One of the most beloved berries in our country since childhood is watermelon. Sweet and juicy watermelons are not only tasty, but also healthy. Now they are grown not only in the south, but also in our country. There are even varieties adapted to the harsh Siberian climate.
Watermelon varieties
In the climate of the middle zone, it is necessary that the sweet berry ripens quickly. Solving this problem, breeders have bred several, differing in early ripening and excellent taste:
- Watermelon Siberian Lights ripens in just 80 days after planting. The berry has a thin dark green skin with small stripes. The pulp of this variety is porous, sweet, light red. This watermelon can be grown in a greenhouse or outdoors.
- Watermelon Ultra early also has a ripening period of about 80 days. Compared to the previous variety, Ultra-early tolerates temperature fluctuations better. Its pulp is very sweet with medium-sized black seeds.
- Watermelon Chill can be consumed 75 days after planting. The berries are round in shape with a rich green hue without clearly visible stripes. This watermelon has a juicy scarlet pulp with light seeds. On average, the weight of one watermelon of this variety is about 5 kg.
- Astrakhan watermelons ripen in just 45 days after the sprouts hatch. The fruits of this variety are round in shape with a thick peel without stripes. The shade of the pulp is dark red with large black seeds.
- Watermelon Spark is distinguished by a very short ripening period and a small size of ripe fruits. This variety perfectly adapts to growing conditions and does not require careful maintenance. The berry has a round shape with a dark green peel without stripes. Its pulp is juicy and with a sweetish aftertaste.
Planting a watermelon
Depending on the region and climatic conditions, watermelons can be seed or seedlings. If you live in a region with a warm climate, then watermelons can be immediately planted under the open sky. No preliminary preparation is needed in this case.
After the earth warms up to +13 degrees, you can sow seeds. They can be pre-soaked for germination. In the area where you plan to grow watermelons, make holes small and about 10 cm deep. Observe a 1 meter gap between the holes. Put a small spoonful of ammophoska and a large spoonful of ash in each hole, then put the seeds and cover with earth on top. In two weeks the sprouts will hatch.
If you want to harvest watermelons faster or live in colder climates, use the seedling method. It is necessary to plant seeds for seedlings in the middle of spring. Take a mixture of peat, turf and fine sand as the soil. Add fertilizer to it and fill the planting containers with this soil. Then plant the seeds in containers and keep them at a temperature of +28 degrees.
Seedlings regularly at the root, if necessary, then arrange additional lighting. A couple of weeks before the scheduled disembarkation date, start hardening the seedlings by taking the boxes out into the open air for a couple of hours.
Before planting seedlings, dig up the area, make holes in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of at least a meter from each other. Plant the seedlings in the holes, compact the soil and water.
Watermelon care
Growing watermelons requires attention and especially careful attitude, especially at the initial stage. After planting seedlings or the appearance of the first shoots, you need to cover the plants from unfavorable conditions: frost or too active sun with a special covering material or film. It is imperative to cut the weeds on time.
A month after the emergence of sprouts, the upper part of the bush is pinched and weak lashes are pulled out. You need to leave 3 or 4 lashes. Watermelons don't need frequent watering. It is optimal to water the plants every week, pouring about 7 liters of moisture onto one bush. When there are 2 weeks left before the planned harvest date, watering must be stopped so that the berries are sweeter. To prevent rotting watermelons, you can put a plastic mat under them. Flip the watermelons in the garden occasionally.
Feeding watermelons
It is necessary to carry out watermelons, focusing on their condition. On average, fertilizers should be applied according to the following scheme:
- During planting, a mixture of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen fertilizers is applied in a ratio of 3: 1: 1.
- During the period of seedling growth, which takes about a month, you need to make two mineral dressings.
- For the first time, fertilizers are applied during the period of appearance of 3 leaves, and the second time it is done after a week.
- During planting of seedlings, organic fertilizers are placed in a permanent place in the holes.
- A week after planting, the plants are watered with a solution of nitrogen fertilizers. After a couple of weeks, the procedure is repeated.
How many watermelons grow
The ripening time of a watermelon is usually counted from the moment the first shoots are pecked. This time will be different for each variety. On average, early varieties ripen in 80 days, mid-ripening takes 100 days, and late-ripening takes 120 days to fully ripen.
About one third of the allotted time from the date of germination, the whip grows, flowering and fruit setting occurs. For the same time, watermelons grow and increase their size. The last third is spent on ripening the berries. At this time, they are poured, and the rind becomes shiny.
Watermelon loves hot climates, but watermelon lovers do not always live in warm countries, and they have to buy a large sweet berry. However, you can try growing it in your garden. How to do it? Read on.
The place of origin of watermelons is southern Africa. The climate there is dry and hot, summer is all year round. There are no cold winters and frosts. Planting sugar berries in open ground in countries with different weather conditions is also practiced, but this will take a lot of work. Where do you start? First, prepare the ground correctly.
What soil is suitable for watermelons?
It is advisable to prepare a place for planting exotic berries in the autumn. The area where the pot-bellied minke whales will be planted should be well lit by the sun and protected from the winds. It is best if, in front of the striped berry, corn, beans, peas were planted on the selected soil, as well as if cabbage heads, onions, alfalfa, winter wheat varieties grew. It is bad if tomato, pepper, eggplant, different types of zucchini and melons or watermelon previously grew there.
