Watermelons are a tasty summer fruit that you can grow at home in your backyard. In Japan, a tradition has started where people grow ornamental watermelons that are completely square, and you can do this as well with your own backyard watermelons. All you need are a few simple tools and some patience, and you'll have delicious square watermelons of your own in no time.

Yes, but you have to get a box that is a slightly smaller size than the mature lemon, and it needs to be light so that it won’t fall off the tree.

The melon should be a bright green with dark green stripes. I trick I use to see if melons are ripe is to knock on the melons like a door. The louder the sound it makes, the riper it is. Note that you have to knock with the same force using this technique.

Yes, but you need to have a strong trellis to support the vines, and you'll have to tie up the fruits as they get bigger. Put them in used pantyhose or other material that can stretch and anchor them securely to the trellis.

No, they must to formed to that shape by human intervention, and can not be grown into squares without the help of a mold.

The watermelons will all mature around the same time, so you can gauge if your square watermelon is ripe by the maturity of the other fruit on the vine. To harvest your square watermelon, unlatch the lid and gently pull the watermelon out of the box.

Make sure it gets plenty of sunlight throughout the day, and water the plant if there's a dry spell. Watermelons have a long growing season, and the weather will need to stay between 70 and 80 F (21 and 27 C) consistently for the fruit to grow and ripen properly.

Open the box or mold and place the healthy fruit inside. Leave the fruit on the stem so it will continue to grow. Close the lid partway. Slot the stem into the opening in the lid. Close the lid so the fruit is inside the box but still attached to the plant by the stem. Latch the lid so the growing fruit doesn’t burst out of the box.

Pick a healthy watermelon from the vine. When the watermelon fruit is still young and about the size of a softball, choose a healthy specimen to grow into a square. Look for fruit with no bruises, blemishes, holes, or insect damage. You should also look for a round fruit since this will likely grow more evenly.

Growing square watermelons is as easy as placing a young fruit into a square box. As the watermelon grows, it will grow into the box and grow in the shape of a cube. The mold must allow sunlight and air to pass through. To determine the size of the mold, check the seed package to find out the mature size of the fruit you're growing, and then pick a mold that’s a little smaller.

While watermelon plants are in the initial growing stages, they need plenty of water. Make sure they get 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) per week as the seeds germinate, and as the plants grow, bloom, and fruit.

Mulch is good for watermelons because it keeps the soil warm, retains moisture, and keeps weeds and pests out. Once the seeds have been planted, cover the hills with leaves, straw, black plastic mulch, or black landscaping fabric.

Plant nine watermelon seeds in each hill. Plant the seeds in groups of three. Space the seed groups out evenly around the hill so the clusters are about a foot (30 cm) apart. To sow the seeds, simply press each seed ½ inch (1.3 cm) deep into the soil.After you plant them, water them thoroughly.

Hills or mounds tend to drain better and warm faster than flat soil, which is ideal for watermelons. Using a rake or shovel, form the soil in the bed into hills that are 1 foot (30 cm) high and 3 feet (91 cm) in diameter. Space the hills 6.5 feet (2 m) apart.

The soil temperature must reach at least 70 F (21 C) before you can plant watermelon seeds. You should also wait until at least two weeks after the last frost, otherwise the seeds won’t sprout.

Watermelon seeds need warm soil to grow, and if you live in cooler or northern climates, you should warm the soil a couple of weeks before planting to ensure it heats up enough. Cover the garden bed with black plastic or landscape fabric, and lay some rocks along the perimeter to keep the plastic from blowing away.

Watermelons are heavy feeders, so it’s important to amend the soil with lots of nutrients a few weeks before planting. They also need well-draining soil. Add some aged compost, manure, or seaweed to the garden bed and till it into the soil. Use compost specifically if you want to ensure your soil drains well.

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