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How to Grow a Charleston Gray Watermelon
How to Grow a Charleston Gray Watermelon. A watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a vinelike plant that originates from Southern Africa. Growers throughout the United States cultivate watermelon commercially, especially the Charleston Gray variety. The fruit from this watermelon is unusually large and weighs 20 to 25 lbs. when fully mature. The...
A watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a vinelike plant that originates from Southern Africa. Growers throughout the United States cultivate watermelon commercially, especially the Charleston Gray variety. The fruit from this watermelon is unusually large and weighs 20 to 25 lbs. when fully mature. The Charleston Gray is a seeded main season variety, making it relatively easy to grow. The procedure for growing watermelons is generally the same for all main season varieties.
Things You'll Need
Garden trowel
Hoe
Drip irrigators
Mulch
Black plastic sheets
Find a planting site for the Charleston Gray watermelons. They prefer sandy loam soil but can also grow in clay with generous mulching. Wait until after the last expected frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit before planting.
Make small mounds with the soil about six feet apart, and space the rows of mounds seven to 10 feet apart. Plant a Charleston Gray watermelon seed in the center of each mound about 1 inch deep.
Weed the watermelon patch with shallow hoeing. Charleston Gray watermelons should not need supplemental water in areas with a long growing season except during periods of prolonged drought.
Water the Charleston Gray watermelon seedlings by drip irrigation if you are in an area with a short growing season. You may also need to surround each mound with mulch and contain it with a black plastic sheet to improve fruit production.
Harvest the fruit from a Charleston Gray watermelon plant in about 80 to 85 days. A ripe watermelon has brown tendrils where the stem attaches to the melons. The melon should have a dull surface, and the rind should be resistant to your thumbnail. The bottom of the melon should also turn yellowish when it is ripe.
