I have watermelon plants in 5 gallon buckets and they are doing well. One has a melon about the size of a baseball the other I’ve planted with peas, is producing 6-7 marble size fruit. They both, one is on full sun the other is partial, want to vine and crawl out of the bucket. 1.) how to train vines up a Shepard’s hook and 2.) how and when to thin (detach little melons)
Generally, anywhere from 2-4 melons can be supported on one plant. Here are some articles that will help you to thin and grow them on trellis:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/watermelon/removing-melon-fruit.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/watermelon/watermelon-vine-support.htm
My husband bought a veggie plant at Home Depot a few months back and didn't label it in the garden. We now have no idea what it is and it has gotten quite large. Google is not being helpful.
It looks like a watermelon so you will need lots of space!
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/watermelon/growing-watermelon.htm
Transplanted a small section and seeded the rest. Were doing great until we had several days of rain. Then I noticed they were thinning out and looked to be dying. I also noticed a few ant like bugs and sprayed them with Sevin ready to use spray for plants, fruits & veggies. However, the withering/dying started before I sprayed them. Could it be too much water? Oh, and the raised bed is lined, and the soil placed on top of it.
I would suspect that overwatering has led to an infection. Now, what the bed is lined with may have some part in this.
Lining beds requires a porous material that lets water out, freely. Plastic is not ideal.
Unfortunately, the crop may be ruined this year, but you can make an attempt at correction with a fungicide. Sometimes, you can get something from the garden even if it has gotten out of hand.
These articles will help you with fungicide use:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/biofungicide-information.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/homemade-fungicide.htm
This article will help you with watermelon care:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/watermelon/growing-watermelon.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-vegetable-gardens.htm
Holes are fully developed without a seed to push it open.
They aren't truly seedless. They have those white to translucent, small seeds that are really just the outer coats of seeds. Occasionally you will see a black, fully formed seed. Also, seedless watermelons are hybrids of seeded and seedless varieties and the fruit still tries to produce seed, hence the spaces.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/watermelon/seedless-watermelon-plants.htm
Sure! We have just the article to get you started:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/watermelon/growing-watermelon.htm
These articles will offer quite a bit of extra information, as well:
I am a newbie gardener and unfortunately selected watermelon as my first go at growing fruit, without knowing how fragile they can be. I germinated them indoors in the same starter pots you see now, they had a strong grow light and water every day. I have been keeping them outdoors as I prepare for transfer into soil, and I just cut the second, weaker seedling from each pot to give the stronger one room. The seedlings are developing black spots that eat up the leaves and leave them dry and dead, it sort of resembles a burn. This began when they were still indoors. I would love some advice on basic watermelon care as well as treatment of the black spots! These are the crimson sweet variety and I live in North Texas. Much thanks.
I hope these two articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/watermelon/watermelon-disease-control.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/watermelon/watermelon-myrothecium-leaf-spot.htm
This problem does not extend to other curcurbits.
There may not be enough nutrients in your soil to sustain growth. I would test pH, and nutrient content. These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-ph-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-moisture-in-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/watermelon/growing-watermelon.htm