Description
Watermelon,
Citrullus lanatus, is a vining annual plant in the family Cucurbitaceae grown for its fleshy fruit. Watermelon vines are thin, grooved and covered in tiny hairs. Vines are branching and possess deeply lobed pinnate leaves. The plant produces solitary yellow flowers and and a large spherical to oblong fruit. The fruit is a 'pepo' - a fleshy fruit protected by a thick leathery rind. The fruit is smooth, light to dark green in color and can be striped, marbled or solid green. The flesh of the fruit is usually red in color but some cultivars produce green, orange or white flesh and contains numerous seeds which are usually black or dark brown in color. Watermelon vines can reach a length of 3 m (10 ft) and as an annual, survives only one growing season. Watermelon originates from Africa.
Watermelon cut open to show flesh and seeds
Young watermelon fruit developing on the vine
Watermelon on vine
Watermelon on vine
Watermelon blossom
Watermelon blossom
Uses
Watermelon is usually consumed as a fresh fruit. In Africa it is sometimes cooked before eating and may also be used as an animal feed.
Propagation
Requirements
Watermelon is a warm-season crop, requiring lots of sun and good drainage to develop optimally and growing best at temperatures between 18 and 28°C (65–82°F). Watermelon will yield best if grown in a light, well-draining soil, rich in organic matter and with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Watermelon should be planted in full sun and heavy feeders. They need to be provided with even soil moisture and fertilized regularly. Vining varieties can grow to very large sizes and require a good deal of space.
Sowing seeds
Watermelon can be direct seeded in areas with a long, warm growing season but in more Northern climates it should be sown indoors and transplanted. If direct seeding,seeds should be sown after the last frosts and when the soil has warmed to at least 18.4°C (65°F). Allow 90–120 cm (~3–4 ft) between seeds in a row and 150–180 cm (~5–6 ft) between rows. If transplanting, seeds should be sown approximately 3–4 weeks before the last frost date in your area and transplanted after the plants develop their first set of true leaves. Sow seeds in 3–4 in pots using a sterile seed starting mix and planting to a depth of 1–2 cm (~0.5 in). Thin seedlings once they are established. Seeds sown both indoors and out require lightly moist soil for germination, care should be taken to avoid overwatering as seeds are prone to rotting. Seeds should germinate in 3–10 days depending on the soil temperature.
Transplanting
Watermelon seedlings should be transplanted when all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 18.4°C (65°F). Covering soil with dark plastic or mulch a week prior to planting outdoors can help bring the soil temperature up more quickly in colder regions, allowing earlier planting. Beginning approximately 7–10 days before transplanting, plants should be set outside to harden off (see https://www.plantvillage.com/posts/264). The planting site should be prepared by incorporating plenty of organic matter to encourage vegetative growth. When transplanting seedlings, allow 90–120 cm (~3–4 ft) between plants and 150–180 cm (~5–6 ft) between rows. Drip or soaker irrigation is preferred to overhead irrigation and plants should be watered evenly to keep them moist.
General care
Watermelon vines are sprawling and require plenty space to grow. Vines can be trained to grow on a trellis or fence to save space. Watermelon plants Watermelons have a very deep root system which allows them to access soil moisture efficiently. However, if conditions are very dry for prolonged periods then additional water should be provided.. Plastic mulches are highly recommended in areas where conditions are not ideal for growth as they conserve soil moisture and black polyethylene has the advantage of warming the soil. Floating row covers can be beneficial while the plants establish to protect against insect pests.
Harvesting
Watermelons are ready to be harvested when the the tendrils closest to the fruit are beginning to dry out and turn brown. The underside of the melon should be beginning to turn yellow
Watermelon seedling
Germinating watermelon
References
CABI Crop Protection Compendium. (2010). Citrullus lanatus (watermelon). Available at: http://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/13678. [Accessed 21 April 15].
Paid subscription required.
Roberts, W., Motes, J., Damicone, J., Duthie, J. & Edelson, J. Watermelon production. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. Available at: http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-1110/F-6236web.pdf. [Accessed 21 April 15].
Free to access.
Saha, S. (2014). Watermelon. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service & University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Available at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/NewCrops/introsheets/watermelon.pdf. [Accessed 21 April 15].
Free to access.
Zitter, T. A., Hopkins, D. L. & Thomas, C. E. (1996). Compendium of Cucurbit diseases. American Phytopathological Society Press. Available at: http://www.apsnet.org/apsstore/shopapspress/Pages/42074.aspx.
Available for purchase from APS Press.
