Companion Planting with Watermelon: What to Plant Next to Watermelon
Gardening with companion plants is a popular way of optimizing the growth and flavor of crop yields.
Planting certain species near each other can have beneficial effects, such as increased pest resistance, improved pollination, and overall better harvests.
Watermelon is one of the most beloved summer fruits, but if you want to get the most out of your watermelon patch it is important to know what plants can be grown alongside them.
Watermelon Companion Menu
Benefits of Companion Planting with Watermelon
Companion planting with watermelon can provide numerous benefits for your garden.
Firstly, it helps to repel pests and diseases that commonly affect watermelons.
For example, planting marigolds alongside watermelon can help reduce the incidence of nematodes and other soil-borne pests.
Secondly, companion planting can improve soil health by increasing nutrient availability and reducing soil erosion.
Nitrogen-fixing plants like legumes such as beans or peas planted near watermelon add nitrogen to the soil which is beneficial in promoting growth.
Lastly, companion planting with watermelon can also increase yield and fruit quality.
Planting herbs like basil or oregano next to your watermelons improves pollination rate while enhancing the flavor of the fruits produced.
By selecting appropriate plant partners for your watermelons, you’ll be able to keep pests at bay while improving soil fertility leading to healthier plants that produce more delicious fruits!
Onion
One great option for companion planting with watermelon is the Walla Walla Sweet Onion.
This type of onion is known for its mild, sweet flavor and large size.
It’s a popular choice for grilling or using raw in salads, and it can add a tasty dimension to your watermelon patch.
The Walla Walla Sweet Onion is best planted in early spring, as it takes about 100 days to mature.
Plant the onion sets about one inch deep and four inches apart in well-draining soil.
Another excellent option for companion planting with watermelon is the Texas Early White Onion.
This type of onion has a strong, pungent flavor and grows quickly, making it perfect if you’re looking for a fast-growing crop to plant alongside your watermelons.
Texas Early White Onions should be planted in late winter or early spring before the last frost date has passed. Plant them one inch deep and four inches apart in full sun or partial shade.
Both of these onion varieties offer unique benefits when planted alongside watermelons.
They can help deter pests like aphids and beetles while also adding flavor to your garden harvests.
Additionally, they are relatively easy to grow and require minimal maintenance once established. So why not try out some companion planting with onions next time you plant watermelon?
Garlic
Garlic is a popular vegetable that can be grown in different varieties.
Among the most commonly cultivated ones are the California Early Garlic and Italian Late Garlic.
Both types have distinct characteristics that make them suitable for certain growing conditions.
The California Early Garlic variety is known for its mild flavor and early maturity, making it an ideal choice for companion planting with watermelon.
This variety grows quickly and has a short harvesting period, which helps reduce competition between crops.
On the other hand, Italian Late Garlic is favored by those who prefer stronger garlic taste as it has high allicin content.
When planting watermelon, these two garlic varieties can help repel pests such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies that typically target the fruit’s leaves and vines.
In addition to being natural pest deterrents, garlic plants are also believed to enhance soil fertility due to their sulfur-containing compounds.
Planting garlic next to watermelon may provide some protection against pathogens that cause root rot or damping-off disease in young seedlings.
Overall, both California Early Garlic and Italian Late Garlic offer beneficial qualities when planted alongside watermelon.
Whether you want a mild or robust garlic flavor profile in your dishes or need natural pest control solutions for your garden bed, adding either of these two varieties can give you some great results while adding diversity to your harvest selection.
Radish
One great companion plant for watermelons is radishes, and there are two main varieties to choose from: Cherry Belle and French Breakfast.
Cherry Belle radishes have a bright red skin with a pure white interior, while French Breakfast radishes have an elongated shape with a red top that fades into white at the bottom.
Radishes are excellent companions for watermelon because they can help deter pests such as cucumber beetles and squash bugs, which can damage both crops.
They also have shallow root systems that won’t compete with the deep roots of watermelon plants.
Both Cherry Belle and French Breakfast radishes grow quickly, so they can be planted alongside young watermelon seedlings to create an early harvest before the larger plants take over.
