When the fruit first sets and starts growing, gardeners need to water deeply but less frequently
Without enough water in this phase, the watermelon's growth might be stunted and the fruit might fall off the vine.
To prevent that, saturate the top six inches or so of soil about twice a week.
This encourages the roots to grow deeper to find all the water they need to produce plump, juicy fruit.
Depending on the size of your watermelon garden, this might take a while. The first time you water
periodically dig into the soil with a small shovel to check how well-saturated it is deeper down.
Once it feels moist six inches below the surface, note the time so you know how long it took to saturate the soil properly.
With how much water they need during this growth phase, it's important to avoid watering from above.