GardenHow to grow watermelon and muskmelon
तरबूज, खरबूजा. When to sow it in each part of India, how deep, how far apart, what size of pot, and what to watch for.
When to sow
North and central plainsJanuary to March
South and coastal IndiaNovember to February
HillsApril and May
Green months are the usual sowing or planting time. Dates shift by a few weeks from place to place.
How to sow and grow
- Method
- Sow the seed straight where the plant will grow.
- Depth
- 2 cm
- Spacing
- One plant per container; vines run 2 to 3 metres
- In a pot
- Best in the ground, or a tub of 50 litres or more in full sun
- Sprouts in
- 5 to 10 days
- Harvest
- 80 to 100 days
- Sun
- Full sun: at least 6 hours a day
Tips from the garden
- Melons need a long, hot, dry season and full sun. They are a crop of late winter sowing and summer harvest.
- Reduce watering as the fruits ripen. Too much water at the end gives watery, tasteless fruit.
- A watermelon is ripe when the tendril nearest the fruit dries and the patch touching the ground turns creamy yellow. A muskmelon slips easily from the stalk and smells sweet.
What can go wrong
Fruit flies attack young melons. Cover them with paper or cloth bags while small.
Sown around the same time
BrinjalChilliCapsicumOkra (bhindi)Bottle gourd (lauki)Bitter gourd (karela)Ridge gourd (tori)Cucumber
New to growing from seed? Read how to sow seeds and the balcony and terrace garden guide.
Questions people ask
When is watermelon and muskmelon sown in north India?
In the plains of north and central India, the usual sowing or planting months for watermelon and muskmelon are January to March.
How long does watermelon and muskmelon take to grow?
Usually 80 to 100 days.
Can watermelon and muskmelon be grown in a pot?
Yes. Best in the ground, or a tub of 50 litres or more in full sun.