Plus, their spicy flavor adds a nice kick to salads or sandwiches!
Overall, adding these two types of radish to your garden can enhance the growth of your watermelons while providing you with an additional crop.
The warm season starts and watermelon appears, Bush beans and squash playing so near. Let corn grow tall giving shade for sure, A good combo for the summer’s allure. Marigolds might bring a golden hue, Roaming dusty millers add fragrance too. Radishes sprout quickly before the vines run wild, Can’t forget sungold tomatoes so fiercely mild. Now let your garden grow to full bloom, Companion planting made easy with fruitful watermelon.
Lettuce
Buttercrunch Lettuce and Romaine Lettuce are two great lettuce varieties that you can plant as companion crops to watermelon.
Both types of lettuce grow well in hot weather and require little attention once planted, making them perfect for companion planting with watermelons.
Buttercrunch lettuce is a loose-leaf variety with thick leaves that provide good coverage for the soil around your watermelon plants.
It grows quickly and can be harvested within 55 days from planting, meaning you’ll have fresh salad greens throughout the summer season. This type of lettuce is also resistant to heat, bolting, and tip burn.
Romaine lettuce is another popular variety that pairs well with watermelon.
It has crisp leaves and a slightly bitter taste which contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the melon. Romaine likes full sun but prefers cooler temperatures than Buttercrunch lettuce, so it’s best to plant it during early spring or late fall when temperatures are milder.
As an added bonus, Romaine has high nutritional value and provides Vitamins A & C as well as Calcium to your diet!
Bush Beans
When it comes to companion planting with watermelon, Bush beans such as Blue Lake Bush Bean and Kentucky Wonder Bush Bean are excellent options.
Not only do they add nitrogen back into the soil, but they also help deter pests that can harm watermelon plants.
Blue Lake Bush Beans are a classic choice for gardeners due to their stringless pods and high yields.
They grow up to 18 inches tall and produce beans within 50-60 days of planting.
In addition, Blue Lake Bush Beans are resistant to common bean diseases such as mosaic virus and rust.
Kentucky Wonder Bush Beans, on the other hand, have a rich history dating back to the late 1800s.
These beans grow up to 24 inches tall and produce an abundance of flavorful green pods in just 60 days.
They are also known for being disease-resistant and easy to grow.
Overall, both Blue Lake Bush Bean and Kentucky Wonder Bush Bean make fantastic companions for watermelon plants.
Not only do they offer nutrient-rich benefits for the soil, but they also provide delicious harvests for your kitchen table!
Mint
Spearmint and peppermint are two popular varieties of mint that can be successfully planted alongside watermelon.
These herbs have various benefits, including deterring pests such as ants, aphids, and cabbage moths.
They also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which can enhance the growth of watermelon.
In addition to repelling pests and attracting pollinators, spearmint and peppermint add a fresh aroma to your garden.
These herbs are known for their calming properties too – they can help reduce stress levels among gardeners!
Spearmint is commonly added to drinks or used in cooking dishes like salads or soups. Peppermint has similar uses but is often associated with medicinal purposes due to its menthol content.
It’s important to note that mint plants tend to spread quickly and may take over your garden if left unchecked.
To prevent this from happening, consider planting them in containers instead of directly in the ground. Regular trimming will also help control their growth while ensuring you get the most out of these versatile herbs.
Dill
Dill is an herb that belongs to the parsley family, and it comes in different varieties.
Two popular types of dill are Bouquet Dill and Fernleaf Dill.
Bouquet Dill, also known as Tall or Long-Stemmed Dill, can grow up to 3 feet tall and produces large seed heads that are used for pickling.
It’s a hardy variety that’s easy to grow and is perfect for companion planting with watermelon.
Fernleaf Dill, on the other hand, is a dwarf variety that only grows up to 18 inches tall.
Its delicate leaves have a mild flavor compared to Bouquet Dill but are still great for cooking and garnishing dishes.
Fernleaf Dill has a compact growth habit which makes it ideal for container gardening or small spaces.
When it comes to companion planting with watermelon, both Bouquet and Fernleaf Dills make great neighbors!
