What Is Watermelon?
Watermelon is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieties.
How To Grow Watermelon In Uganda?
Watermelon can be grown from seed or transplants from a nursery. Honeybees must pollinate the watermelon for fruit to be produced. In Uganda, farmers grow it mainly in the districts of Luweero, Mpigi, Kayunga, Bugerere, Mayuge, Masaka, Mubende, Masindi and Bushenyi.
How Long Do Watermelons Take To Grow In Uganda?
In about three months the fruits should be ready for harvest depending on the soil temperature and the depth they are planted.
What Month Is The Best Time To Plant Watermelon In Uganda?
The best times to plant watermelon are between March and July. If you are planting more than one row, then make sure you space them to at least six feet apart. This should give the tender vines enough space to grow. The soil temperature should warm to at least 70 degrees.
How Much Can I Get From An Acre Of Watermelon In Uganda?
With a harvest of two fruits per plant weighing 11 kg, a farmer who practices good crop husbandry can harvest 8,000 watermelons. If they weigh about 11kg, then the fruits will give 88,000 kilos from the one acre.
How Long Does It Take To Get Watermelon To Grow In Uganda?
However, gardeners in colder climates can still have success in growing watermelons by starting seeds indoors or purchasing young plants from a nursery, and by growing shorter-season varieties. Depending on the variety of watermelon, it can take between 70 and 100 days to go from planting to harvest.
What Is Watermelon Made Of In Uganda?
Watermelon consists mostly of water (91%) and carbs (7.5%). It provides almost no protein or fat and is very low in calories. The nutrients in 2/3 cup (100 grams) of raw watermelon are ( 1 ): Calories: 30.
How Many Watermelon Seeds Do You Put In A Hole In Uganda?
If sowing watermelon seeds directly, place four to six seeds in a one-inch hole at the top of a mound once the seeds begin to sprout, they can be thinned back to the strongest two to three seedlings.
How Do You Prepare Soil For Watermelon In Uganda?
Melons grow best on well-drained, sandy loam soils, with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Soils with a pH less than 6.0 will produce plants with yellow foliage that set few or no fruit. You can improve your soil by adding well-rotted manure or compost in spring or fall.
How Can I Make My Watermelon Grow Bigger In Uganda?
To maximize the size of the melon, water the plants regularly in deep water sessions that keep the soil moist. Side dress the Watermelon plants with fertilizer prepared for edible crops or fertilizer tea to feed the plants. Fertilizer encourages growth to produce large melons.
What’s The Benefits Of Eating Watermelon In Uganda?
The Health Benefits of Watermelon
Helps you stay hydrated.
Packed with nutrients and beneficial plant compounds.
May have anticancer effects.
May improve heart health.
May reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
May help prevent macular degeneration.
May relieve muscle soreness.
May aid skin health.
What Kind Of Fruit Is Watermelon In Uganda?
The fruit is a type of berry known botanically as a pepo. The sweet juicy flesh may be reddish, white, or yellow; flesh colour, shape of the fruit, and thickness of the rind depend on the variety.
What Happens If I Eat Watermelon Everyday In Uganda?
If you eat an abundance of the fruit daily, however, you may experience problems from having too much lycopene or potassium. The consumption of more than 30 mg of lycopene daily could potentially cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion and bloating, according to the American Cancer Society (opens in new tab).
Is Watermelon Good For Kidneys In Uganda?
Watermelon is healthy because it’s full of lycopene an antioxidant that helps break down harmful free oxygen radicals. It prevents kidney injury and therefore, is a kidney-friendly food.
Is Watermelon High In Sugar In Uganda?
Watermelons are the iconic summer fruit. They may seem like a treat, but they’re low in sugar. A whole cup of diced up watermelon has under 10 grams of sugar. A bonus of eating watermelon is it’s also a great source of iron.
Is Watermelon Good For Weight Loss In Uganda?
Because 90% of a watermelon’s weight is water, it’s one of the best fruits to eat if you’re trying to lose weight. A 100-gram serving contains only 30 calories. It’s also a great source of an amino acid called arginine, which helps burn fat quickly.