For the future, it should be taken into account: re-planting of watermelons in the same soil will be possible only after six years.
The land for future seedlings must be dug up together with the fertilizers introduced in advance. The soil is suitable for sandy, loose, non-acidic, with a low moisture content, good air permeability. For fertilization, you can take rotted, as well as top dressing based on phosphorus and potassium.
You can grow exotic berries directly from seeds or seedlings. They use a reckless way in hot countries. In cold climates with short and not very hot summers, only the seedling method is suitable.
To plant young seedlings, you will need to properly prepare the ground. It should contain the following components in equal proportions: sandy layer, sod layer, peat layer. In the soil (in the amount of 5 kg), it is necessary to add ammonium nitrate, dolomite flour, potassium sulfate (take all elements 50 g each); double superphosphate (about 100 g).
Planting seeds for seedlings
A prerequisite is that the seeds must be planted already germinated. In order to germinate, they are first placed in hot water (at least 50 degrees) for 30 minutes. Then the seeds are placed in wet sand. In this case, the temperature in the room should be about 25 degrees. In a few days, the first shoots will go. The sprouted seeds are now ready to be planted. The landing date is the end of April.
It is necessary to plant watermelon seeds in separate containers, two or three seeds in each, deepen them into a hole 1 cm.It is worth sprinkling the future seedlings with sand, placing them under glass or film. Put the seedling pots in a warm place, maintain the air temperature at about 30 degrees.
The first shoots should appear in 6-7 days. When this happens, remove the cover and lower the thermometer reading to 15-17 degrees for a period of 4 to 8 days.
It is necessary to water the sprouts well, but in moderation. Pour water under the roots in several passes.
Fertilize correctly when three good leaves appear. A special mineral composition or liquid top dressing (mullein) will do.
Seedlings are desirable before planting in open ground. To do this, you can take her outside for several hours, gradually increasing the amount of time spent outdoors. A week after hardening procedures, you can plant it in a permanent place.
It is necessary to plant young seedlings in open ground a month after planting the seeds. This coincides in terms with the last week of May or occurs in the first ten days of June. The first half of the day is the best time to transplant young plants when there is a lot of light and sun.
The earth needs to be dug up and loosened up. It should be well warmed up (at least 15 degrees).
What do we have to do?
- Dig holes, the diameter and depth of each - half a meter. The gap between the holes in the ground should be approximately one meter. For landing, it is better to choose a staggered arrangement of the holes.
- Fertilizers are applied to each hole: humus (5-7 liters), small amount of sand (about three liters), superphosphate (a quarter of a glass).
- Sprinkle loose earth on top to make small mounds.
- In the mounds, you need to dig holes 10 cm down and pour them with water (one and a half liters for each).
- Carefully remove the seedlings from the cups without damaging the roots. Now you can plant them in the hole, then cover them and tamp them down with earth. Pour a layer of sand on top.
- At the end of planting, the seedlings must be watered. The water should be warm. For some time, the seedlings must be sheltered from the bright sun so that the leaves rise faster.
Care of planted seedlings
Care includes:
- watering;
- thinning;
- weeding;
- loosening;
- topping;
- top dressing.
Let us dwell in more detail on the indicated stages of leaving.
Thinning
When 3-4 young leaves appear on the shoots, the watermelons must be thinned out, leaving up to two shoots in the hole. All the rest must be cut off near the surface layer of the soil.
Weeding
Watermelons do not like weeds, so you will have to weed often and carefully. Especially at the initial stage of the growth of the striped berry. When the seedlings grow and turn into bushes, you can weed less often or even stop altogether. At this stage, the weed is no longer dangerous.
Topping
It is necessary to pinch the emerging lashes so that they grow faster. This should be done so that there are 2-4 leaves on top of the ripening fruit. In addition, weakened shoots must be removed. Each bush should have 3-5 ovaries, it is advisable to remove all excess ones.
Loosening
It is necessary to loosen the soil constantly, especially when young seedlings are planted in open ground. Watermelons love light, airy ground. Water also penetrates loose soil more easily.
When the berries begin to grow in size, loosening can be stopped, as well as weeding. At this time, the roots grow very much throughout the site, there is a danger of damaging them with this kind of manipulation. Also, try to walk less in the surrounding area so as not to harm the roots near the surface layer of the soil.
Watering
This is a very important part of caring for large, striped berries. Water them every seven days with plenty of water. Three large buckets are used to water one square meter. In hot dry weather, you can increase the watering up to twice a week.
Both the land near the bush and the gaps between the bushes (in a word, the entire area allocated for planting) should be moistened.
Watering should be reduced as soon as fruits begin to appear. Before picking ripe striped berries, you should not water them at all (at least 14 days before picking).
Top dressing
The first top dressing is applied after at least 14-15 days after planting the seedlings. What composition to fertilize with? The berries planted in open ground are fertilized with ammonium nitrate (20 g), which is mixed with water. Each bush is watered with two liters of solution. A substitute can be a mullein with water (in a ratio of 1:10), as well as (diluted with water 1:20). Superphosphate (20-30 g) and calcium chloride (10-15 g) are added to the solution.
