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Watermelon

Citrullus lanatus

Fruits📅 80–100 days to harvest☀️ Full sun (8+ hours)

Overview

Watermelons are a quintessential Florida crop, thriving in the state's warm temperatures, sandy soils, and long growing season. Florida is one of the top watermelon-producing states in the U.S., and home gardeners can grow exceptional melons with surprisingly little effort — watermelons are less finicky than many other garden crops once they're established.

The vines are vigorous and sprawling, requiring substantial space (or creative trellising for smaller varieties). Florida gardeners should plant after soil temperatures reach 70°F and choose varieties with good resistance to fusarium wilt and anthracnose, two diseases prevalent in Florida soils. Icebox types (personal-sized melons) are ideal for smaller gardens and mature faster than full-sized varieties.

Growing in Florida

Florida is consistently among the top three U.S. watermelon-producing states, with commercial production centered in Levy, Suwannee, and Alachua counties in North-Central Florida. The state produces both seeded and seedless varieties for national markets. Home gardeners should be aware that seedless watermelon varieties require a pollinator variety (seeded type) planted nearby for fruit set. The Florida Watermelon Association promotes the state's crop annually, and watermelon festivals are common throughout North Florida during harvest season (May–July).

Planting Calendar

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Central FL
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South FL
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Growing Guide

🌱Soil Type
Sandy, well-drained soil with compost in planting hills
⚗️Soil pH
6.0–6.8
☀️Sun Requirement
Full sun (8+ hours)
💧Water Needs
1–2 inches per week during vine growth, reduce as fruit ripens
📏Spacing
Hills 6–8 feet apart, 2–3 seeds per hill, thin to strongest plant
📅Days to Harvest
80–100
🧪Fertilizer
6-6-6 at planting. Side-dress with potassium-rich fertilizer at fruit set.
🌿Propagation
Direct seed into warm soil (70°F+)

Companion Planting

🌱 Corn
Provides afternoon shade and wind protection for young watermelon vines
🌱 Marigold
Deters nematodes and attracts pollinators needed for fruit set
🌱 Radish
Fast-maturing trap crop that diverts flea beetles away from melon seedlings
🌱 Nasturtium
Attracts aphids away from watermelon vines as a sacrificial trap crop

Pests & Diseases

pestAphids
Insecticidal soap or strong water spray. Reflective mulch deters winged aphids. Aphids transmit viruses, so early control is important.
pestRindworm (Pickle Worm)
Row cover during early growth. Bt for young larvae. Harvest promptly to reduce damage.
diseaseFusarium Wilt
Plant resistant varieties (most modern types have resistance). Rotate planting location. Avoid planting where melons grew in the past 3 years.
diseaseAnthracnose
Choose resistant varieties. Apply fungicide during wet weather. Remove infected plant debris.

Florida Varieties

Crimson Sweet
The classic large watermelon. Sweet, red flesh with dark and light green striped rind. Very well adapted to Florida.
Sugar Baby
Icebox-type (8–10 lbs) perfect for small gardens. Dark green rind, sweet red flesh. Matures in about 80 days.
Jubilee
Large, elongated melon popular in Florida commercial production. Sweet flavor and good disease resistance.
Sangria
Seedless hybrid with excellent sweetness and deep red color. Requires a pollinator variety planted nearby.

Flavor Profile

Texture
Crisp, juicy, granular flesh that melts on the tongue
Best Eaten
Raw

Nutrition Highlights

Health note: Watermelon is one of the richest food sources of lycopene, even surpassing tomatoes. It also contains citrulline, an amino acid that the body converts to arginine, supporting blood flow and cardiovascular health.

Culinary Uses

Fresh slices are the classic summer snack. Cubed in fruit salads with mint and feta cheese. Blended into agua fresca, smoothies, and cocktails. Grilled watermelon slabs develop surprising caramelized flavor. Watermelon rind can be pickled — a traditional Southern preservation technique. Juice can be reduced into watermelon syrup. Seeds can be roasted for a nutritious snack.

Storage Tips

Whole watermelon stores at room temperature for 7–10 days, or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Once cut, wrap tightly and refrigerate for 3–5 days. Cut watermelon can be frozen in cubes for smoothies and frozen treats. For the best flavor, serve slightly chilled rather than ice-cold — extreme cold mutes the sweetness.

💡 Fun Fact

Watermelon is 92% water, making it one of the most hydrating foods available — especially valuable during Florida's hot, humid summers. Ancient watermelons were bitter and were first cultivated in Africa primarily as a portable water source for desert travel, not as a sweet fruit. The sweet, red-fleshed watermelon we know today is the result of thousands of years of selective breeding.