Oregano has a strong smell that masks the presence of watermelon plants from harmful predators, while it attracts excellent pollinators like hoverflies and lacewings. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Check your soil to make sure the pH is between 6.0 and 6.8, and ensure there is a high enough calcium level. Avoid planting melons with potatoes. 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. In the case of watermelon cultivation there are certain plants you can grow alongside your watermelon plants to prevent aphids and cucumber beetles from attacking the plants. Marigolds have the ability to ward off pests that attack watermelon. 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. 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 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! The best companion plants for watermelons are corn which helps protect them from the harsh sun. It appears there is a fair amount of interest in companion planting. Watermelon is such an exotic plant to have in your garden or your planting pot. Marigolds of the âTagetesâ order are beneficial to watermelon when planted as companion plants. If you must grow watermelon with other plants, the first step is to know all the watermelon companion plants so you don’t end up inhibiting its growth. Basically they make it difficult for the plants to grow and mature and can attract diseases. Multiple types of marigolds planted near watermelons and other plants attract beneficial insects like hover flies that control watermelon pests such as aphids. As with city planning, the way your lay out your vegetable garden is crucial. Some of the attractive plants that could aid the pollination of watermelon include cosmos, zinnias, and alyssum. 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. 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. The Complete Guide to Companion Planting; Dale Mayer. These plants should not be grown alongside or anywhere near to watermelon plants. Angela Ryczkowski is a professional writer who has served as a greenhouse manager and certified wildland firefighter. 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. If you are planting pumpkins in your garden, it pays to learn … 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. Radishes are beneficial watermelon companion plants because they repel insect pests that attack watermelon. Both tree plants should be grown far away from watermelon and other vegetable plants. Companion planting is simply planting two or more mutually beneficial plants next to each other. Melons are one of the most compatible plants in the garden and do well when planted with peas, pole beans, bush beans, onions, leeks, chives, and garlic. The edible flowers of nasturtium also offer an addition to salads and are available in a variety of colors. Usually, watermelon can be planted with different kinds of plants, and I will name some of the best ones in this article. Marigolds contain a substance called âAlpha- terthienyl,â which repels pests and disease-causing microorganisms. While co-planting corn and watermelon ensure that the corn isnât shadowing over the watermelon. Marigolds & the Best Varieties for Attracting Beneficial Insects. Potatoes have tremendous effects on watermelon when they (potatoes) are mulched with straws. Companion plants. So plant where there is plenty of open ground. Perennials that are members of the aster family like daisies, sunflowers and coneflowers are excellent at attracting beneficial insects. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Just the way humans feel vulnerable and alone without a companion. They also attract beneficial insects like bees and ground beetles. Pests that attack watermelon include flea beetles, whitefly and black fly, and alliums repel all of them. Be sure to incorporate one or more watermelon companion plants to your garden. Lambâs quarter, when allowed to grow alongside watermelon, improves its vigor and amount of minerals in watermelon. © 2020 Gardening Bank | All rights reserved. To avoid this, ensure to plant watermelon in a well-spaced out space with adequate room for its roots and vines. Cantaloupe, also known as muskmelon, thrives in the sunniest garden spot. Radishes are excellent companions for watermelons and other cucurbits, as they deter squash bugs and serve as effective trap crops for flea beetles. Straws help in lowering soil temperatures and increasing soil moisture. They have less dense flesh with a much higher water content and sugar content than squashes. Cucumbers, Melons, Squash, Sunflowers, Tomatoes, Turnips. Marigolds – “Great neighbors” to most vegetable crops, especially melons. Nasturtiums, when planted alongside melons, help keep insect pests away from the plant by repelling insects like aphids and squash bugs. 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. Make sure that the plants have not been treated with any insecticides or pesticides. Radishes are excellent companions for watermelons … So you add roses, then garlic, then potatoes. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This is why we recommend you have at least 6-10 inches of space between each sapling. The watermelon vine needs its pollinators to produce the best fruit. 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. What is companion planting? 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.. When watermelon and other plants are planted too close to each other, they can choke themselves and result in stunted growth. Once the plants mature, they can tolerate some leaf loss due to insects, but keeping companion plants nearby helps control swarms of pests. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Nasturtiums, popularly known as garden nasturtiums and scientifically known as âTropaeolum majus,â are useful companion plants for watermelon and a wide range of other garden plants. Watermelons, members of the cucurbit family widely prized for their fruits, are vulnerable to numerous pests, including aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, various beetles and nematodes. Lambâs quarter is rich in several nourishing minerals. The most fragrant marigold specimens are the most effective at attracting beneficial and deterring harmful insects like squash bugs. While we have learned that watermelon is friendly to almost all plants and vegetables, there exist some plants that are detrimental to the optimal growth and development of watermelon. Best Pruning Blades For Reciprocating Saw, Difference Between Primary And Secondary Growth. In the plant kingdom, watermelons, also known as Citrullus vulgaris, is friendly to almost all the plants and vegetables that abound. Companion plants are fruits, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, or flowers that provide a benefit to their neighbor, whether that’s through nutrients, providing shade, or protection from pests or disease. I learned that roses also companion plant well with garlic. Asparagus is now one of my family’s favorite things to … Additionally, watermelons are liable to burn in the midday heat, even though they require about six hours of sunlight per day. Watering is very important—from planting until fruit begins to form. What Is the Best Fertilizer for Geraniums? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. How To Cultivate Watermelon Plants. 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. Watermelon conjures fond memories of hot summer days, chins dripping with juice and happy kids running around. Like radishes and corn. Companion planting is an easy and all organic way to give your plants a real boost. It also contains juglone. And keep in mind that the flowers of highly hybridized cultivars are generally less attractive to pollinators than heirloom varieties. Young melon plants are susceptible to insect invasion, especially cucumber beetles. Nasturtiums, popularly known as garden nasturtiums and scientifically known as ‘Tropaeolum majus,’ are useful companion plants for watermelon and a wide range of other garden plants. 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. Selections could include alyssum, cleome, zinnias and cosmos. Melons will not survive a frost, so if there is a threat of one, hold off on planting. Read Also: What Not to Plant with Tomatoes. Onions will … Many vegetable or herb plants prove valuable watermelon companions but lack particularly showy flowers and have little ornamental value. It (straws) also helps in controlling weed growth and pest invasion. A huge variety of plants with various growth habits and flower characteristics offer this ability. Companion Planting Chart Click here to download our COMPANION PLANTING CHART Read our COMPANION PLANTING GUIDE for more information on why it is good to plant companion plants. Companion planting is the practice of growing mutually beneficial plants alongside each other. Watermelon can be detrimental to its growth and development if its vines are allowed to stumble across each other. Many vegetable or herb plants prove valuable watermelon companions but lack particularly showy flowers and have little ornamental value. These plants repel like aphids and squash bugs while attracting or harboring beneficial insects or predators like ground beetles, bees and spiders. Same family for several reasons includes pumpkins, squash, melons, cucumbers melons... 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