The second time to feed the plants should be at the stage of the appearance of buds. The composition of the fertilizer: 5 g of calcium chloride and ammonium nitrate, plus superphosphate - 6 g. All this will be needed for one bush.
Fertilizers are sometimes added in dry form, then the soil where the watermelons grow must be watered before and after feeding.
Harvest
The harvest of watermelons should be taken around the end of August. On average, it takes about a hundred days for the fruit to fully ripen. It all depends on the variety of berries you choose.
There are early ripening, late ripening and medium ripening varieties. In cold climates with short summers, it is best to grow early and mid-season fruits. For example, "Ogonyok", "Melania", "Ataman". Among the late varieties, which can also mature in temperate climates, are well known - "Chill", "Spring".
You can eat watermelons right away or store them. Jam is made from fresh berries, they can be pickled and pickled.
Storage tips
- Usually stored late fruits, medium in size and with a thick skin. This cover should be free of damage and softness.
- During storage, the berries should not come into contact with each other. The place where these fruits lay is cold, dark and well ventilated.
Correct harvesting and storage will allow you to feast on sugar berries for a long time. With enough hard work and perseverance, you can achieve excellent results.
Melon at the summer cottage is given an honorable warm place. Sunny melons and round-sided watermelons give indescribable pleasure to adult eaters and toddler gourmets. Children are ready from morning till night to enjoy the juicy pulp of watermelons to the envy of obsessive wasps and hardworking bees. If earlier it was believed that watermelon is an exclusively southern berry, now more than 200 varieties and hybrids are adapted for cultivation in various climatic regions of our country. A fruit grown on a spacious open field has a better chance of gaining the necessary weight and the necessary taste than its summer cousin. The plant is held by its tendrils by the resistant stems of weeds, which, in turn, protects the watermelon lashes from tangling. When planting watermelons in your garden, keep in mind the availability of the required free space and do not overdo it with weeding.
Sowing watermelon seeds in open ground
Much to the chagrin of amateur melon growers, it is quite difficult to grow a wonderful harvest of ripe watermelons. Especially when it comes to areas with unsuitable climatic conditions. Even the most careful care will not be able to provide the berries with the presence of juicy ripe pulp if the summer is not hot and long enough. Of course, a good owner will not let such a harvest go to waste - lightly salted watermelons are still a delicacy. But a well-ripened, fragrant fruit plucked from its garden can be endlessly softened on both cheeks from morning to evening.
The watermelons are ripe - the family is delighted
Preparing seeds for sowing in open ground
It is advisable to choose a place for sowing watermelon seeds in the fall. Onions and potatoes are excellent predecessors for them. It's not bad if before that there was cabbage or legumes in the garden. Young sprouts do not like fresh organic fertilizers, so beds with semi-rotted manure or compost are prepared in the fall. Minerals (ash, dolomite flour) are also added at this time of the year.
Watermelon seeds are similar, especially if the germination energy is low. I sparge mine with an aquarium compressor, it can be scarified to break the seed shell, that is, file the end of the seed with a file or a nail file. And t should be 23о - 27 оС.
Fech Evgeniy
Choose hardy and early ripening seeds for sowing. Two different varieties should not be placed side by side so that there is no cross-pollination.
Before planting, you need to properly prepare the seed:
Sowing seeds in the ground
Immediately before sowing watermelon seeds, the soil prepared for melons is cultivated with a cultivator. Holes of one meter diameter are formed, the distance between the holes is from 1 to 2 meters. From 5 to 10 seeds are introduced into each hole to a depth of 4–5 cm. By the time of sowing, the soil should be warmed up to 13–15 o C. Each hole is watered with warm settled water and mulched with peat.
Watermelons cannot stand tightness
After the seeds sprout and get a little stronger, 2 plants are left in the hole. The rest are removed or transplanted to an empty place suitable for ripening watermelons.
After germination, two plants are left in the hole
Do not be too lazy to re-sow the seeds in a week. If for some reason the first shoots die, the second run will certainly be more successful.
On farm fields, watermelon seeds are sown in various ways: ribbon, square, rectangular or square-nested.
Video: how to sow watermelon seeds in open ground
Photo gallery: varieties of watermelon for cold regions
The variety is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and resistance to diseases. 
Ogonyok watermelons ripen in 60-70 days 
Variety Holodok is well resistant to low temperatures, suitable for Siberia
The scheme of planting seedlings of watermelons in open ground
Seeds for seedlings are prepared in the same way as for planting in the ground. They can be sown in plastic trays or cups, but peat pots are best. The seedling soil is mixed in equal proportions with sand and peat. Put 2 seeds in a pot (glass or tray) on moistened soil and sprinkle with dry earth. In this state, the pots are placed in a well-lit, warm place. From sowing seeds to the moment of planting seedlings, it takes 40–45 days.
Before planting in the ground, seedlings need to be hardened in the open air.
