Watermelon. Red in Gold Hybrid. Golden Watermelons

Sowing Seed Indoors:

• Direct sowing is recommended. but to get a head start you can start watermelon indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost in individual biodegradable pots indoors. Sow 2-3 seeds per pot.
• Sow seeds 1 inch deep in seed-starting formula
• Keep the soil moist at 70 degrees F
• Seedlings emerge in 7-10 days
• As soon as seedlings emerge. provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day. off for 8 hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. Incandescent bulbs will not work for this process because they will get too hot. Most plants require a dark period to grow. do not leave lights on for 24 hours.
• Seedlings do not need much fertilizer. feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution (half strength of a complete indoor houseplant food) according to manufacturer's directions.
• Thin to one plant per pot.
• Before planting in the garden. seedling plants need to be hardened off. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frost threatens at night. cover or bring containers indoors. then take them out again in the morning. This hardening off process toughens the plant's cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding.

Sowing Directly in the Garden

• Sow in fertile. warm soil after danger of frost has passed.
• Sow seeds 3 inches apart in groups of 4-6 in raised hills. Cover with 1 inch of fine soil and firm lightly.
• Space groups 5-7 feet apart each way.
• Keep evenly moist.
• Seedlings emerge in 7-10 days.
• Thin to 2 or 3 strongest seedlings in each group when they are 1-2 inches high.
• PLEASE NOTE: Seedless varieties do not produce pollen and therefore cannot pollinate themselves. A pollinator (seeded variety) is included to insure a good fruit harvest both seedless and the pollinator seed must be planted together.