Common Pests and Diseases
Diseases
Category : Fungal
Alternaria leaf blight
Alternaria cucumerina
Symptoms
Small, yellow-brown spots with a yellow or green halo which first appear on the oldest leaves; as the disease progresses, lesions expand and becone large necrotic patches, often with concentric patternation; lesions coalesce, leaves begin to curl and eventually die
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Management
Cucurbits should be rotated with another crop every 2 years to reduce levels of inoculum; crop debris should be removed from the field as quickly as possible after harvest or plowed deeply into the soil; applications of appropriate protective fungicides can help to slow the development of the disease; water plants from the base rather than from above to reduce periods of leaf wetness which are conducive to the development and spread of disease
Alternaria leaf spot (Brown spot)
Alternaria spp.
Alternaria lesions on melon foliage
Alternaria lesions on melon foliage
Alternaria lesions on watermelon leaf
Symptoms
Irregularly shaped or circular dark brown lesions on leaves; lesions may occur in concentric circles
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Management
Rotate crop with non-cucurbit for at least 2 years; plow crop debris deeply into soil after harvest; avoid overhead irrigation, water plants at base; apply appropriate protective fungicides
Anthracnose
Colletotrichum orbiculare
Anthracnose lesions on watermelon fruit
Anthracnose lesions on watermelon foliage
Close-up image of anthracnose lesion on watermelon rind
Anthracnose lesions on watermelon stem
Anthracnose lesions on watermelon fruit
Anthracnose lesions on watermelon foliage
Symptoms
Angular dark brown or black lesions on leaves with yellow border; elongated lesions with sunken centers on stems and fruit
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Management
Rotate crops with non-cucurbits every 1-2 years to prevent disease build-up; plant only disease free, treated seed
Cercospora leaf spot
Cercospora citrullina
Symptoms
Initial symptoms of disease occur on older leaves as small spots with light to tan brown centers; as the disease progresses, the lesions enlarge to cover large areas of the leaf surface; lesions may have a dark border and be surrounded by a chlorotic area; the centers of the lesions may become brittle and crack
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Management
Any diseased plants should be removed and destroyed to prevent further spread; crop debris should be removed after harvest or plowed deeply into the soil to reduce inoculum
Downy mildew
Pseudoperonospora cubensis
Necrotic leaves curling upwards due to downy mildew infection
Downy mildew symptoms on watermelon foliage
Leaves severely infected with downy mildew
Symptoms of downy mildew on watermelon leaf
Downy mildew symptoms on watermelon foliage
Symptoms
Yellow mottling on leaves; dark brown lesions on leaves; leaves curling inwards;
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Management
Do not overcrowd plants; avoid overhead irrigation, water plants from base; apply appropriate fungicide
Fusarium wilt
Fusarium oxysporum
Discolored stem tissue caused by Fusarium infection
Symptoms of fusarium wilt in a watermelon field
Symptoms of fusarium wilt in a watermelon field
Symptoms
Wilting plants; wilting confined to one or more vines; foliage has a dull gray-green appearance and turns yellow as the disease progresses; vascular tissue has a red discoloration
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Management
Plant in well draining soils and avoid waterlogging; plant fungicide treated seed; rotate crops on 4 year rotation
Gummy stem blight
Didymella bryoniae
Gummy stem blight lesions on watermelon foliage
Gummy stem blight symptoms on watermelon
Gummy stem blight lesions on watermelon foliage
Gummy stem blight lesions on watermelon foliage
Gummy stem blight lesions on watermelon stem
Symptoms of gummy stem blight on watermelon stems and leaves
Gummy stem blight symptoms on watermelon
Close-up of gummy stem blight lesion on watermelon leaf margin
Symptoms
Round or irregular brown lesions with faint concentric rings on cotyledons; brown or white lesions on crown and stems; soft, circular brown lesions on fruit; lesions on stems and fruit may be oozing an amber colored sticky substance
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Management
Use disease free seed; treat seeds prior to planting; rotate crops every 2-3 years to a non-cucurbit to reduce disease build up in soil; reduce crop residue in soil by plowing plant debris into soil after harvest; application of preventative fungicides are usually required to control the disease successfully