Seedlings are planted in the ground at the end of May or the first decade of June, depending on the climatic conditions and the geographical location of the region. Some recommendations on the scheme for planting watermelon seedlings in open ground:
After planting, the seedlings are watered for a week with settled warm water every day and slightly covered from direct sunlight. Fortified seedlings are watered abundantly, but not too often. During the ripening period of the berries, watering is stopped completely so that the fruits gain sugar content and do not have a watery taste.
Watering is necessary infrequently, but in large quantities (10 liters per root). The most important thing is to ensure complete dryness at least 2 weeks before picking. Only then will the watermelons be sweet. No watering, neither the watermelons themselves, nor the nearby growing plants.
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A rich harvest of sugar watermelons will delight summer residents and their children
Video: planting watermelons in open ground
Little tricks of planting watermelons
Weather conditions are not always helpful in such a painstaking business as growing melons and gourds. Cold and short summers in some regions lead to the fact that the harvest rarely pleases even the diligent grower. Watermelons simply do not have time to gain sufficient weight and reach a state of absolute maturity. Even so, don't despair. There are little tricks with which the fruits will become real pride even on 5–6 acres of personal land.
Choosing the right landing site
Light sandy soils are an ideal springboard for growing a weighty watermelon. But the main thing in a cool summer is the choice of a sunny place.
Watermelons prefer a sunny spot
The selection of such a site initially provides for the complete absence of sprawling shrubs and shade-forming trees. But with an excess of solar radiation at the time of ripening, take care of the shelter of the fat belly in order to avoid significant overheating. Old newspapers or large burdock leaves are fine for this purpose.
Shelter in two stages
For successful ripening, seeds are sown in open ground a little earlier than the due date - not at the end of May, but in its first decade. But in a cold climatic zone, tender sprouts risk dying from frost. This is where a little trick comes in handy - double cover. In a liter plastic bottle, the bottom is cut off and installed on the plant.
1.5 liter bottle can be cut in half
A 5-liter container with a cut bottom is placed on top of a liter bottle in the same way.
Cut off the bottom of the large bottle and place on top of the liter
In such a matryoshka, the delicate stalk has enough air and warmth, and is also well protected from the cold and winds. Secure the transparent mini-greenhouse securely with earth or sand.
Magic tablet
Watermelon is a picky berry, does not like excessive dampness. In cool climates, dampness leads to rotting of fruits and even stems. To improve ripening conditions, put 3-4 handfuls of sand on the root of the main stem, and place protective boards made of wood or plastic under the fruits. Thus, your green plovers will not come into contact with wet soil, and the percentage of crop spoilage from rot will significantly decrease.
A wooden plank will protect the watermelon from rot
Thoughtful watering
In arid regions, the root system of watermelons tends to a depth to saturate the plant with moisture. However, in the northern regions, groundwater often passes close to ground level and causes a lot of trouble for the roots: as soon as the roots reach an excess amount of moisture, they rot and the plant may die entirely. In this case, force the root system to develop not in breadth, but in depth. To do this, water the plant not at the root, but in the aisles. Water only when necessary and do not forget about the timely loosening and mulching of the soil.
Try not to water the watermelons at the root.
Trimming side stitches
The bearer of female flowers in watermelons is the main central whip. In order for the plant not to waste energy on side lashes, it is preferable to remove them. At the same time, leave no more than 5 fruit ovaries on each central branch.
Remove the side lashes of the plant, and the forces will be transferred to the ripening of the fruits.
By listening to these simple tips, you can surprise your neighbors in the country and your loved ones even in conditions that are not very favorable for growing melons.
We can endlessly talk about the benefits of ripe watermelon: thiamine and riboflavin, niacin and other elements of B-group vitamins, ascorbic acid and carotene protect the body from age-related metamorphosis and resist cancer. But the presence of folic acid - the fighter of the invisible front and the tireless builder of DNA and ribonucleic acid cells - is invaluable. Dietary fiber and trace elements normalize metabolism, cleanse the kidneys, liver, blood vessels, normalize blood cholesterol. At the same time, do not forget about the ability to accumulate nitrates and cause allergic reactions. However, a watermelon grown with your own hands will allow you to avoid such troubles and will deliver a sea of positive emotions from enjoying the magical taste of a juicy fruit.
Thanks to modern technologies, growing berries and vegetables is no longer a fantasy. To understand how to grow a watermelon at home, you need to familiarize yourself in advance with some of the nuances that will allow you to collect an ecological and tasty harvest over time.
Not every variety of watermelon can be grown at home. The seeds of the delicious watermelon from the market or store are not suitable for this purpose, because this variety is grown in open areas in spring and summer. For the same reasons, varieties that are grown in summer cottages will not yet be suitable.
But there are hybrids that are resistant to lack of light, early maturing, they do not require special care. The following varieties are considered excellent: Ogonyok, Kaho, Sibiryak, Volgar, Gift of the Sun. They sprout very well, are tenacious, the fruits have a sweet taste.
After the acquisition, the planting material must be selected before growing the watermelon at home. Small and damaged seeds are eliminated immediately. Large seeds are dipped into a glass container containing a solution of sodium chloride. It is done like this: 5 g of salt per 0.1 l of water. Seeds that have sunk to the bottom must be removed, rinsed in water, and dried. It is these seeds that are needed for planting.
