How Much Water Do Watermelons Need?

Watermelons need 2 inches (5 cm) of water every week while no watermelons are visible on the vine. Reduce water to 1 inch (2.5 cm) every week once your vines begin to grow their first melons. Always water deeply at the base of each watermelon vine. Do not let the leaves and fruit get wet. Watermelons prefer evenly moist soil. The dirt should not stay wet too long or dry out fully. You can easily overwater your vines, especially after the fruit sets.

How Much Water Do Watermelons Need Per Day?

Watermelons do not need water every single day. Only consider watering your watermelons daily when temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C). Watering 1–2 times per week works well as long as temperatures are below 90°F. Try to keep the soil moist to a depth of 12 inches (30 cm) at all times. Avoid letting it get waterlogged or dry out too much.

• Do not water your watermelon vines daily unless it’s over 90°F (32°C).
• Watering 1–2 times each week works best for healthy watermelon plants.
• Aim to keep the soil evenly moist at all times—not too dry and not too wet.
• Give your young watermelon vines 2 inches (5 cm) of water every week.
• Decrease water to 1 inch (2.5 cm) weekly once fruit sets on the vines.

Give your young watermelon vines 2 inches (5 cm) of water each week. Decrease watering to 1 inch (2.5 cm) weekly after fruit sets on the vines. Too much water will cause the melons to split.

How Do You Water Watermelons?

Water your watermelons at the base of the vine 1–2 times per week. Give them 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water for each square foot. This can be accomplished by watering for 30 minutes with a soaker hose. Decrease the water amount by half as soon as the fruit sets. This means you will reduce your watering duration to 15 minutes via a soaker hose.

• Use this soaker hose to water your watermelons at the base of the vine.
• Water 1–2 times per week.
• Water for a total of 30 minutes per week with a soaker hose before your vine sets fruit.
• Once your vine produces melons, decrease the watering duration to 15 minutes per week with a soaker hose.
• Never water your plants from overhead or plant diseases could spread.

Do not water your watermelon plants from overhead. Always avoid splashing the leaves and fruit. Water droplets lead to the development and spread of plant diseases. A soaker hose or drip irrigation system is a great choice because it waters the soil without getting the leaves and stem wet.

Do Watermelons Like Wet or Dry Soil?

Watermelons do not like overly wet or very dry soil. These vines grow best in evenly moist soil. Once the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of soil feels dry, your plants need water. Depending on your soil makeup and local weather, you may need to water 1 or 2 times per week. Once summer temperatures climb above 90°F (32°C), your watermelon plants may need daily watering to keep the soil moist.

• Watermelon vines do not grow at their best if the soil gets too wet or dries out too much.
• The vines thrive when grown in soil that stays evenly moist all throughout the week.
• Water your plants once or twice a week to keep the soil at the right moisture level.
• Increase how much you water your watermelons when temperatures climb past 90°F (32°C).
• Add this solar mulch to help your vines grow.

Add mulch around the vines if you cannot keep the soil moist enough. Use plastic mulch for the best results. The mulch will help keep the soil warm while preventing water evaporation. Clear, blue, red, and green infrared-transmission solar mulch all work great for watermelons.

Can You Overwater Watermelons?

You can definitely overwater your watermelon vines. If the ground is soggy, swamping, or waterlogged, your watermelons can suffer. The excess water makes it impossible for the roots to absorb enough oxygen. The root system may even begin to rot, killing the plant.

• You can easily overwater your watermelons.
• A soggy ground is too wet for watermelons.
• Too much water prevents oxygen absorption and causes root rot.
• If your watermelons are splitting on the vine, your plants are overwatered.

Excess water can also result in your melons splitting on the vine. If your baby watermelons are developing splits in the fruit, decrease watering. Similarly, wilting or yellowed leaves are common signs that your watermelon has received too much water.

How Do You Know If Watermelons Need Water?

Yellow leaves are a common sign of underwatered watermelons. However, leaf discoloration can also occur when watermelons are receiving too much water. So, it’s essential to check the soil. If the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of soil feels dry, your watermelons need water.

• Yellow leaves that feel dry to the touch are a sign that your watermelon plant lacks water.
• Provide water when the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of soil feels dry.
• Slow growth—signified by a lack of new leaves and flowers—means your watermelon plant isn’t getting enough water.

Slow growth is another sign that your watermelon plants lack water. If you are not seeing new growth, flowers, or fruits, your watermelons may not be getting enough water. Remember to keep the soil moist without creating soggy conditions. Consistently moist soil is the best thing to ensure healthy watermelon growth.

Do Watermelons Require Lots of Water?

Watermelons do not require lots of water, but they do thrive in consistently moist soil. To dial in your watermelon watering tactics, follow these tips:

• Give your vines 2 inches (5 cm) of water per week until the first fruits appear.
• Decrease the watering amount to 1 inch (2.5 cm) per week once fruit starts to grow.
• You can provide 2 inches of water with 30 minutes from a soaker hose.
• 15 minutes with a soaker hose will provide 1 inch of water.
• Water watermelons 1–2 times per week when temperatures are below 90°F (32°C).
• When temperatures rise above 90°F (32°C), increase watering to once per day.
• Watermelons thrive in soil that is consistently moist, but not soggy.
• If the soil is allowed to dry out between waterings, it can stunt watermelon growth.

Watermelons have a long growing season. So, consider setting up a soaker hose to streamline the watering process. Even with this system, it’s best to check on your plants daily. By monitoring soil conditions and making small adjustments to your watering schedule, you’ll get a nice harvest of tasty watermelons.