They repel harmful pests such as spider mites, aphids, and cabbage worms which can damage your watermelon plants.
Also, dills attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings which feed on pests that can harm your garden.
So whether you choose Tall or Dwarf-Leafed dills as your companion plant next time you grow watermelons; be assured of healthy crops free from pests!
Marigolds
Marigolds are popular companion plants for watermelon. They are easy to grow and help repel pests that can damage the watermelon plant.
French Marigolds, also known as Tagetes patula, are small and bushy plants that produce brightly colored flowers in shades of orange, yellow, and red.
They are great at repelling nematodes and other harmful insects from the soil.
African Marigolds, or Tagetes erecta, are taller with larger blooms in shades of yellow, gold, and orange. They have a strong scent that helps keep away aphids.
When planting marigolds next to watermelon, it’s best to choose a variety that complements the size of your garden space.
French marigolds work well in smaller gardens or containers while African marigolds thrive in bigger spaces like raised beds or large fields.
Both varieties need full sun exposure for optimal growth and should be planted close to the watermelon vines for maximum pest control benefits.
Overall, planting marigold varieties such as French Marigold or African Marigold alongside watermelons is an efficient way of keeping pests like nematodes and aphids at bay while adding color to your garden bed.
These hardy annuals also require minimal maintenance making them perfect for beginners who want an attractive yet low-maintenance garden bed setup!
Nasturtium
Nasturtium is a popular choice for companion planting with watermelon due to its ability to repel pests and attract beneficial insects.
The Alaska Mix Nasturtium is an excellent variety that thrives in cooler temperatures and produces stunning flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red.
This plant adds a burst of color to any garden bed while also deterring squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and aphids from attacking your watermelon plants.
Another great option is the Jewel Mix Nasturtium, which features striking jewel-toned flowers in shades of pink, purple, and red.
This variety grows well in both full sun or partial shade and helps to deter whiteflies and spider mites from infesting your watermelon patch.
Additionally, the edible leaves and flowers of nasturtium plants are rich in vitamin C and have a peppery flavor that can add zest to salads or garnishes.
Adding Nasturtium varieties like Alaska Mix Nasturtium or Jewel Mix Nasturtium as companion plants alongside your watermelon can help improve growth by keeping pests away from your precious produce while adding visual appeal at the same time.
These vibrant plants can also be used as culinary ingredients if you’re looking for new flavors to jazz up your dishes!
How to Plant and Care for Companion Plants with Watermelon
To plant and care for companion plants with watermelon, follow these steps:
Choose the Right Companion Plants:
Some of the best companion plants for watermelon include onion, garlic, radish, marigolds, bush beans, lettuce, dill, nasturtium, and mint.
These plants can help repel pests and improve the soil quality.
Prepare the Soil:
Watermelon prefers well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8.
Before planting, work compost or aged manure into the soil to improve its fertility and structure.
Plant the Companion Plants:
Plant the companion plants around the watermelon plants.
Make sure to space them according to their requirements and follow proper planting depth.
Water Regularly:
Watermelon needs regular watering to thrive, especially during hot and dry weather.
Make sure to water deeply and regularly to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Mulch the Soil:
Mulch around the plants with organic material, such as straw or leaves. This helps retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth.
Monitor for Pests:
Companion plants can help repel pests, but it’s still important to monitor for pests regularly. Remove any diseased or infested plants immediately to prevent the spread of pests.
Harvest Regularly:
Harvest the watermelon fruit as soon as they are ripe.
This helps promote new fruit production and prevents the fruit from becoming overripe and attracting pests.
By following these tips, you can successfully plant and care for companion plants with watermelon.
In conclusion, companion planting is a great way to maximize the growth potential of your watermelon crop.
Planting it with other vegetables, herbs, and flowers can attract beneficial insects, repel pests, conserve moisture, and provide necessary nutrients for maximum watermelon growth.
Additionally, by choosing companion plants with similar water and soil needs as watermelon, you will save time and resources in caring for them.
With careful consideration of what to plant next to your watermelon, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest this season!
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