Then they are soaked in a solution of humate (0.5 g per 1 liter of water). This is done as follows: gauze is moistened, in which the seeds are left for a day. This will increase germination and reduce stress. You can also leave the seeds in a gauze moistened with plain water until they begin to hatch.
Then the seeds need to be planted in small plastic cups, 4-5 seeds each, the earth should be a little tamped in them.
Watering should be done in such a way that the soil is always moist. For seedlings to appear, the temperature must be about 25 ° C. Then the seedlings will appear after 1 week. If the temperature is below 13 ° C, then you can not wait for seedlings.
Cups should be in a well-lit and warm place. No need to allow drafts. After 2-3 weeks, 1 seedling should be left in each glass.
Watermelon care
As soon as 3 leaves appear, the plants are moved into containers, the volume of which is from 5 to 15 liters. They should contain a mixture of seedling soil and perlite in a 2: 1 ratio. You need to water the plant often, but not too much so that the water does not stagnate. The soil must be fertilized every 2 weeks. Liquid vegetable fertilizers work well here. You need to add 1 tsp in 1 liter of water. fertilizers. This solution can only be used for 1 watering.
When 6 leaves grow, the plant is pinched over 4 leaves. The plant needs enough light. If there is not enough lighting, then additional LED or energy-saving lamps will be required.
Pollination of the plant and the appearance of fruits
In most cases, watermelons begin to bloom 30-50 days after germination.
To obtain an ovary, flowers require pollination.
To do this, you first need to find male flowers that have a thin stalk. Such flowers will need to be carefully picked, they need to pollinate the female flowers by touching the pistils with the stamens.
After a certain period of time, there will be noticeable wilting of the petals and an increase in the stalk, which over time will become a fruit. As the lashes grow, they will need to be pinched to stop their growth.
A few weeks before the fruit is fully ripe, watering should be minimized, stimulating the appearance of sugar in the berry. When the grown fruits are ripe, you can harvest them.
How to grow watermelons in the country (video)
About the beneficial properties of watermelon
This berry contains a lot of sugar (about 12%). It is easily absorbed by the body and, unlike refined sugar, is beneficial.
Watermelon juice has a diuretic effect, so it is able to flush the kidneys and ureters well. Thanks to him, salts are dissolved and washed out of the body. Watermelon juice is considered beneficial for people with kidney disease. Watermelon juice is also useful for people who have diabetes mellitus, cystitis, atherosclerosis.
Now you know about growing watermelon at home. We wish you a good harvest!
We plant watermelon seedlings in open ground (video)
Gallery: watermelon at home (15 photos)
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In recent years, a huge number of hybrids and varieties of watermelon have appeared, suitable for cultivation in open ground not only in the southern regions, but also in cold climates. To grow a melon culture in your country house, you need to put a lot of effort and skill. The secrets of seed preparation, planting and seedling care will help to fulfill the dream of a large and sweet watermelon.
Site preparation
Choosing a place is an important stage in planting a watermelon, which largely determines its further growth and yield:
- watermelon loves places with a lot of light, in conditions of shade, it develops poorly and will not be able to give high yields. For planting, sunny areas are allocated, which must be protected from the wind;
- due to the highly developed root system, watermelons are highly drought-resistant; planting in places with a close occurrence of groundwater is unacceptable;
- for cultivation of melons and gourds, light sandy loam or sandy soils with neutral acidity are most suitable. In areas with acidic soil, the watermelon produces small fruits that crack still green.
These plants are undemanding to soil fertility, they grow well both on black soil and on poor sandy and rocky soils. Still, well-cultivated plots are needed to obtain large yields. To do this, in the fall, the site of the future planting is dug up and fertilized:
- superphosphate, azophoska (according to the instructions);
- wood ash (1 l);
- humus (5 l).
The calculation is given for 1 m 2 of the area of the site. Fertilizing before planting frees you from the need for regular fertilizing during the growing season of the plant.
For a watermelon, you need to choose a well-lit place.
Step-by-step instructions for planting a watermelon
To prepare and plant watermelon seeds correctly, you should adhere to the following steps.
Seed selection
This is a crucial period of preparation for sowing a watermelon, as it largely determines the success of growing and obtaining fruits. The variety of varieties and hybrids allows you to choose the plant that is most adapted to the cultivation conditions in your region. Among themselves, watermelons can differ in large or small fruits, the speed of their ripening, and have different resistance to diseases.
Presowing seed preparation
The preparation of seeds for sowing is an important stage in the cultivation of vegetable crops, especially in home cultivation, since in conditions of limited space, the requirements for the selection of plants increase.
Calibration
Sorting seeds by size allows you to choose the best ones, reject small and damaged ones. The selection is usually carried out manually: the seed is scattered over a smooth surface and divided into large, medium and small. Large seeds, as a rule, contain a large supply of nutrients, which in the future will provide plants with good growth and high yields.
The largest seeds are chosen for sowing.
Warming up and soaking
Heating and soaking increases the rate of biochemical reactions in cells, which improves seed germination, the formation of more female flowers, good growth and development of lashes.
