Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
Also called Water melon
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitTAP IT AND LISTEN. Ripe is a hollow drum; unripe is a dull thud. The curly tendril nearest the fruit going brown says the same thing a week ahead.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun, under cover in a cool summer
- Feed
- Once a fortnight
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out for the summer RHS H1C, to 5°C
- Size
- 0.4 m tall · 3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Origin
- Africa
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-04. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.