Watermelon
Both Melon (Cucumis melo L.) and Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) are annual plants of the Cucurbitaceae family and with a creeping and climbing nature.
Watermelon is native to southern Africa. Its fruit has a smooth hard rind, usually green with dark green stripes or yellow spots, and a sweet, juicy interior flesh (usually deep red to pink, but sometimes orange, yellow, or white) with many seeds, which can be soft and white or hard and black.
Climate: Melon plant requires warm and not excessively humid climate, so that in humid regions with low insolation its development is adversely affected, showing alterations in ripening and fruit quality. Watermelon is less demanding in temperature than melon.
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Germination:
Minimum 15ºC
Optimum 25ºC
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Flowering:
Optimum 18-20ºC
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Development:
Optimum 23-28ºC
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F. ripening:
Minimum 23-28ºC
Humidity: The optimum relative humidity for watermelon is between 60% and 80%, being a determining factor during flowering.
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Soil: Watermelons needs light soils, rich in organic matter and well drained. Deep and loam soils, as well as sandy clay soils are good for watermelon growth too.
pH: The optimum level is between 6 and 7