Powdery mildew
Podosphaera xanthii
Podosphaera fuliginea
Symptoms of powdery mildew on watermelon leaves
Symptoms of powdery mildew on watermelon leaves
Symptoms of powdery mildew on watermelon leaves
Symptoms
Reddish or bronze appearance of older leaves; obvious patches of white powdery growth on leaves
Cause
Fungi
Comments
Management
Plant in sites with good air circulation and sun exposure; do not overcrowd plants; sanitize equipment regularly
Verticillium wilt
Verticillium dahliae
Symptoms
Symptoms generally appear after fruit set; chlorotic leaves which develop necrotic areas; leaves collapsing; symptoms only on one side of vine; discoloration of vascular tissue in roots
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Management
Do not plant in areas where other susceptible crops have been grown previously; delay planting until temperatures are warmer
Category : Bacterial
Angular leaf spot
Pseudomonas syringae
Symptoms
Small water-soaked lesions on leaves which expand between leaf veins and become angular in shape; in humid conditions, lesions exude a milky substance which dries to form a white crust on or beside lesions; as the disease progresses, lesions turn tan and may have yellow/green edges; the centers of the lesions dry and may drop out leaving a hole in the leaf
Cause
Bacterium
Comments
Management
Use disease-free seed; do not grow plants in field where cucurbits have been grown in the previous 2 years; protective copper spray may help reduce incidence of disease in warm, humid climates; plant resistant varieties
Bacterial fruit blotch
Acidovorax avenae
Symptoms of bacterial fruit blotch on watermelon fruit
Symptoms of bacterial fruit blotch on watermelon foliage
Symptoms of bacterial fruit blotch on watermelon fruit
Symptoms of bacterial fruit blotch on watermelon foliage
Symptoms of bacterial fruit blotch on watermelon fruit
Symptoms
Small water-soaked lesions on top or sides of fruit which enlarge over surface; lesions on fruit may turn reddish or brown and crack
Cause
Bacterium
Comments
Management
Use pathogen-free seed and transplants; rotate crops; avoid the use of overhead irrigation
Category : Other
Aster yellows
Aster yellows phytoplasma
Symptoms
Foliage turning yellow; secondary shoots begin growing prolifically; stems take on a rigid, upright growth habit; leaves are often small in size and distorted, may appear thickened; flowers are often disfigured and possess conspicuous leafy bracts; fruits are small and pale in color
Cause
Phytoplasma
Comments
Management
Remove any infected plants from the field to reduce spread; control weeds in and around the field that may act as a reservoir for the phytoplasma; protect plants from leaf hopper vectors with row covers
Blossom-end rot
Symptoms
Symptoms first appear on immature fruits as small light brown spots close to the blossom end of the fruit; as fruit grow, the spots enlarge, resulting in dark leathery lesions sunken into the fruit
Cause
Nutritional disorder
Comments
Management
Blossom-end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the developing fruit and it occurs when the uptake of nutrients to the plant is disrupted; factors which disrupt nutrient uptake include drought, root damage or high soil salinity; application of excess nitrogen fertilizer may also contribute to the development of blossom-end rot as it promotes vigorous growth of vegetative tissues and depletion of calcium in the soil; watering plants evenly and regularly reduces the incidence of blossom-end rot
Category : Viral
Cucumber green mottle mosaic
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV)
Symptoms
Early symptoms on young plants include vein-clearing and the development of crumpled leaves; older plants develop bleached and/or chlorotic leaves. As the infection progresses, leaves develop mottling and become blistered and distorted. Leaf symptoms are very difficult to distinguish from other mosaic viruses of Cucurbits/ Severity of symptoms varies depending on the strain of the virus.
Cause
Virus
Comments
Management
As the virus is spread primarily by infected seed, only disease-free seed from a reputable supplier should be planted. Seedlings and plants infected with the virus should be removed and destroyed to prevent spread. All seedlings/plants within a 3-5 ft radius of the infected plant should also be destroyed. The virus can be spread mechanically via tools and on hands, good sanitation should be practiced at all times to prevent virus transmission - disinfect all tools and equipment between uses by dipping in a solution of bleach or using a commercially available disinfectant such as Virkon.
