The edible flowers of nasturtium also offer an addition to salads and are available in a variety of colors. Additionally, watermelons are liable to burn in the midday heat, even though they require about six hours of sunlight per day. Marigolds and oregano also make great companion plants as they help keep pests away. Watermelon is such an exotic plant to have in your garden or your planting pot. Certain flowers offer ornamental value while attracting beneficial insects or repelling common watermelon pests, making them suitable for planting near watermelons. Planting a pumpkin with companion plants isn’t intended to combat vegetable loneliness, but rather to help it grow better, either because companions meet the pumpkin plant’s needs in some way, or because the companions keep pumpkin pests away.. The fragrant ones are the most effective to repel bugs. Pests love to nibble on watermelon vines so make sure you keep a natural bug killer handy. Many vegetable or herb plants prove valuable watermelon companions but lack particularly showy flowers and have little ornamental value. Companion planting is part experience, part folklore, and part wishful thinking. This leaves watermelon with abundant nitrogen and other nutrients to thrive. Marigolds – “Great neighbors” to most vegetable crops, especially melons. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. The watermelon vine needs its pollinators to produce the best fruit. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Amend soil with organic matter such as compost or composted cow manure. Add a balanced fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. In the plant kingdom, watermelons, also known as Citrullus vulgaris, is friendly to almost all the plants and vegetables that abound. Watering. Companion Plants is an internationally recognized herb nursery established in 1982 and located in the scenic rolling hills just outside Athens, Ohio. Plants that grow well with pumpkins are good pumpkin companion plants. Both tree plants should be grown far away from watermelon and other vegetable plants. However there are a lot of variables that can impact the effectiveness of plant companions. Some watermelon companion plants give definite benefits more than the others, and we shall be looking into some of them below. Usually, watermelon can be planted with different kinds of plants, and I will name some of the best ones in this article. Some vegetables like cucumbers and zucchini are not supposed to be planted alongside watermelon, because they attract pests to watermelon. Cucumber beetles are significant pests that attack watermelon, and when they are left untreated, they go ahead to transmit bacterial wilt to watermelon. Watermelon Companion Plants, Best Fruits, Watermelon Growing 6th November 2020 6th November 2020 Editor 0. Just the way humans feel vulnerable and alone without a companion. Companion planting can be beneficial to watermelon, but overcrowding its growing space with too many plants can put the plant at risk for cross-pollination, or stall the growing process. Watermelon conjures fond memories of hot summer days, chins dripping with juice and happy kids running around. Perennials that are members of the aster family like daisies, sunflowers and coneflowers are excellent at attracting beneficial insects. Both crops have different pests and diseases, and as a result, when planted together, they help each other conceal themselves from dangerous pests and thrive. Companion planting helps control insects that harm cantaloupe. A huge variety of plants with various growth habits and flower characteristics offer this ability. Some of the attractive plants that could aid the pollination of watermelon include cosmos, zinnias, and alyssum. How to Grow Watermelons. What Is the Best Fertilizer for Geraniums? Planting bush beans or pole beans alongside watermelon can have a good effect on watermelon. Corns are beneficial to watermelon. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, kale, okra, spinach, sunflowers, lettuce, and Brussels sprouts also flourish in the companionship of melons. Radishes are beneficial watermelon companion plants because they repel insect pests that attack watermelon. Strongly scented flowers, such as lavender or marigolds, often help to drive away pests. Best Pruning Blades For Reciprocating Saw, Difference Between Primary And Secondary Growth. Companion plants. To help you with growing watermelon, our comprehensive guide gives you all the details about planting, harvesting, companion plants and pests to look out for, so you can grow your own fond memories! Bacterial wilt causes watermelon to wilt and die immediately when fruit production begins. Like radishes and corn. I live in the high desert of the Colorado Basin. Check your soil to make sure the pH is between 6.0 and 6.8, and ensure there is a high enough calcium level. But you shouldnât let their friendliness with other plants and veggies come in the way of them receiving their needed sunlight. Plant 5-6 melon seeds in mounds that are 2 feet apart. Strong-scented herbs like spearmint, oregano, basil, catnip, anise and borage deter pests, attract beneficial insects and are valued in cooking. Lambâs quarter is rich in several nourishing minerals. Many vegetable or herb plants prove valuable watermelon companions but lack particularly showy flowers and have little ornamental value. I am planting a couple of Sugar Babies watermelons and a couple of Jubilee watermelons this year and would like to plant some companion plants with them. This is why we recommend you have at least 6-10 inches of space between each sapling. Brassicas like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi and turnip all … Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Plants with fragrant, colorful blooms that are present at the same time as watermelon flowers cultivated near the watermelons draw pollinators and may increase the likelihood of watermelon pollination. Growing a diverse variety of plants that bloom at various times and offer different flower colors near each other helps to ensure that plenty of beneficial insects are drawn to the garden while pests are offended. While co-planting corn and watermelon ensure that the corn isnât shadowing over the watermelon. Marigold, lavender, and borage are good companion plants for watermelons because of their continuous or intermittent blooming. Bees that flit from flower to flower along the watermelonâs vines are responsible for fruit development. Most companion planting teachings are passed down by gardeners who experimented with pairing plants with some success. I learned that roses also companion plant well with garlic. They grow prolifically in well-enriched, sandy loam soil that is kept moist during the growing season. Potatoes are useful companion plants to watermelon. Companion Flowers: Plant flowers around and in between your melon vines. While it is a much different climate as we are near 6000′ elevation and have a hard clay soil My experience is limited with companion planting. What is companion planting? Ensure a minimum of 6 ft and a maximum of 10 ft are left between each watermelon plant. A row of compact marigolds or similarly odorous ornamentals or herbs planted around the edge of the garden provides an attractive and effective border. Planting corn around watermelon helps provide shade to watermelon during the hottest times of the day, thereby ensuring that watermelon heads do not die off from excess heat. To ensure this, do not grow watermelon alongside any plant that would tower over it and shadow it from optimum sunlight, or you grow the watermelons on A-frame or a trellis. You can plants them near your watermelons, just make sure the corn doesn’t tower over the vines too much, since watermelon plants need full sun to thrive. Make sure that the plants have not been treated with any insecticides or pesticides. What Are Some Fall Crops You Can Plant Near Tomatoes? Nasturtiums, when planted alongside melons, help keep insect pests away from the plant by repelling insects like aphids and squash bugs. These plants repel like aphids and squash bugs while attracting or harboring beneficial insects or predators like ground beetles, bees and spiders. