Watermelon.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Mittel

Pflanzenart

Annual vegetable

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 2 bis 4 Tage

Endgröße

10 to 20 feet long

Wachstum

Schnell

Winterhärte

USDA 9 bis 11

Blütezeit

Mid to late summer

Pflege

Provide consistent moisture while the fruit is developing, but reduce watering as harvest approaches to concentrate sweetness. Watch for powdery mildew on the leaves and ensure the vines have plenty of room to spread. Harvest when the underside of the melon turns from white to a creamy yellow.

Gießen

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during the active growth phase.

Düngen

Apply a balanced fertilizer early in the season and switch to a low nitrogen formula once flowers appear.

Schneiden

Trim back excessive vine growth if the plant is taking over your entire garden space.

Umtopfen

Watermelons are annuals and are typically grown directly in the ground rather than in pots.

Boden

Well draining, sandy loam

Boden-pH

6.0 to 6.8

Temperatur

18 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

40 bis 70%

Trockenheitstoleranz

Mittel

Lebensdauer

Annual, typically 1 growing season

Wildverbiss-Resistenz

Gering

Sicherheit

Menschen

The plant is generally non-toxic, but ingestion of large amounts of seeds may cause minor digestive discomfort.

Kinder

The large, heavy fruits can pose a crushing hazard if not properly supported on a trellis or stable ground.

Kontaktallergene

Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from the fuzzy, bristly hairs on the stems and leaves.

Allergene in der Luft

There is no significant evidence of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.

Essbarkeit

While the flesh is delicious, avoid consuming the rind unless pickled or cooked, as it can be tough and difficult to digest.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Large, lobed, hairy green leaves
• Long, trailing, vining stems
• Yellow, funnel shaped flowers
• Large, round or oval striped fruit
• Sweet, red or pink flesh

Höhe

0,3 bis 0,5m

Breite

2 bis 4m

Blätter

green, deciduous

Blüten

yellow, 2 bis 4cm

Früchte

green, striped, red, yellow, Late summer to early autumn

Häufige Probleme

• Powdery mildew — A fungal infection that creates a white, dusty appearance on the leaves.
• Aphids — Small insects that suck sap from new growth and can transmit viruses.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed

Pflanzzeit

Spring

Überwinterung

This plant is an annual and will die with the first frost, so there is no need to overwinter it.

Im Kübel

It grows well in large containers of at least 20 liters, provided you use a strong trellis for support.

Planting aromatic herbs like dill nearby can help mask the scent of the vines from pests.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Radish — Radishes can help deter cucumber beetles that often plague watermelons.
• Kapuzinerkresse — These flowers act as a trap crop for aphids and attract beneficial pollinators.

Fernhalten von

• Potato — Potatoes compete heavily for soil nutrients and can harbor blight that affects cucurbits.

Ähnliche Arten

• Gurke — They share similar growth habits and pest vulnerabilities.

Botanisches

Familie

Cucurbitaceae

Gattung

Citrullus

Ordnung

Cucurbitales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Tropical Africa

Artenschutz

This species is widely cultivated and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in hot, sunny environments with well-draining soil and relies on bees for pollination.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nectar source

Bestäuber

Bienen

Verwendung

culinary fruit, juicing, pickling

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

How do I know when a watermelon is ripe?

Look for the field spot on the bottom to turn creamy yellow and the tendril near the stem to dry out.

Can I grow these in containers?

Yes, but you need a very large container and a sturdy trellis to support the heavy fruit.

Woher der Name kommt

The name Citrullus is a diminutive of Citrus, referring to the fruit's resemblance to a small orange, while lanatus means woolly, describing the fine hairs on the stems.

Gut zu wissen

• Watermelons are roughly 92 percent water.
• The heaviest watermelon on record weighed over 350 pounds.
• Ancient Egyptians placed watermelons in tombs to provide nourishment in the afterlife.