Watermelon

Watermelons bring the taste of high summer to the garden, from compact icebox fruits to large picnic types and heirlooms with red, pink, yellow, or orange flesh. Grow them for fresh slices, summer gatherings, juices, and a harvest worth waiting for.

Plant only after the soil is warm, give the vines full sun and plenty of room, and keep moisture steady while fruits size. Reduce watering near ripening when possible, and learn the variety’s signs of maturity before cutting.