The timing of the experiment for the first watermelon crop (2009) was: 27 February, first addition of organic amendments; 6 March, sowing and first soil sampling (S1, 7 d after the first addition of organic amendments); 17 April, transplanting (49 d after the first
addition of organic amendments); 3 June–27 July, field assessment and harvesting; 29 July, second soil sampling (S2, 152 d after the first addition of organic amendments).