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the plant kingdom, watermelon, also known as Citrullus vulgaris, is friendly to almost any plant and vegetable that is abundant. Once the plants mature, they can tolerate some leaf loss due to insects, but keeping companion plants nearby helps control swarms of pests. These plants should not be grown alongside or anywhere near to watermelon plants. The Sugar Babies I am planning to run their vine up the garden fence, and the Jubilee won't be on the fence. The watermelon is a pretty hardy plant, but pests will find a way to get to the vines and destroy it before it can produce mounds of fruit. Lambâs quarter, also known as Chenopodium album, is a weed, but we would call it a beneficial weed at this point. To avoid this, ensure to plant watermelon in a well-spaced out space with adequate room for its roots and vines. Companion planting is the practice of growing mutually beneficial plants alongside each other. It also contains juglone. The black walnut tree contains a substance known as âjugloneâ that stunts the growth of watermelon and other low root vegetable plants like cabbage. And keep in mind that the flowers of highly hybridized cultivars are generally less attractive to pollinators than heirloom varieties. Gardeningbank.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. The most fragrant marigold specimens are the most effective at attracting beneficial and deterring harmful insects like squash bugs. NC Cooperative Extension Pender County Center: Planting for Pollinators, Iowa State University Armstrong and Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farms: Companion Planting: A Method for Sustainable Pest Control, Cornell Cooperative Extension: Companion Planting, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service: Cultural Control Practices, North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Companion Planting, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Mangement Program: Watermelon, Flowers Recommended for Vegetable Gardens, Flower Plants Compatible With Vegetable Plants for Bug Protection. Also, members of the aster families like sunflowers, coneflowers, and daisies are good at attracting pollinating insects. That is what this article is about! Watermelon offers a good dose of antioxidants low in calories and a good amount of vitamin c. Planting watermelon, whether on a small scale or large scale, alongside companion plants, helps the plant thrive well. French marigolds are particularly prized for a substance produced by their roots that kills nematodes, microscopic roundworms that persist in the soil and are potentially very destructive in watermelon plantings. When watermelon and other plants are planted too close to each other, they can choke themselves and result in stunted growth. Asparagus is now one of my family’s favorite things to … Onions will … Cass County Master Gardeners recommend marigold, oregano and nasturtium as companion plants for melons. Marigolds and nasturtiums are great companions for just about … Watermelons develop differently to other members of the same family. Potatoes have tremendous effects on watermelon when they (potatoes) are mulched with straws. Companion Planting Garden Map . Watermelon is a space hog; vines can reach 20 feet in length. Alliums, when planted around the watermelon, help improve the health and vitality of watermelon by repelling insect pests that attack it. When adequately spaced out, watermelon thrives very well and produces healthy fruits. The Complete Guide to Companion Planting; Dale Mayer. We are zone 3 to be safe and zone 4 most years. Marigolds repel nematodes, aphids, beetles, flies, and other annoying garden pests. Cucumbers, Melons, Squash, Sunflowers, Tomatoes, Turnips. Radishes are excellent companions for watermelons and other cucurbits, as they deter squash bugs and serve as effective trap crops for flea beetles. Marigolds contain a substance called âAlpha- terthienyl,â which repels pests and disease-causing microorganisms. Sometimes it has to do with getting rid of pests – some plants deter bugs that tend to prey on their neighbors, while some attract predators that eat those bugs. Companion planting is simply planting two or more mutually beneficial plants next to each other. Basically they make it difficult for the plants to grow and mature and can attract diseases. Marigolds are most effective at reducing the nematode population when grown densely as a cover crop for at least two months before watermelons are planted. Marigolds have the ability to ward off pests that attack watermelon. Watering is very important—from planting until fruit begins to form. Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged. Nasturtiums, also known as garden nasturtiums and scientifically referred to as Tropaeolum majus, are excellent companions for watermelons and a broad range of other garden plants. Carrots should be planted near onions because onions will repel the carrot fly. Fruit Garden Gardening tips Indoor Plants Outdoor gardens . Watermelon Companion Plants & Non-Companions For companion plants, you’re going to want to plant it with things like radishes, lettuces & then avoid things like cucumber, zucchini, and basically anything in the melon family. Before planting companion plants make sure you have given your watermelon plant’s vines enough space to spread out or they can choke each other out, in turn, stunting the growth. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. If you are planting pumpkins in your garden, it pays to learn … © 2020 Gardening Bank | All rights reserved. Lambâs quarter, when allowed to grow alongside watermelon, improves its vigor and amount of minerals in watermelon. Companion planting is an easy and all organic way to give your plants a real boost. Sow 8 to 10 watermelon seeds in a hill, and push seeds 1 inch into the soil. Sweet flavoured and as the name suggests, very juicy with flowers and.... Sweet potatoes companion flowers: plant flowers around and in between your melon vines and! Various growth habits and flower characteristics offer this ability heat, even though they require about six of... Is an internationally recognized herb nursery established in 1982 and located in the,! 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