Procedure:
- The seed is poured into a cloth bag and immersed in warm water (50-60 ° C) for 2-3 hours.
- Then transferred for half an hour for disinfection in a slightly warmed weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- The bag is taken out, excess moisture is allowed to drain.
- Seeds are spread on wet sand, cotton or paper backing and left in a warm room. They are kept at room temperature for about 2 days until seedlings appear.
If you bought treated seeds, they cannot be soaked and should be planted directly into the ground.
Germinating watermelon seeds for planting in open ground or for seedlings
Hardening
To increase the resistance of plants to sharp temperature fluctuations and to obtain an earlier and more abundant harvest, the seeds are hardened. Most often, the seed is influenced in two ways:
- exposure to a constant low temperature. Within 1-2 days, the swollen and hatched seeds of watermelon are kept in a refrigerator at a temperature of 0 ± 1 ° C with periodic stirring. This hardening can also be done by burying the seed in a small box or bag in the snow;
- exposure to variable temperatures. The swollen seeds are kept in the refrigerator for about 12 hours at a temperature not lower than 6 ° C, then for the same period of time they should be kept warm at a temperature of 18–20 ° C. The procedure is repeated three times.
Before sowing, the seeds are slightly dried.
Selection of containers and soil
To avoid further transplanting or picking, seeds are sown in separate pots or containers with a volume of at least 300 ml (the minimum height of the container is 12 cm, diameter is 10 cm). For planting, a soil mixture is prepared, into which sand, turf and peat are added in equal proportions. To 5 liters of prepared soil add:
- dolomite flour and potassium sulfate (50 g);
- double superphosphate (100 g);
- ammonium nitrate (50 g).
The seedling containers are filled with the mixture so that about 3 cm remains between the soil surface and the edge of the pot. As the plants grow, soil can be added to the pot.
To avoid further transplanting or picking, seeds are sown in separate pots.
Sowing watermelon seeds
To know how to plant a watermelon correctly, depending on climatic conditions, sowing is done through seedlings or directly into open ground.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
The best time to plant is mid to late April. Sprouted seeds with a root of 1–1.5 cm are sown to a depth of 3 cm, 4–5 pieces in each container, sprinkled with earth on top, watered and covered with glass or film. The pots are placed on the lightest window, preferably the southern one.
It is important that there are no drafts in the room.
Sprouted seeds with a root of 1-1.5 cm are sown to a depth of 3 cm, 4-5 pieces in each container
Planting seeds in open ground
Prepared seeds can be sown directly into open ground only in southern regions with a warm climate. The optimal time for planting is when the air temperature settles within 12-14 ° C, and the soil warms up to a depth of 10 cm. Sowing is best done in the last decade of May, at which time the probability of a cold snap is significantly reduced. In cold soil, seed germination time increases, as a result of which seedlings may die or become infected with pathogenic microflora. For planting a watermelon, a hole is prepared with a diameter of about 1 m and a depth of at least 30 cm, it is introduced into it:
- humus or compost (1 kg);
- ash (1 tbsp. l.);
- nitroammophosphate (1 tsp);
- additional sand is added to heavy soil, everything is mixed.
Sprouted seeds of watermelons are sown in the prepared holes. Prior to this, approximately 2 liters of water are poured onto the seed planting site. After it is absorbed, 4–5 seeds are spread to a depth of 3–6 cm, the hole is covered with earth and compacted. The garden bed is not watered after sowing. To avoid the appearance of a crust, which makes it difficult for the sprouts to come to the surface, the soil is mulched with humus.
Young seedlings need a lot of water, so they are watered abundantly as the soil dries out, but not more often than 1 time in 7 days. The required depth of soil moistening is at least 25-30 cm. Soon after the sprouts appear, the first thinning is carried out, leaving the strongest plants; in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the procedure is repeated. As a result, 1-2 plants should remain in the hole.
A watermelon grown by direct sowing in the ground is more resistant to stress, including drought and temperature extremes, but the harvest will always ripen later than a seedling crop.
A hole for sowing watermelon seeds in open ground is prepared with a diameter of about 1 m, the soil in it is mixed with humus and mineral fertilizers to a depth of about 30 cm
Seedling care
In order for plants in pots to grow and develop well, they create optimal conditions:
- the daytime temperature should be about 25 ° C, at night it is lowered to 20 ° C. Under these conditions, sprouts will appear in 7-10 days;
- the required duration of daylight hours is at least 12 hours. Lack of lighting contributes to the elongation of seedlings and can cause their death; on cloudy days, it is recommended to illuminate the plants with a phytolamp;
- after the seedlings have sprouted, the weak are removed, leaving one sprout;
- watering the seedlings is carried out in several steps, avoiding the ingress of water on the leaves;
- in phase 3 of true leaves, the plant is fed with a fermented mullein mixed with water in a ratio of 1:10 (or liquid complex fertilizer).
If these rules are followed, the seedlings will grow strong and healthy and will easily take root in a new place.
After discarding weak seedlings, one plant should remain in the pot.
