Many watermelon growers plant as soon as possible in the season so they can market the crop early, when prices are high. The problem, however, is that watermelons, particularly seedless varieties, require a warm temperature (25°C to 35°C) to germinate. The good news is that you can give the seed a helping hand by pre-germinating it early in the season when the weather is cooler. Whether you intend planting the seed directly into the soil or into seed trays, pre-germination is worth the effort as it gives you a quick, uniform start. This does not apply to hybrid and seedless watermelons, however; these usually go into seed trays in a warm environment. An effective way to pre-germinate seed is to use an electric blanket: Place a sheet of plastic, followed by a few sheets of newspaper, on one half of the blanket; Wet the newspaper and sprinkle the seed onto the moist paper; Cover with a few more sheets of newspaper, and moisten; Place another sheet of plastic on top, and fold the
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