From Garden to Glass: Watermelon Refresher
Photo by Tanalee Youngblood on Unsplash
Labor Day is this weekend, which means we’re in the thick of summer here in Florida. If you’re planning on hosting a backyard barbeque and need an idea for a tasty cocktail (or mocktail if you omit the vodka), consider this Watermelon Refresher! Bonus points if you pull the watermelon straight off the vine in your yard, because serving your guests a drink made with ingredients harvested straight from your yard is a huge flex.
Make a batch and let us know what you think!
Watermelon Refresher
Ingredients:
2 oz fresh watermelon juice
1 oz fresh lemon juice
6-8 mint leaves
Sparkling water
Vodka (optional)
Method:
Muddle mint and watermelon juice. Add all to a glass with ice and top off with sparkling water.
Growing Your Own Watermelon
If you don’t think you have space to grow your own watermelon, think again! Did you know you can grow some with as little as a 4’x4’ space? You just need to espalier them, which is essentially training the vines to grow flat against a trellis instead of sprawling along the ground like they would naturally grow. Not only is this a space-saver, it improves circulation of air and makes them easier to harvest.
Here are some espalier tips for watermelons:
Make sure you plant them in a spot where they can get at least 8 hours of sunlight - watermelons love full sun!
Use the best soil you can as deep as possible in a raised bed. This gives the roots room to spread out under the surface.
Select a watermelon variety suited for your climate and for trellising. ‘Sugar Baby’ grows well here in Central Florida.
Plant when the soil (not just the weather) is warm.
Use or build sturdy trellises that can support 20-30 pounds.
Train the watermelon vines up the trellis. They grow extremely fast (1-2 feet a week), so tie them to the trellis to train them to go up the frame. If the vines get too out of control or overcrowded, you can prune some of the off-shoots.
Support the fruit with slings. Once the melons start to grow, you can add slings around them to distribute some of the weight so the vine doesn’t snap under the weight. You can use mesh onion bags, fabric pieces, bird netting or even nylon stockings. Put your sling around the watermelon and then tie it to the trellis to support some of the weight.
Water the melons well. During dry weather, this may need to be once or twice a week or every day depending on how deep your soil is. Mulch on the surface can also slow evaporation.
Finally, when your melons are ripe, harvest and enjoy! You will know it is ripe when the tendril at the base of the stem turns brown and starts drying up.
Photo by Nina Luong on Unsplash
Need a small yard garden design so you can grow all your favorite fruits and veggies? Feel free to reach out here so we can schedule a time to talk about your food forest vision! What would you like to try espaliering? Share in the comments!