Transplanting seedlings into open ground
By the time the seedlings are transplanted to the garden bed, their age is 30–35 days, the plant has at least 4 leaves. 10 days before transplanting to the site, the seedlings are tempered: they are taken out into the open air, increasing the residence time every day. For 3-4 days before planting in the ground, the plants are kept outdoors, and in the evening before transplanting they are watered abundantly.
After hardening, watermelon seedlings become more resistant to temperature fluctuations.
In mid-June, the plants are planted in a permanent place. The transplant is carried out in the morning: the watermelon, together with the earthen lump, is removed from the container, planted in a hole, then watered and covered with a film. The root collar of the seedlings is not buried.
After planting seedlings, the earthen lump should be completely covered with soil, the root neck of the watermelon is left open
Video: transplanting watermelon seedlings into open ground
Planting time for watermelons according to the lunar calendar for 2020
In order for the plant to grow and develop well, it is important not only to prepare the soil, but also to choose the right time for planting. Vegetable growers often use the lunar calendar. Favorable dates for 2020:
- planting on March 3, 10 and 11 will have the most positive effect on the growth of melons;
- in April, a favorable time for planting seedlings is on the 9th, 15th and 23rd;
- in May, it is recommended to plant watermelons on the 13th, 14th and 20th;
- planting garden crops is undesirable on the days of the new moon and full moon:
- April 8 and 25,
- May 7 and 22.
Planting scheme and depth
There are different schemes for planting watermelons in open ground, their choice is influenced by:
- cultivation method (watering or without artificial irrigation). Plants grown without watering take up a smaller area, so they can be placed more densely;
- watermelon variety (early or late ripening);
- estimated fetal weight (3-5 kg or more than 8 kg). The higher the planting density of watermelons, the smaller the fruits will grow.
When planting watermelons, take into account that the plants grow widely and should not interfere with each other:
- on the garden bed, early varieties are placed at a distance of 1.4x1.4 m or 1.4x0.7 m;
- mid-ripening and late-ripening watermelons are planted according to the 2x2 m scheme; 2.1x1.4 m; 2.1x1 m.
The smaller figure shows the distance between the plants when planting, the larger figure between the rows.
The higher the planting density of watermelons, the smaller the fruits will grow
The seeding depth of seed in open ground can vary from 3 to 8 cm and depends on:
- on their size (the smaller the seed, the shallower the planting depth);
- type of soil (on light soils, the embedding is deeper than on heavy soils);
- soil moisture (seeds are spread on a moistened layer).
Seedlings are planted a little deeper than when growing in a pot so that the root collar is not damaged by winds.
Neighbors and predecessors
To guarantee a good harvest of melons and gourds, you need not only to follow the planting rules, but also to know about the compatibility of plants with each other:
- watermelon does not tolerate gusty winds. To create shelter, corn, peas or beans are planted around the site;
- all members of the pumpkin family, including watermelon, are compatible with plantings of black radish. This plant secretes phytoncides that prevent the appearance of spider mites;
- melon is an excellent neighbor of watermelon;
- it is well compatible with potatoes and oat root;
- corn and peas improve the growth and taste of watermelons;
- sow thistle and marsh contribute to the growth of melons and gourds;
- watermelon grows well next to green plantings (with the exception of parsley);
- tomato phytoncides drive away aphids, sawflies and fireflies.
All representatives of melons grow very strongly, therefore it is better to plant crops next to them that give an early harvest.
Planting some plants next to a watermelon negatively affects its growth and productivity, therefore, the choice of neighbors must be approached responsibly:
- melons grow well in open, sunny areas, so they are not planted next to trees and shrubs that shade the site;
- watermelon does not like the neighborhood of strawberries and representatives of nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers);
- it extracts a large amount of minerals from the soil, so it is not recommended to grow watermelon next to beets, carrots, garlic and radishes;
- watermelons should not be planted together with related plants - pumpkins or squash, as well as cucumbers.
An important agricultural technique is crop rotation of plants. With the alternation of melons and gourds with a periodicity of 3-4 years on the field, the number of pests and diseases, as well as weeds, is significantly reduced. It is not recommended to grow watermelon on the same field for more than 2 years in a row, the optimal predecessors for it are:
- winter wheat,
- perennial herbs,
- corn for green fodder,
- radish,
- Dill,
- basil,
- tomatoes,
- celery,
- roots,
- cabbage.
It is strongly not recommended to plant melons, melons, squash or vegetable marrow in the area where melons, squash or squash previously grew. After collecting the fruits of the watermelon, it is better to plant this area with legumes (green beans, peas) or garlic.
Methods for planting watermelons on the site
Depending on the climatic conditions of the region and the availability of free space, watermelons are grown in different ways.
In the bucket
In this way, a watermelon can be grown at home. For this, seedlings are first grown in a small pot. Further work is carried out as follows:
- Prepare a bucket with a volume of 16 liters (you can use a wooden box measuring 50x50x30 cm).
- The container is filled with fertile soil with neutral acidity, mixed with perlite in a 2: 1 ratio. This will protect the soil from water stagnation.
- After the third true leaf appears in the seedlings, the plant, along with an earthen lump, is transplanted into a bucket.
- The optimum daytime temperature is 25–30 ° C, and the nighttime temperature is 18–20 ° C. Such conditions are created in the spring and summer on a closed balcony.
