You may have heard that watermelon plants are prickly, but is that really true? Let’s take a closer look.
What Are Watermelon Plants?
What are watermelon plants? You may be wondering this because, well, you just don’t know. And that’s okay! We’re here to tell you all about these spiny plants and why you should (or shouldn’t) grow them in your garden.
Watermelon plants are, as the name suggests, plants that grow watermelons. They’re a vine plant, and the fruit of the plant is a sweet, juicy fruit that’s high in antioxidants and vitamin C. But what you may not know is that the vines of the plant are covered in small spines.
Do Watermelon Plants Have Prickles?
Do watermelon plants have thorns?
The answer is no, watermelon plants don’t have thorns. However, their close relative, Solanum rostratum, does have prickles. So if you’re ever wondering whether or not a watermelon plant is prickly, just remember that the answer is no—but Solanum rostratum definitely is.
Watermelons are vines, usually sprawling across the ground in a sunny location. The leaves and fruit of Solanum rostratum are poisonous to livestock, particularly cattle, but they usually don’t eat it because of the spines. So if you’re ever worried about whether or not you should touch a watermelon plant, the answer is no—but be careful around Solanum rostratum!
How Do Watermelon Plants Grow?
Do you know how watermelon plants grow? Well, they’re native to South America and grow best in warm, humid conditions.
Watermelon vines are thin and grooved, with light green leaves that may have a hint of silver. The plant is low-maintenance and easy to care for, but it’s important to keep the soil moist at all times.
If you’re looking for a small, low-maintenance plant, then you might want to consider a watermelon peperomia. These plants are from the watermelon family, but they don’t produce fruit. However, they do have variegated leaves that make them a pretty addition to any garden.
What Do Watermelon Plants Need To Grow?
Do you know what watermelon plants need to grow? They need fertile soil, plenty of water, and full sun. If you can provide those things, your plants will be happy and healthy.
But there’s one other thing you need to know: watermelon plants are prickly! Yes, they have sharp thorns that can hurt you if you’re not careful. So be sure to wear gloves when you’re working with them, and keep children and pets away from them.
If you take care of your watermelon plants, they’ll produce lots of delicious fruit for you to enjoy. So get planting!
How Long Does It Take For a Watermelon Plant To Mature?
So, are watermelon plants prickly? The answer is a resounding no! These plants are actually quite soft and they don’t have any spines or thorns.
But that’s not to say that watermelon plants are completely harmless. They do have some sharp edges on the leaves, so you do need to be careful when you’re handling them. And if you’re going to be working near the plants, it’s a good idea to wear some gloves.
It usually takes about 80 days for a watermelon plant to mature, so be patient! In the meantime, make sure you give them plenty of water and sun.
How Much Water Do Watermelon Plants Need?
When it comes to growing watermelons, one of the most common questions people ask is whether the plants are prickly. So, are they?
Well, the answer to that question depends on the type of watermelon plant you’re growing. There are two different types: bush and vine. Vine watermelons, as the name suggests, grow on vines, and these plants are definitely prickly. But bush watermelons grow on bushes, and these plants aren’t prickly at all.
So, which one should you choose for your garden? Well, that depends on how much space you have. If you have a lot of room, go for the vine watermelons; if not, the bush variety will be just fine.
What Pests or Diseases Affect Watermelon Plants?
Let’s talk about pests and diseases for a minute. What do you need to look out for?
Well, one common pest is the whitefly. These little guys can wreak havoc on your plants, so it’s important to keep an eye on them. You can get rid of them with an organic pesticide or by releasing natural predators into your garden, like ladybugs.
Another pest to watch out for is the Colorado beetle. These guys can really do some damage, so it’s important to catch them early. If you think you have a problem with Colorado beetles, contact your local extension office for help.
And finally, watermelon plants are susceptible to a few different diseases, including anthracnose and angular leaf spot. Both of these diseases can be treated with fungicide, so be sure to keep an eye on your plants and act quickly if you see any signs of trouble.
How To Recognize A Watermelon Plant
Everyone knows what a watermelon is, but few are aware of the type of vine that it grows on. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a sun-loving tropical vine with distinctly lobed green leaves. They have a hairy appearance, as do the pale green stalks. Bees pollinate the yellowy green blossoms, allowing the initial spherical solid green fruits to grow and display the distinguishing light and dark green mottling or stripes.
Examine the behavior of the plant you believe to be a watermelon. Watermelons are vines that grow over the ground in the sun. From stem base to top, each vine can grow to a height of 10 to 15 feet, with small tendrils or thread-like curling stems at the leaf bases.
- Everyone knows what a watermelon is, but few are aware of the type of vine that it grows on.
- Bees pollinate the yellowy green blossoms, allowing the initial spherical solid green fruits to grow and display the distinguishing light and dark green mottling or stripes.
Consider the time of year. Watermelons like warm conditions and cannot withstand frost. If you locate a vine in early spring while temperatures are still below 60°F or after an autumn frost, it is most likely not a watermelon vine.
Feel the texture of the vine’s leaves with your fingertips. Watermelon leaves are bright green with a silvery white undertone. The leaves have three to five finger-like lobes with coarse rounded teeth. The leaves will be smooth and sandpapery in texture.
- Watermelons like warm conditions and cannot withstand frost.
- The texture of the leaves will be silky and sandpapery.
Examine the stalk for any blooms or fruits. Yellow blooms appear in singles, similar to papery petunias with five attached petals. Flowers appear at the newest parts of a vine, generally at the tips, and a green, smooth, spherical fruit appears further back on the vine. The fruit’s skin may feature dark and light green dots or uneven striations.
- Cut a banana in half. When ripe, watermelon flesh is easily identified by its red flesh and black seeds. Early-growing fruit flesh, on the other hand, is pale green to white, with little white seeds.
- Examine the stalk for any blooms or fruits.
Yellow blooms appear in singles, similar to papery petunias with five attached petals.
Tip
- Watermelon vine leaves are similar to cucumber, pumpkin, and squash vine leaves. Watermelon plant leaves are simple to distinguish after they have been positively identified and examined in person.
- Watermelon thrives in sunny, warm soils that have a gritty texture and drain well. A vine growing in damp, clay soil in partial shade is unlikely to be a watermelon.
How Long After Flowering Do Watermelons Appear?
You may be wondering how long after flowering do watermelons appear. Well, the answer is that it depends on the variety of watermelon. Some watermelons can take up to 70 days to ripen, while others can take as few as 50 days.
So how can you tell when a watermelon is ripe? The best way is to check the color of the fruit. Ripe watermelons will be a deep red or green, depending on the variety. You can also check for a dull sheen on the skin and for a little give when you press down on the fruit.
If you’re not sure whether a watermelon is ripe or not, it’s always better to be safe than sorry and pick another one.
Conclusion
Are watermelon plants prickly? No, they’re not. While the vines of a watermelon plant do have thorns on them, the fruit itself is not prickly.
Growing your own watermelon can be fun and rewarding. Watermelons are a tasty and refreshing fruit. Just be sure to watch out for the thorns on the vines!