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To grow orange watermelon, you need to start with the right seeds and a whole lot of patience.
Orange watermelons aren’t a different species from the red ones you know.
They’re just a variety that produces orange flesh instead of the usual pink or red.
If you’ve been wondering how to grow orange watermelon in your own backyard, the good news is that the process is almost identical to growing regular watermelon.
The only real difference is the color of the flesh inside and sometimes a slightly sweeter, honey-like flavor.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to grow orange watermelon from seed to harvest, including the best conditions, planting tips, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Let’s dig in.
How to Grow Orange Watermelon: The Basics
Growing orange watermelon starts with understanding what this plant actually needs.
These melons love heat, sun, and plenty of space to sprawl.
If you can give them those three things, you’re already halfway there.
1. Choose the Right Variety
The most popular orange watermelon variety is called ‘Orangeglo’.
Other options include ‘Tendersweet Orange’ and ‘Desert King’.
When you grow orange watermelon, pick a variety suited to your climate.
Check the days to maturity on the seed packet.
Most orange watermelons need between 80 and 100 days to fully ripen.
That’s a long season, so plan accordingly.
2. Start Seeds Indoors or Direct Sow
If you have a short growing season, start your orange watermelon seeds indoors about three to four weeks before the last frost.
Use peat pots or biodegradable containers because watermelon roots hate being disturbed.
If you live in a warm climate with a long summer, you can direct sow the seeds into the ground once the soil temperature hits at least 70°F.
When you grow orange watermelon from seed, keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy.
3. Pick a Spot with Full Sun
Orange watermelon plants need at least eight to ten hours of direct sunlight every day.
The more sun, the sweeter the fruit.
Choose a spot that gets full sun all day long.
And make sure the area drains well because watermelons rot easily in waterlogged soil.
How to Grow Orange Watermelon: Planting and Care
Once your plants are in the ground, the real work begins.
Here’s how to grow orange watermelon that actually produces fruit.
1. Prepare the Soil
Watermelons thrive in loose, sandy loam soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8.
Before planting, mix in plenty of compost or aged manure.
This gives your orange watermelon plants the nutrients they need to grow strong vines.
You can also add a balanced fertilizer at planting time.
2. Give Them Room to Spread
Watermelon vines can stretch six to ten feet or more.
If you’re wondering how to grow orange watermelon in a small garden, consider growing them vertically on a sturdy trellis.
Just make sure you support the fruit with a sling made from old pantyhose or mesh as it grows.
Otherwise, give each plant about three to four feet of space in every direction.
3. Water Deeply and Consistently
Water your orange watermelon plants deeply once or twice a week.
Aim for about one to two inches of water per week, including rainfall.
Drip irrigation works best because it keeps the leaves dry.
Wet leaves invite fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
And once the fruit starts ripening, cut back on watering slightly to concentrate the sugars.
4. Pollinate and Prune
Orange watermelon plants produce both male and female flowers.
Bees usually handle pollination, but if you’re short on pollinators, you can hand-pollinate.
Just pick a male flower, remove the petals, and dab its pollen onto the female flower’s stigma.
You can also prune away excess vines to direct energy into fruit production.
But don’t go overboard because the leaves feed the melons.
How to Grow Orange Watermelon: Harvesting and Troubleshooting
Knowing when to pick your orange watermelon is just as important as knowing how to grow orange watermelon.
Here’s what to watch for and what might go wrong.
1. Signs of Ripeness
A ripe orange watermelon will have a dull, creamy underside where it touched the ground.
The tendril closest to the fruit will turn brown and dry.
And when you thump it, you’ll hear a deep, hollow sound.
Don’t rely on the color of the rind alone because orange watermelons often look just like red ones on the outside.
2. Common Pests and Diseases
Aphids, cucumber beetles, and squash bugs love watermelon plants.
Keep an eye out for them and use row covers early in the season.
Fungal diseases like fusarium wilt and anthracnose can also be a problem.
Rotate your crops every year and avoid overhead watering to reduce the risk.
3. Poor Fruit Set
If your orange watermelon plants flower but don’t set fruit, it’s usually due to poor pollination or too much nitrogen.
Cut back on fertilizer and plant flowers nearby to attract more bees.
Also, make sure the plants aren’t crowding each other too much.
So, How to Grow Orange Watermelon?
To grow orange watermelon, you need warm soil, full sun, consistent water, and a bit of patience.
Start with the right seeds, give them plenty of room, and keep an eye out for pests.
The process is nearly the same as growing any other watermelon.
The only difference is the sweet, orange flesh you’ll get to enjoy at the end of the season.
So pick a sunny spot, plant those seeds, and get ready for a harvest that’ll surprise everyone at your next picnic.