- Watering should be moderate, the watermelon does not like waterlogging.
- The soil is fertilized every 2 weeks. For this, liquid fertilizers for vegetables are suitable (add 1 tsp of fertilizer to 1 liter of water). Only fresh solution is prepared for watering.
- At the stage of ovary formation, a second feeding with an increased content of potassium and phosphorus is carried out, and after 2-3 weeks - a third.
- The side shoots of the watermelon are pinched, leaving only the main whip.
- In the flowering phase of a watermelon, artificial pollination is carried out: male flowers with stamens are plucked, petals are removed and female flowers (with a thickening at the bottom) are pollinated, touching the stamens of the pistils.
- After setting the fruits, no more than two berries are left on the plant, the rest are removed.
- Fruits about 10 cm in size are placed in a net and tied to a support.
After about three months, you can harvest delicious berries weighing about 1 kg.
According to the author, this method can be viewed more as a hobby than a way to get a tasty berry. In an apartment, it is unlikely to provide the plant with optimal temperature conditions, except during the hot summer on the balcony. A watermelon grown at home is unlikely to please with the aroma and sweetness of the pulp. For those who nevertheless decide to experiment, I advise you to make a drainage hole at the bottom of the container to protect the roots from waterlogging. And to determine whether a watermelon needs watering, you can recommend slightly raising the bucket with the plant, focusing on its weight on the moisture content of the soil.
On the trellis
In the southern regions, melons and gourds are cultivated in the open field, in which case they do not require a garter. Trellis can be used when grown in cool, humid northern regions. This is especially true for small areas where there is little light and moisture stagnation is likely. In such places, it is recommended to grow watermelons of small-fruited hybrids and varieties:
- On both sides, the beds are dug in along a support with a height of at least 1.5 m, and ropes or twine are pulled between them.
- Others are tied to the stretched ropes, which go down to the plants and serve as a support for the stems of the watermelon, determining the direction of growth.
- The end of the lowered rope is fixed on the stem of the plant or on the ground.
- The main stem is tied up vertically, the top is not pinched. All lateral shoots are removed, since the female flowers are formed predominantly on the main stem.
- The grown fruits are laid in nets, then individually tied to a trellis so that they do not fall under their own weight.
With the formation of 2-3 fruits the size of a chicken egg, the rest of the ovaries are removed, since a larger number of watermelons will not have time to ripen.
The tapestry is relevant for small areas where there is little light and moisture stagnation is likely.
Under the covering material
The cultivation of watermelons under the covering material has become especially popular now. At the same time, additional costs for the film are compensated by the advantages of this technology, including:
- protection of seedlings from weeds in the early stages of growth in open ground;
- decrease in daily temperature fluctuations;
- accumulation and preservation of moisture by the soil.
The use of covering material can shorten the period of fruit ripening by 7-10 days. This method is especially relevant in conditions of a short or wet summer and can be used in several versions:
Spunbond can be used to cover plants directly along the lashes, protecting them from possible frost
Features of planting watermelons in different regions
Watermelon is a thermophilic crop that requires a fairly long growing season. This should be taken into account when cultivating in regions with different climatic conditions.
In the southern regions (southern Ukraine, Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Transcaucasia), watermelons are traditionally grown in an open way, which is facilitated by a large number of warm and sunny days necessary for the vegetation of the plant and the rapid development of fruits. After preparation for sowing, seeds are planted directly into open ground.
In the northern regions of Ukraine, the amount of heat is not enough for the ripening of fruits, therefore, watermelon seedlings are first grown.
In regions with a moderately cold and harsh climate (Leningrad Region, Moscow Region, Siberia, Far East), the yield of watermelons will always be moderate. To obtain it, you must strictly follow some rules:
- only early ripening varieties are chosen for planting;
- to ensure acceptable temperatures, watermelons are grown in greenhouses, and in the middle lane - also in open ground under a film (in spread);
- planting is carried out through seedlings in pots;
- so that the roots grow in width, the plants are not watered at the root, but along the grooves dug in the middle of the row spacing;
- no more than 5–6 fruits are left on one plant, to obtain large berries - 1–2 fruits, a plank is placed under each plant so that they do not rot in cool conditions.
For cultivation in the northern regions, only early ripening varieties of watermelons are chosen:
- for the Moscow region:
- Sugar Baby,
- Crimson Sweet,
- Skorik,
- Fire,
- Producer,
- Astrakhan,
- Top gun,
- Chill;
- for the Leningrad region:
- Kharkiv,
- Fire,
- Rose of the South-East,
- Early ripening;
- for the Urals - the same varieties as for the Moscow region, as well as:
- Pink Champagne F1,
- Gift to the North F1,
- Krimstar;
- for Siberia and the Far East:
- Crimson Wonder,
- Crimson Sweet,
- Ultra early,
- Fire,
- Siberian.
The average ripening period for the middle lane is about 70–80 days, medium-sized fruits - from 2 kg to 4–6 kg.
Hard work and knowledge of planting and caring for watermelons will surely reward you with delicious and healthy berries. You can grow a watermelon even in the northern regions, you just need to choose a suitable variety and do not be too lazy to make a shelter.
