Unpack the kit. Fill your pot with the given growing medium (soil mix) and level the surface. Wet the growing medium with water to provide the right environment for seeds to germinate.

Sow seeds 1 and half inches deep and cover with a layer of soil. Water the seeds well and keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate. 

GERMINATION:

The sprouts should emerge within 5 -10 days. Make sure that the growing medium stays moist.

WATER REQUIREMENT:

Water regularly. Check the soil once or twice each day for moisture loss.

Watermelons grown in a pot will need to be watered daily or at least 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and overhead watering. Reduce watering once fruits are growing. Dry weather produces the sweetest melon.

TRANSPLANTING:

When the seedlings have 3-5 leaves and reach 3-4 inches tall, you should transplant your entire biodegradable pot into desirable pot or space.

Before transplanting, keep two healthy plants and remove others. At the base of the soil, cut the weakest seedlings out. Be careful not to disturb the roots of the healthy plant. This process is called plant thinning and its a great way to ensure healthy growth. 

Soil preparation for transplanting:

The soil mix for transplanting your Watermelon GIY Kit should be deep, loose, well-drained and rich in organic matter.

A rich soil mix will have the following:

Sand- 20-30%, good soil 40%, mixture of organic manure/ vermicompost/ neem khod/ diveli khod 30-40%.

GROWTH AND FRUITING:

 As your plant grows, provide support to the plant for trellising or ground space for branch spreading. 

 Your plant should start flowering in 25-30 days and fruit should come in 40-50 days after planting seeds. 

When your fruit starts setting, leave two to three fruits per plant. You will have to remove all the other fruits when they are small (just after fruit set) to ensure healthy growth. As fruit is growing, prevent rotting by gently lifting it and putting cardboard or straw between the fruit and the soil.

Watermelons Growing Vertically on Trellis

FERTILIZER:

In order for watermelons to grow well, it’s important to provide the right nutrients. Our Watermelon GIY kit contains organic micronutrients. Use them as per instructions. You can also use neem based bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides, if necessary.

INSECTS AND DISEASES:

Keep an eye out for squash bugs, cucumber beetles, squash vine borers, and aphids.  The best way to control these pests is to remove them by hand. You can also use a mixture of Neem Oil (2-3 mls) and water (1 ltr) and spray the plant weekly to avoid diseases and pests.