There are few things more satisfying in a Georgia summer garden than thumping a big watermelon and hearing that deep hollow knock that means it is perfectly ripe. Northwest Georgia has nearly ideal conditions for watermelon — long hot summers, plenty of sun, and enough rainfall to support big fruit. Here is how to grow them well.
Choosing a variety
For the classic large watermelons that most people picture, Crimson Sweet and Jubilee are the workhorses of NW Georgia gardens — reliable, disease resistant, and delicious. Black Diamond is a heirloom that produces massive fruit and has deep red, intensely sweet flesh. For smaller gardens or shorter seasons, Sugar Baby produces 8 to 10 pound personal-size melons on more compact vines and matures faster than the large varieties.
Space requirements
Watermelons need room. Standard varieties spread 8 to 12 feet in every direction. A single plant can easily take up 60 to 80 square feet of garden space. Plan accordingly — most home gardeners in small spaces do better with Sugar Baby or other icebox varieties that spread less aggressively.
Planting
Direct sow seeds or transplant after the last frost when soil is warm — mid-April to early May in our area. Plant in hills with 3 to 4 seeds per hill, thinning to the best 2 plants. Space hills 6 feet apart in rows 8 feet apart. Watermelons love heat and will sit dormant in cold soil, so do not rush the planting date.
Feeding and watering
Watermelons are heavy feeders. Work compost and a complete fertilizer into the planting hill before setting seeds. Side-dress with nitrogen when vines begin to run and again when fruit sets. Water deeply and consistently during vine development and fruit set — inconsistent moisture causes hollow heart and poor quality. Once fruit reaches full size, reduce watering to concentrate sugars.
Knowing when to harvest
This is the skill that separates experienced watermelon growers from beginners. Look for three signs together — the tendril nearest the fruit turns brown and dry, the ground spot where the melon rests turns from white to creamy yellow, and the melon sounds hollow when thumped. Relying on just one sign leads to cutting underripe fruit. Wait for all three.
Zone 8a timing
In Northwest Georgia, plant in early May and expect harvest in late July and August — roughly 80 to 90 days after planting depending on variety. Sugar Baby matures in about 75 days. Crimson Sweet takes 85 to 90 days. Plant accordingly based on when you want to be picking.
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