| Estimated Cost $700 to $1500 per acre | Market Potential Moderate; seasonal peaks; very competitive at times. Demand for seedless types increasing. | Yield Potential 10,000 – 70,000 lbs/ac | Profit Potential $0 to $2,000 per acre | Adapted Areas Statewide |
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Is it profitable to grow watermelon?
Growing watermelon –if done rationally and on a scalable basis-
can be a good source of income
. In a few words, most commercial watermelon growers start the crop from seeds (hybrids) in an indoor protected environment. As they wait for the young seedlings to grow and be ready for transplanting, they prepare the field.
How many pounds of watermelon do you get per acre?
While watermelons are grown across the U.S., most production occurs in the top five states (Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, and Texas), producing approximately 69 percent of all grown in the U.S. The average watermelon yield per acre in the U.S in 2020 was
39,704 pounds
.
How many watermelon seeds can you plant per acre?
Plant open-pollinated varieties using
one pound to two pounds of seed per acre
and place seed at a depth of 1/2 inch to 11/2 inches. Use the greater planting depths for sandy or dry soils. Hybrid varieties have seed costs about 20 to 30 times greater than open-pollinated varieties.
How much does a watermelon yield?
Healthy watermelon vines produce
2-4 fruits per plant
. The vines produce both male and female flowers. Both are needed to set fruit and there are fewer female flowers compared to male, about one female for every seven males.
Which state grows the best watermelon?
Florida
has historically been the top producer of watermelons and accounted for 19 percent of the 3.9 billion pounds of U.S. watermelon production in 2012. Florida and three other States–Georgia, California, and Texas–accounted for two-thirds of U.S. output in 2012.
What is the lifespan of a watermelon plant?
About 2 to 3 melons can be obtained per plant in its single lifespan of
3-4 months
. Usually, gardeners purposely keep only one watermelon per plant to harvest big sized fruits.
Which farming is most profitable?
Apiculture
is one of the most profitable agriculture business ideas in 2021. Due to a rise in demand for honey and its by-products and a scarcity of natural honey, commercial beekeeping farms have sprung up all over the world.
How many cucumbers do you get per plant?
how many cucumbers can you harvest per plant? Depending on the variety, you can expect to harvest around
20 cucumbers
per plant.
What is a good price for watermelon?
While it’s hard to define an exact price you “should” pay, the national seasonal average retail price for conventional seeded watermelons is
between 31 to 38 cents per pound
, according to the USDA.
What is the best fertilizer for watermelon?
When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a
phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer
. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.
Do watermelons require a lot of water?
Watermelons do not need a particularly large amount of water at planting times
, though they benefit from a thorough drenching of 1 to 2 inches of water every week. Make sure the soil is wet to a depth of 6 inches every time you water.
Which type of watermelon is best?
- Picnic. Allsweet. Charleston Gray. Crimson Sweet. …
- Icebox. Blacktail Mountain. Bush Sugar Baby. Sweet Beauty.
- Personal. Golden Midget. Little Darling. …
- Giant. Black Diamond Yellow Belly. Carolina Cross #183. …
- Seedless. Big Tasty. Mini Piccolo. …
- Orange, Yellow, or White Flesh. Orange Crisp. Orangeglo.
How long does blended watermelon last?
Watermelon juice will keep in the refrigerator, covered, for
up to 4 days
. The juice will separate over time; stir it with a spoon to recombine.
How heavy is average watermelon?
According to the Watermelon Board, an average large watermelon weighs
about 20 pounds
, which is equal to about four small watermelons at five pounds each. Quarter and slice that 20-pound melon into 3/4-inch-thick wedges and you’ll get about 66 wedges.
How many servings is a watermelon?
When using a melon baller to cut the watermelon, a single serving is about
six balls of melon
. A small 1-inch thick wedge of sliced melon is also equivalent to one serving. Adult men and women need to eat 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit each day. One cup of watermelon equals one serving of fresh fruit.
