The seed package (Burpee) says 85 days, Sept- May for my zone. Does this sound correct? 15 days germination to seedling + 85 days to harvest. If I plant the seeds now I should have watermelon from Thanksgiving to Christmas???
Can I still plant Orange Tendersweet watermelon?
Later in the season the sun will be lower and the daylight shorter....might be 120 days if it works.
Yes, here in south TX things take longer in the fall/winter unless planted in a high tunnel or hoop house.
Hmm, I guess I am puzzled by the Sept - May planting window that's on the package. I didn't think that one could start watermelon in fall/winter.
Sounds correct for your zone which is similar to mine. If it doesn't get cold there, you shouldn't have a problem.
The saying here is "plant melons when the days are increasing for sweeter melons." Melons for the field are usually started here Jan-Mar. I planted my first cantaloupes in the field mid Jan. this year.
They took a bit longer than the days on the package because we had multiple cold spells while they were growing. The first melons were not ripe until May.