Question

   What crop is best planted prior season to yield quality watermelon crop?

   We want to plant several vegetables and flowers (plants) in a garden. We want all of our crops to turn out very good in flavor (quality etc...) For example: I'm very particular about watermelon and want to yield good crop. So, does anyone know a good combination or the science of pairing in soil? OR where do I search for the information? Thanks in advance if you know.


Answer
Hi s,
Thanx for your question.  Watermelons love a hot summer in sandy soil that is also rich in nutrients (the three don't always go together).  A previous crop of buckwheat or alfalfa or some kind of green manure like that will put a goodly amount of nitrogen in the soil, helping to build up its organic quality.  Plant your seeds two or three to a hill and then cull down to the strongest plant in hills 6 feet apart.  Use some diluted fish emulsion until the plants start blooming heavily, then, stick with fertilizers high in potassium and phosphorus and low in nitrogen.  Two much nitrogen and all you'll get is green growth.  When the plant starts to set fruit I would only leave one or two melons on each vine.  Too many more and I think the quality decreases, especially on the bigger melons.  A few days before the melon is ready to be picked stop watering it and hope that it doesn't rain hard.  This has a tendency to dilute the taste as the melons sucks up more water to store.  I hope this helps.  If you want more information check out this publication from Kansas State University.  http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf1107.pdf  
Tom