Cucumber mosaic
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)
Symptoms
Plants may e severely stunted; foliage is covered in distinctive yellow mosaic; leaves of plant curl downwards and leaf size is smaller than normal; flowers on infected plants may be deformed with green petals; fruits become distorted and are small in size; fruit is often discolored
Cause
Viruses
Comments
Management
Control of the virus is largely dependant on the control of the aphid vectors; reflective mulches can deter aphid feeding; aphid outbreaks can be treated with mineral oils or insecticidal soap applications; some resistant varieties are available
Watermelon mosaic
Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV)
Symptoms
Symptoms vary widely depending on species, cultivar, virus strain and environmental conditions; symptoms on leaves may include green mosaic patternation, green vein-banding, chlorotic rings and disfigured leaves
Cause
Virus
Comments
Management
Treatments that control populations of aphid vectors can also reduce the incidence of the virus; spraying plants with mineral oils or insecticidal soaps can help to reduce aphid numbers
Zucchini yellow mosaic
Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV)
Symptoms
Infected plants are severely stunted and leaves can exhibit a variety of symptoms including yellow mosaic patternation, severe deformation, blistering, reduced size and necrosis; fruits are deformed
Cause
Virus
Comments
Management
Use of resistant varieties, where available, is usually the most effective method of controlling the virus; control of aphid populations on the plants can be achieved through the use of mineral oils and insecticidal soaps but is rarely effective at controlling the virus
Pests
Category : Insects
Aphids (Peach aphid, Melon aphid)
Myzus persicae
Aphid gossypii
Peach aphid colony
Symptoms
Small soft bodied insects on underside of leaves and/or stems of plant; usually green or yellow in color, but may be pink, brown, red or black depending on species and host plant; if aphid infestation is heavy it may cause leaves to yellow and/or distorted, necrotic spots on leaves and/or stunted shoots; aphids secrete a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew which encourages the growth of sooty mold on the plants
Cause
Insects
Comments
Management
If aphid population is limited to just a few leaves or shoots then the infestation can be pruned out to provide control; check transplants for aphids before planting; use tolerant varieties if available; reflective mulches such as silver colored plastic can deter aphids from feeding on plants; sturdy plants can be sprayed with a strong jet of water to knock aphids from leaves; insecticides are generally only required to treat aphids if the infestation is very high - plants generally tolerate low and medium level infestation; insecticidal soaps or oils such as neem or canola oil are usually the best method of control; always check the labels of the products for specific usage guidelines prior to use
Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Slide Set, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Bugwood.org
Symptoms
Large or small holes in leaves; damage often extensive; caterpillars are pale green with a white lines running down either side of their body; caterpillars are easily distinguished by the way they arch their body when moving; eggs are laid singly, usually on the lower leaf surface close to the leaf margin, and are white or pale green in color
Cause
Insect
Comments
Management
Looper populations are usually held in check by natural enemies; if they do become problematic larvae can be hand-picked from the plants; an organically acceptable control method is the application of Bacillus thuringiensis which effectively kills younger larvae; chemical sprays may damage populations of natural enemies and should and should be selected carefully
Cutworms
Agrotis spp.
Peridroma saucia
Nephelodes minians
and others
Cutworm severing plant stem
Symptoms
Stems of young transplants or seedlings may be severed at soil line; if infection occurs later, irregular holes are eaten into the surface of fruits; larvae causing the damage are usually active at night and hide during the day in the soil at the base of the plants or in plant debris of toppled plant; larvae are 2.5–5.0 cm (1–2 in) in length; larvae may exhibit a variety of patterns and coloration but will usually curl up into a C-shape when disturbed
Cause
Insects
Comments
Management
Remove all plant residue from soil after harvest or at least two weeks before planting, this is especially important if the previous crop was another host such as alfalfa, beans or a leguminous cover crop; plastic or foil collars fitted around plant stems to cover the bottom 3 inches above the soil line and extending a couple of inches into the soil can prevent larvae severing plants; hand-pick larvae after dark; spread diatomaceous earth around the base of the plants (this creates a sharp barrier that will cut the insects if they try and crawl over it); apply appropriate insecticides to infested areas of garden or field if not growing organically
Flea beetles
Epitrix spp.
Symptoms
Small holes or pits in leaves that give the foliage a characteristic “shothole” appearance; young plants and seedlings are particularly susceptible; plant growth may be reduced; if damage is severe the plant may be killed; the pest responsible for the damage is a small (1.5–3.0 mm) dark colored beetle which jumps when disturbed; the beetles are often shiny in appearance
Cause
Insects
Comments
Management
In areas where flea beetles are a problem, floating row covers may have to be used prior to the emergence of the beetles to provide a physical barrier to protect young plants; plant seeds early to allow establishment before the beetles become a problem - mature plants are less susceptible to damage; trap crops may provide a measure of control - cruciferous plants are best; application of a thick layer of mulch may help prevent beetles reaching surface; application on diamotecoeus earth or oils such as neem oil are effective control methods for organic growers; application of insecticides containing carbaryl, spinosad, bifenthrin and permethrin can provide adequate control of beetles for up to a week but will need reapplied
Thrips (Western flower thrips, Onion thrips, etc.)
Frankliniella occidentalis
Thrips tabaci
Symptoms
If population is high leaves may be distorted; leaves are covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery; leaves speckled with black feces; insect is small (1.5 mm) and slender and best viewed using a hand lens; adult thrips are pale yellow to light brown and the nymphs are smaller and lighter in color
Cause
Insect
Comments
Management
Avoid planting next to onions, garlic or cereals where very large numbers of thrips can build up; use reflective mulches early in growing season to deter thrips; apply appropriate insecticide if thrips become problematic