Watermelon

This plant is a warm season crop. It benefits from warm soil temps. This can be accomplished using a combination of techniques. Planti...Read Moreng on a sandy soil is a major one. The sand will warm up more quickly than clay type soils. Also plastic mulches will help to get the soil warmed up. This works because solar radiation is trapped between the plastic and the soil. It also prevents evaporative cooling. Another way warm the soil is to increase its exposure to southern sun rays. This can be done by creating a ridge several inches tall going east to west above the soil line. This soil will warm faster and provide a good place for your watermelon seedlings.

This is a warm season vegetable, so sow after the threat of frost is passed.