this post was submitted on 23 May 2024
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~6 week old watermelon start. Shock or is time to just get it outside in the garden? (lemmy.world)
submitted 7 months ago by SchmidtGenetics to c/gardening
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[–] The_v 8 points 7 months ago (2 children)

First off that's not a watermelon. It's a Cucurbita sp.

That is extreme nitrogen deficiency. It needs a big dose of fertilizer.

Transplanting watermelons and other cucurbits is highly effective if done correctly. It's commonly messed up.

First off you should only start them 3 weeks before you want to transplant them. It takes 3-4 weeks for most cucurbits to be ready to transplant.

Week 1: Seed and allow to to germination at around 80F.

Week 2: Fertilize and first true leaf should emerge. If the cotyledon turns yellow, it's under-fertilized.

Week 3: They need to go outside for hardening off. The 2nd true leaf should develop

Transplant: They do best when transplanted at 3rd-4th true leaf. Plant them so that the cotyledons are level with the soil surface. Transplanting larger plants increases transplant shock and slows down their development.

[–] IMALlama 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I discovered that the reason some of my starts were yellow this year was due to poor drainage and over watering :( we have tons of happy house plans, but I had it in my head that small pot + lots of grow light must mean high water needs.

[–] SchmidtGenetics 0 points 7 months ago

Shit yeah it could be over watering, they were pretty good until I sent them out to harden, but it’s been rainy as well, but if I don’t start they’ll never get outside or hardened before it’s 35c either. Damned either way haha

[–] SchmidtGenetics 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Its 100% watermelon the only gourds I started are pumpkins and they were only 1 seed per pod.

And yes you’re right, but without starting them extra early you won’t be able to get the crop to finish in time here, the can go on the ground last week, but can still frost for another week here. So the advice is start 6 weeks before last frost. And life and nature has been getting in the way, so here we are.

[–] The_v 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Sorry, but it's 100% a pumpkin. When the flowers open up in a few days compare them to pictures of male flowers of pumpkins versus watermelons.

It's counter-intuitive but starting them 6 weeks early actually delays how fast cucurbits develop in the field. The larger the cucurbits plant is, the more severely they are affected by transplant shock. I don't know where you got your recommendation from, but it's incorrect.

[–] SchmidtGenetics -1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

The fact that our growing window is not even 90 days so it’s the only way to grow any gourds and stuff like that.

They could be cantaloupes… but only one of those started.