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Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
How to Grow Georgia Rattlesnake Heirloom Watermelon
This fruit grows on a vine and is related to pumpkins, cantaloupe and squash. With nearly 25 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, along with vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin B1, magnesium and potassium, watermelon is a low-calorie treat that is very good for you.
One cup of watermelon has just 48 calories. The Georgia Rattlesnake loves the summer heat. Georgia summers are very hot and dry for the most part. The red soil also helps to make this melon the way that it is.Sow watermelon seeds in hills or rows. For regular watermelons, sow three to four seeds per hill, spacing the hills eight to ten feet apart. Space the rows ten feet apart. Thin watermelon seedlings in each hill, to two seedlings one week after they have germinated. When planting in rows, space the seeds four to six inches apart and thin seedlings to ten to twelve inches apart. 90 to 100 days to maturity.
Watermelon plants need full sun to grow healthy vines and big fruit. Plant after the last frost date for your area. They are heavy feeders. Add generous amounts of manure, compost and leaves to your garden. Work the soil well. A well drained soil is preferred. . Fertilize regularly. Use a high nitrogen fertilizer until flowers form. Then, switch over to a high phosphorous and potassium fertilizer. Liquid fertilizers and foliar feeding is also a good idea. Water regularly and keep the weeds out.
Cucumber beetles are the biggest pest problem. Cucumber beetles will rob the plant of nutrients, eat pollen, and spread plant disease. Proper maintenance will help keep these pests away and also prevent disease such as powdery mildew from getting started.
Harvesting of watermelons is an art. Some people rely on the sound made when thumping them. Other methods include; yellowing of the underside, stoppage of growth and drying or shriveling of the stem near the base of the fruit.
One cup of watermelon has just 48 calories. The Georgia Rattlesnake loves the summer heat. Georgia summers are very hot and dry for the most part. The red soil also helps to make this melon the way that it is.Sow watermelon seeds in hills or rows. For regular watermelons, sow three to four seeds per hill, spacing the hills eight to ten feet apart. Space the rows ten feet apart. Thin watermelon seedlings in each hill, to two seedlings one week after they have germinated. When planting in rows, space the seeds four to six inches apart and thin seedlings to ten to twelve inches apart. 90 to 100 days to maturity.
Watermelon plants need full sun to grow healthy vines and big fruit. Plant after the last frost date for your area. They are heavy feeders. Add generous amounts of manure, compost and leaves to your garden. Work the soil well. A well drained soil is preferred. . Fertilize regularly. Use a high nitrogen fertilizer until flowers form. Then, switch over to a high phosphorous and potassium fertilizer. Liquid fertilizers and foliar feeding is also a good idea. Water regularly and keep the weeds out.
Cucumber beetles are the biggest pest problem. Cucumber beetles will rob the plant of nutrients, eat pollen, and spread plant disease. Proper maintenance will help keep these pests away and also prevent disease such as powdery mildew from getting started.
Harvesting of watermelons is an art. Some people rely on the sound made when thumping them. Other methods include; yellowing of the underside, stoppage of growth and drying or shriveling of the stem near the base of the fruit.
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