Crop details

Watermelon (tikiti maji)

Citrullus lanatus

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Quick stats

Family	Cucurbitaceae
Typical harvest	25.7 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	5
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	climber
Days to harvest	90
Main uses	Fresh fruit eaten raw, juice, fruit salads and roadside sales.
Pollination	insect
Origin / where it grows	Watermelon (tikiti maji) is widely grown in warm and dry to semi-humid parts of East Africa, especially under irrigation or in sandy riverbeds.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	22–30 °C
Rainfall	500–700 mm/yr
Altitude	0–1500 m
Best pH	6–6.8
Soil type	Light, sandy to sandy-loam soils that warm up quickly and drain well. Watermelon (tikiti maji) prefers deep soils with good organic matter.
Row spacing	200 cm
Plant spacing	80 cm
Planting depth	3 cm
Seed rate	3 kg/ha
Nursery days	—

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop has a growth habit described as "climber". You can normally start harvesting about 90 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for fresh fruit eaten raw, juice, fruit salads and roadside sales..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by insect. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Watermelon (tikiti maji) is widely grown in warm and dry to semi-humid parts of East Africa, especially under irrigation or in sandy riverbeds. It is grouped under: Fruits & Nuts.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 500 to 700 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 1500 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6 to 6.8. It does well in light, sandy to sandy-loam soils that warm up quickly and drain well. watermelon (tikiti maji) prefers deep soils with good organic matter.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 200 centimetres apart, and leave about 80 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 3 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 3 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Prepare well-tilled, weed-free land. Plant Watermelon (tikiti maji) directly in the field at the start of the rains or when irrigation is available. Place 2–3 seeds per station at about three fingers deep and thin later to one strong plant.

Transplanting: Can also be raised in trays and transplanted carefully with a soil ball, but most farmers direct-seed.

Irrigation: Keep soil moist at germination and early growth. Avoid stress at flowering and fruit setting. Reduce irrigation as fruits approach full size to improve sweetness and reduce splitting.

Fertigation: With drip, start with more nitrogen for leafy growth and change to higher potassium as flowering and fruit filling begin. Apply small doses frequently.

Pest scouting: Check leaves and young shoots weekly for aphids, leafminers and beetles, and fruits for fruit flies and chewing damage. Also watch for leaf spots and powdery mildew.

Pruning: Normally vines are left to spread. Remove very late, weak or diseased vines and excess fruits on small plants so that remaining fruits grow bigger.

Harvest: Harvest when the fruit belly (where it rests on the soil) turns from white to creamy yellow, the tendril near the fruit has dried, and the fruit makes a dull sound when tapped. Do not wait until vines are completely dry.

Postharvest: Cut fruits with a short stalk instead of pulling. Keep out of direct sun after harvest and avoid dropping or rolling fruits roughly to prevent cracking.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at planting	0	NPK 17-17-17 or similar	150 kg/ha	N: 25, P₂O₅: 25, K₂O: 25	Apply along the row or around hills and cover lightly before seeding Watermelon (tikiti maji).
2	Early vine growth	21	CAN 26% N or urea (light)	60 kg/ha	N: 16, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Side-dress near plants when vines start to run; avoid fertilizer touching stems.
3	Pre-flowering boost	35	NPK 12-12-24 or high-K blend	80 kg/ha	N: 10, P₂O₅: 10, K₂O: 16	Encourages flowering and early fruit set.
4	Fruit filling high K	50	Sulfate of potash (SOP) or other K source	60 kg/ha	N: 0, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 30	Improves sweetness and rind strength of Watermelon (tikiti maji).

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	40	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	40	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	30	kg/ha
N	Early_growth	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Early_growth	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Early_growth	20	kg/ha
N	Fruiting	20	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Fruiting	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Fruiting	40	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Sugar Baby–type	KE	75	Small, round fruits with sweet red flesh; good for local markets.
Crimson Sweet–type	TZ	85	Oblong fruits, striped rind, firm red flesh; widely grown under irrigation.
Charleston Grey–type	UG	90	Elongated, large fruits suited to open-field production.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	Well-rotted farmyard manure	8000	Mixed into planting rows or hills before planting Watermelon (tikiti maji).
Basal (inorganic)	NPK 17-17-17	150	Provides starter NPK for early growth.
Topdress (early)	CAN 26% N	60	Applied 2–3 weeks after emergence when vines start to run.
Topdress (fruiting)	High-K fertilizer (e.g., 12-12-24 or SOP blend)	80	Supports fruit filling and sweetness.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Aphids	pest	Clusters on tender shoots, curled leaves and sticky honeydew with sooty mould.	Encourage natural enemies, avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen and use soaps or selective insecticides when numbers are...
Leafminers and beetles	pest	Silvery tunnels in leaves, holes and ragged leaf edges, slow growth when damage is heavy.	Early scouting, removal of heavily damaged leaves and use of recommended insecticides or biopesticides when needed.
Fruit flies (on ripe fruit)	pest	Stings on rind, internal rotting and maggots in cracked fruits.	Collect and bury or destroy cracked and damaged fruits; use bait traps where pressure is high.
Downy and powdery mildew	disease	Yellow patches or white powder on leaves, leading to early leaf drying and poor fruit filling.	Plant in open, well-aerated fields, avoid overhead irrigation late in the day and apply recommended fungicides/biocontro...
Fusarium wilt and vine declines	disease	Sudden wilting of vines, browning in the stem and roots, often patchy in the field.	Practice crop rotation, use clean seed and avoid planting Watermelon (tikiti maji) repeatedly on the same field.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Rainfed smallholder Watermelon (tikiti maji)	12	8	18	Limited fertilizer and no irrigation; yields strongly affected by rainfall.
Irrigated smallholder production	25	15	35	Good seed, fertilizer and pest control under furrow or drip.
Intensive commercial Watermelon (tikiti maji)	40	30	50	High plant population, drip irrigation and carefully planned nutrition.

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	Arid and semi-arid irrigation schemes	Any time with irrigation; often planned for holiday and dry-season markets.	About 2.5–3 months after planting.
KE	Coastal and lower mid-altitude zones	Onset of short or long rains on well-drained, sandy soils.	Late in the rainy season and early dry season.
TZ	Central and coastal plains with irrigation	Staggered planting to target market windows under irrigation.	2.5–3 months after planting depending on variety.

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Coastal belt and lower eastern/southern drylands	High
TZ	Central semi-arid plains and irrigated valleys	High
UG	Warm lowland areas with irrigation or light soils	Medium