snack for any time of day. So the next time you’re at the grocery store, don’t forget to pick up a watermelon and enjoy a delicious, nutritious snack!
In addition to seeded watermelons, there are also seedless watermelons available. Seedless watermelons are created by crossing two varieties of watermelon plants, and they’re usually smaller and sweeter than seeded varieties.
Seedless watermelons can be planted and grown just like regular watermelons, but they need to be planted in an isolated area to prevent cross-pollination with seeded varieties.
– Popular Watermelon Varieties
From seedless to seeded and small to large — there’s a watermelon variety for everyone’s taste.
- One of the most popular varieties is seedless watermelon. As the name implies, this type of watermelon doesn’t have any seeds, making it easier to eat. They come in a range of sizes, from small personal-sized melons to large melons that weigh up to 40 pounds!
- Another popular variety is the yellow watermelon. These melons have bright yellow flesh with a sweet, honey-like flavor. They are also seedless, making them easy to eat.
- Finally, there is the crimson-sweet watermelon. This variety is known for its sweet taste and bright red flesh. It is also one of the most well-known varieties in the United States.
If we’re talking variety names, some popular varieties include Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby, and Charleston Grey. Crimson Sweet is a popular variety that produces sweet, juicy fruits with deep red flesh. Sugar Baby is a small, sweet variety that’s perfect for smaller gardens, and Charleston Grey is an heirloom variety that produces large, sweet fruits.
Check out Plants that look like Watermelons.
Watermelons are an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. These fruits are also excellent sources of dietary fiber and potassium. One cup of sliced watermelon contains about 58 calories, 0 grams of protein, 14 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fat, and 0 grams of sugar.
Watermelons also contain lycopene, which may have anti-oxidant properties and may help to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Watermelons also contain citrulline, which may help with blood pressure. This fruit is also rich in certain nutrients that can promote muscle growth and repair, which makes it a great post-workout snack.
So if you’re looking for a watermelon to enjoy this summer, there’s sure to be a variety that fits your needs. Now let’s get onto some growing tips!
How Do You Grow Watermelon Plants for Beautiful Looks?
To grow watermelon plants for beautiful looks, provide them with warm temperatures as they do best in climates with long and hot summers. Watermelon vines need plenty of sunlight and should be planted in full sun. The soil should be well-drained and have a pH level between 6.0-6.8.
Watermelon plants need plenty of water, and it’s best to water these plants deeply and frequently. Your plants should be watered at least once every week, and sometimes even more in the hotter climates. It’s also important to fertilize your watermelon plants regularly to ensure they’re getting all the nutrients they need.
Growing watermelon plants is fairly simple and can be done with minimal effort.
– Provide Raised Beds
Growing tips often include another popular option — raised beds. Raised beds provide excellent drainage and aeration for watermelons, and they also make it easier to control the soil temperature.
When planting watermelons in raised beds, make sure the beds are at least eight inches deep and are filled with well-draining soil. The topsoil should be mulched to retain moisture and keep the bed compost cool.
– Care For Watermelon Plants
As with most plants, there are a few things you can do to ensure your watermelon plants thrive. Make sure that you’re planting your watermelon plants in a sunny location that receives plenty of sunlight — watermelons require a lot of it.
Make sure that the soil where you plant watermelons is rich in organic matter, such as compost or composted manure. Watermelons thrive in rich soil that is well-drained. When it comes to watermelon plant care, you should also ensure that you’re weeding your garden regularly, especially if you’re growing watermelons in the ground.
– Propagate Watermelons
Watermelons can be grown from watermelon seed or from a transplanted plant. For seeds, the best time to plant them is about 10 to 12 weeks before the last expected frost date for your area. If you’re growing watermelons from transplants, the best time to plant watermelons is about six to eight weeks before your area’s last expected frost date.
While you can grow watermelons indoors, they do best in outdoor conditions when temperatures are warm. When growing watermelons from seeds, it’s best to plant them in pots or trays. You can choose pots or trays made from organic materials, or you can use plastic containers.
The seeds should be spaced 4 to 6 feet apart and planted in rows that are 8 to 10 feet apart. Once the seeds have been planted, it’s important to keep the soil even and moist until the seedlings emerge.
It usually takes about a week for the watermelon seedlings to emerge. The seedlings will look like small, green watermelon vines with two to four leaves. It’s important to thin the seedlings so that each plant has enough room to grow. The plants should be thinned to one plant per mound of soil and should be spaced 8 to 10 feet apart.
Watermelons can be grown from seeds or from transplants, but you can also use cuttings. Place the stem with a single leaf in water and change the water occasionally. The first sign of roots should show after a month or two. After the first fresh few leaves appear, you can now plant the stem in the soil.
– Watch Out for Pests
While most pests will not harm watermelon plants, there are a few that may affect the plant and the fruit itself.
Squash bugs, for example, will feed on watermelon leaves and lower stems. Spider mites are another common pest that feeds on watermelons, as well as other plants in your vegetable garden.
Whiteflies can also feed on watermelon leaves, with the larvae feeding on the plant’s sap. While these pests won’t kill your plants, they can stunt growth and damage your plants and fruit.
– Prevent Diseases
There are a few diseases that affect watermelon plants, including anthracnose, fusarium wilt, and verticillium wilt. Anthracnose is a fungal disease that affects the leaves and fruit, while fusarium wilt attacks the roots and causes stunted growth and wilted leaves. Verticillium wilt is a bacterial disease that may kill the plant.
– Harvest Watermelons
Harvest watermelons when they’re in their 8th to 10th week after planting. The fruits should be harvested when the bottom of the fruit turns yellow and the rind is slightly soft to the touch. The fruits should be carefully cut with a knife or shears from the vines and handled gently to avoid bruising.
While you can start harvesting watermelons as early as 50 days after planting, they are typically ready and best to harvest between 90 to 100 days. The main indicator that you can harvest watermelon is when the stem holding the fruit breaks off easily from the vine.
You can also pick the watermelon, but this can damage the vine, which may stunt the growth of the plant. Once harvested, watermelons should be kept in a cool place and away from direct sunlight for up to 10 days.
Conclusion
Watermelon is one of the summer season’s most beloved fruits and a favorite among gardeners and farmers alike, but what do watermelon plants actually look like? It’s easy to recognize them once the fruit shows up, but these indicators will definitely help:
- Look for oval or triangular-shaped leaves. These lobed leaves are unique to all watermelon plants. These leaves look a lot like those of an oak tree.
- These plants bear small yellow flowers with four to five petals and small follicles below them.
- Fruits come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, but the most common type is round, with a bright green rind on the outside and a bright pink flesh on the inside. The bright pink flesh is dotted with hundreds of edible black seeds.
All in all, if you’re lucky enough to recognize a watermelon plant in your garden, just give it plenty of water and enjoy this beautiful fruit soon!
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