How To Grow Orange Watermelon

Growing orange watermelon is totally possible, and it’s one of the most rewarding things you can do in your garden.
 

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow orange watermelon, you’re in the right place because these vibrant, sweet melons are easier to grow than you might think.
 

In this post, we’ll walk through how to grow orange watermelon from seed to harvest, including the best varieties, soil tips, watering tricks, and how to tell when they’re perfectly ripe.
 

Let’s dig in.
 

How to Grow Orange Watermelon: The Basics

Learning how to grow orange watermelon starts with understanding what makes them different from the standard red or pink varieties.
 

Orange watermelons get their color from carotenoid pigments like beta-carotene rather than lycopene, which is what gives red melons their hue.
 

That means the process of how to grow orange watermelon is nearly identical to growing red ones — but the payoff is a fruit with a unique tropical sweetness and stunning sunset-colored flesh.
 

Here are the key steps to get it right.
 

1. Choose the Right Orange Watermelon Variety

When learning how to grow orange watermelon, variety selection matters more than you’d expect.
 

Some popular orange watermelon types include ‘Orangeglo,’ ‘Tendersweet Orange,’ and ‘Sunshine.’
 

‘Orangeglo’ is famous for its incredibly sweet flavor and crisp texture, making it a favorite among gardeners who know how to grow orange watermelon well.
 

‘Tendersweet Orange’ produces large fruit with a thin rind, while ‘Sunshine’ is a smaller, compact option great for limited space.
 

Choose a variety suited to your growing zone and the length of your summer season.
 

2. Start Seeds Indoors or Direct Sow

To grow orange watermelon successfully, you’ll need a long, warm growing season.
 

If you live in a cooler climate, start orange watermelon seeds indoors about three to four weeks before your last frost date.
 

Use biodegradable pots because watermelon roots hate being disturbed during transplanting.
 

If you live in a warm climate with a long summer, you can direct sow orange watermelon seeds into the garden once the soil temperature hits at least 70°F.
 

The key to how to grow orange watermelon from seed is warmth — cold soil will stall germination or rot the seeds entirely.
 

3. Prepare Warm, Well-Draining Soil

Orange watermelon plants thrive in loose, sandy loam soil that drains well.
 

Before planting, amend your soil with plenty of compost or aged manure to give the vines a nutrient-rich start.
 

Watermelons prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8.
 

If you’re serious about how to grow orange watermelon, consider building raised mounds or hills about four to six inches tall.
 

These hills warm up faster in spring and give the roots the drainage they crave.
 

Space your hills about six feet apart to give the vines plenty of room to sprawl.
 

How to Grow Orange Watermelon: Care and Maintenance

Once your orange watermelon plants are in the ground, the real work of how to grow orange watermelon begins.
 

These vines are heavy feeders and thirsty drinkers, but they’re also sensitive to overwatering and pests.
 

Here’s how to keep them happy.
 

1. Water Deeply but Infrequently

Orange watermelon plants have deep roots, so you want to water them thoroughly once or twice a week rather than giving them a light sprinkle daily.
 

Aim for about one to two inches of water per week, including rainfall.
 

The trick to how to grow orange watermelon without splitting the fruit is to keep moisture consistent, especially as the melons ripen.
 

Drip irrigation or soaker hoses work best because they keep the leaves dry and reduce disease.
 

2. Feed With Balanced Fertilizer

When figuring out how to grow orange watermelon, feeding is a big deal.
 

Apply a balanced fertilizer when the vines start running, then switch to a formula lower in nitrogen once flowers appear.
 

Too much nitrogen gives you tons of leafy vines but few melons.
 

A side dressing of compost or a phosphorus-rich fertilizer during flowering supports healthy fruit development.
 

3. Watch for Pests and Diseases

Learning how to grow orange watermelon means staying ahead of common problems like aphids, cucumber beetles, and powdery mildew.
 

Row covers can protect young plants, but remove them once flowers bloom so pollinators can get in.
 

For mildew, improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
 

Rotate your crops each year so you’re not growing orange watermelon in the same spot where other cucurbits grew last season.
 

4. Pollination Is Everything

A huge part of how to grow orange watermelon successfully is making sure the flowers get pollinated.
 

Watermelons produce separate male and female flowers, and each female bloom needs several visits from bees to set fruit.
 

Plant flowers like borage or cosmos nearby to attract pollinators.
 

If you notice fruit dropping off the vine while still tiny, poor pollination is usually the culprit.
 

How to Grow Orange Watermelon: Harvesting Tips

Knowing when to harvest is the final piece of how to grow orange watermelon.
 

Unlike red melons, orange varieties don’t always show the same obvious signs, so you’ll need to check a few things.
 

First, look at the tendril closest to the fruit — when it dries up and turns brown, the melon is close to ripe.
 

Second, check the bottom of the melon where it sat on the ground; it should shift from white to a creamy yellow.
 

Third, give it a thump — a ripe orange watermelon sounds deep and hollow.
 

The skin should also lose its glossy sheen and feel slightly rough.
 

Once harvested, orange watermelons don’t continue ripening, so pick them at peak maturity.
 

So, How to Grow Orange Watermelon?

Growing orange watermelon comes down to warmth, patience, and consistent care.
 

Start with the right variety, give the vines plenty of sun and space, water deeply, feed wisely, and watch for pollinators.
 

When that tendril dries and the bottom turns creamy yellow, you’ll know you’ve mastered how to grow orange watermelon.
 

Then it’s just a matter of slicing one open and enjoying that gorgeous orange flesh.