How to intercrop watermelon
How to intercrop watermelon
The watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, 1916) or watermelon is a plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, originally coming from tropical Africa.
Watermelon benefits from intercropping and among these the recommended plants are: onion, leek, lettuce, spinach, tomato. However, associations with: pumpkins, courgettes, melon are not recommended.
It is a plant which, in order to bear ripe and juicy fruit, needs frequent irrigation; however, shortly before harvesting it is a good idea to reduce the quantity of water to obtain sweeter fruit.
One of the interesting combinations is the one with onion. Onion is known to repel some harmful pests and insects, while watermelon is a climbing plant that can provide shade and moisture to the soil, as well as reduce weed growth.
Watermelon’s dense foliage can reduce weed growth around onions, thus reducing the need for herbicide applications or manual weeding.
Since watermelon tends to grow in a climbing fashion, it can take advantage of vertical space, allowing onions to grow freely on the ground, thus maximizing the use of available space.
Watermelon leaves can help retain moisture in the soil, reducing the need for frequent watering for both plants.
Some harmful insects that attack onions may be deterred by the presence of watermelon. However, it is important to note that this may not be effective for all insect pests.
Despite the differences in their growing needs, onion and watermelon can benefit from each other’s presence. For example, onion could help repel pests that would otherwise harm watermelon.
Intercropping with lettuce is a common practice in horticulture and organic farming. Lettuce and watermelon are two plants that can grow well together for several reasons.
Lettuce is a low-profile plant that grows well close to the ground, while watermelon needs room to spread horizontally. Because the watermelon spreads low to the ground, it can cover the ground surrounding the lettuce, providing natural shade that can help keep the soil moist and cool.
The ground cover provided by watermelon can help reduce weed growth around lettuce plants, reducing the need for manual weeding.
The presence of watermelon can also help create a more diverse habitat in the garden, attracting beneficial insects and promoting biodiversity.
Additionally, both plants can benefit each other’s soil. Lettuce is a fast-growing plant that can be grown as a cover crop to protect the soil and provide nutrients when worked into the soil. Watermelon, with its deep roots and vigorous root system, can help improve soil structure and reduce erosion.
Other interesting combinations, as mentioned, are those with leek, spinach and tomato.