Plant watermelon in a pot - this is how it works

Growing plants from seeds

So that the young watermelon plants can also be put outside in frost-free night temperatures from May onwards, the seeds of the watermelon should be sown on the windowsill or in the greenhouse about four weeks beforehand. However, young watermelon plants are usually more sensitive to pricking due to their very delicate roots. It is therefore advantageous to sow several seeds in the same large, final pot and only leave the strongest plants after germination. In addition, young plants grown indoors should first be accustomed to the sunlight outdoors for a few hours a day before you put them fully in the blazing sun.

Sufficient watering for healthy plants and plump fruits

Cultivating watermelons in pots has the advantage that the plants get more warmth with this cultivation method than with planting in the bed. However, the roots in the pot should not be heated too much or dry out. Therefore, you should choose the pot big enough on the one hand and consider a partially shady location behind a balcony parapet or on a terrace wall on the other. During the summer, pay attention to watering it daily or to watering it with a trivet, as the plants in the pot are exposed to a lot of water evaporation, especially in warm winds. Just like pumpkins, melons need plenty of water before the harvest season so that plump and tasty fruits can form.

Choose the right location for the pot

So that the watermelons in the pot are not literally scorched by the sun, they should be placed on the side of the walls and parapets facing away from the sun. The long shoots of a pot placed in the shade can also grow up on sunny railings and bars and thus gain a lot of energy for the fructose of the fruit. Pay attention to the pot:

a substrate that stores water as much as possible
the use of ceramic pots instead of plastic or metal
a saucer for watering in advance

Tips & Tricks

If the seeds cannot be grown in large pots right away, sowing them in spring pots or rotting pots (€ 14.90 at Amazon *) is also a good option. These can then be completely inserted into the larger pot without damaging the watermelon roots.