How-To Put Together a Watermelon Planter and Trellis

How to put together Watermelon Planter Boxes

I tend to shy away from most melons or squashes (with the exception of cucumbers) simply because of the small nature of my yard, but this year we really wanted to try watermelons. First, I found seeds for adorable little personal watermelons – they can easily be held up in one hand alone each. Then I scoured the internet for the right size, raised planter boxes that I knew I could fit along the path on the sunniest side of my house (southern exposure, some trellises, and then planted away. I also included a nice variety of flowering plants with my watermelon to amp up pollinator activity, and well, to make the planters extra gorgeous for not only us to enjoy, but my neighbors on that side of the house as well.

Materials:

· Planter Box – I love these farmer green ones I got on Amazon (I will probably be getting some for on the porch…)

· 6-8 ft Trellis – I got mine at the At Home Store, but when I when back for more they were all gone! I wish I had just gone with these beauties instead and think if I expand the project these are the ones I will add

· Coffee Filters

· A few large stones

· Moisture Control Potting Soil

· Mini watermelon seeds to direct sow (I like Beni Kodama and Kaho… they are so tiny and cute!)

· A few seedlings to transplant, or flower seeds of choice to direct sow in the front of the planter

Step 1:

Build your planter when it comes. You will have to peel off a protective plastic off of all the pieces. You can do it once you put it together, but I found it easier to peel the film off before putting it together (assembly is easy… the part that took the longest was peeling off the protective film, honestly) and put in plant with a large trellis secured well and into the ground behind it.

Step 2:

Just so my dirt didn’t fall out right away, I put a coffee filter over each hole and a large rock to hold it into place

Step 3:

Fill with a good potting soil. I used the Miracle Grow Moisture Control potting soil to help the pot not dry out as fast – watermelons like a lot of water!

Step 4:

plant your seeds (I spaced my only about 2 inches apart and then just thinned down to a few of the healthiest once they emerged) and plant your flowers of choice along the front. I put a nasturtium, an aster, and an Agastache in each planter along the front. This aids in bringing pollinators near your melons when they are in bloom, but also makes it beautiful.