How long can a watermelon vine grow when it is mature?

Question

I've planted a watermelon and I am having trouble controlling its growth course. What can I do in order to shorten the growth area?This one seed has grown to about 20 feet long and four feet wide at the off shoots. This is longer than I anticipated and I need help without killing it.

Answer 1

Try pinching it back to a preferred length!!!

Answer 2

Give it a strong trellis to climb.  Make hammocks for the growing melons from old nylon stockings.

Answer 3

You could prune it but that might result in a loss of flowers and thus fruit. What is best is that once it starts growing out vigourously pinch out the growing tips. It will be a sort of scrunched area with little trendils and leaves starting to form. Just nip it off and it will becom more bushy rather than long.

Hope this helps!