The first thing to do if you really want to grow own harvest watermelons - choose optimal location under landing. The main characteristics of the culture: light-loving, thermophilic and drought-resistant. It is these three factors that should predetermine a suitable site for growing watermelons in open field.
- Make sure that the place you choose for planting watermelon is well lit and warms up throughout the day, it should also be ventilated.
- The predecessors of watermelon can be early cabbage, carrots, onions and garlic. It does not make sense to sow watermelon again after melons: zucchini, pumpkin, melon or the same watermelon.
- Ideally, if you take care of the proper preparation of the soil in advance on the site for planting watermelon. It is best to sow it with winter wheat in a couple of years, perennial herbs and sweet corn, which are in the stage of young plants, must be dug up, embedded in the soil.
Our advice:
So that the crushed corn stalks embedded in the soil and the green mass of green manure quickly turn into organic fertilizer by digging upper layer soil, add 10-15 g of urea per 1 sq. m.
- To prevent the development of root rot, do not return the watermelon to its original place for 6 to 8 days.
- Do not forget that these plants have a fairly branched root system, therefore, in early autumn, when preparing the soil, dig deep into the future bed for watermelons and apply rotted manure. Thanks to this, the watermelon roots will be easier to penetrate into the deeper layers of the soil.
- The chores of the melon grower do not end with the preparation of the site. During the entire growing period, watermelon crops should be protected from weeds - right up to the end of autumn.
An adult and well-developed watermelon plant occupies more than 10 cubic meters. m of soil.
How prepare the soil for planting watermelons?
A fundamental success factor is also the composition of the soil and the availability of nutrients in it.
Acidic soils (pH below 6.0).
Problem: excess compounds of iron, aluminum and manganese.
Effects: toxic exposure leads to suspension of growth and death of plants for no apparent reason.
Saline soils (pH above 7.5).
Problem: lack of iron, manganese, phosphorus, copper, zinc and boron.
Effects: violation of moisture supply, the impossibility of the simultaneous intake of sodium and calcium, necessary for the full growth and development of the fetus. As a result, the fruits crack and rot, due to the cessation of the development of the top.
Solutions for soil preparation for watermelons(for acidic and salty soils):
- lime, chalk, eggshell, phosphogypsum;
- selection of the right predecessors
- green manure cultivation
- the introduction of organic fertilizers (except for fresh manure in the spring, so as not to attract the bear).
excessive acidic soils can be neutralized wood ash(not less than 0.5 kg per 1 sq. m). It will also provide plants with the necessary calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and other useful trace elements. True, it lacks nitrogen.
Useful tricks:
- pre-sowing tillage (March - April), including obligatory harrowing (does not allow evaporation of autumn-winter moisture);
- triple deep loosening (up to 10 cm);
- shallow "sharovka" soil before sowing.
Thanks to these simple procedures, you will ensure sufficient warming of the soil and stimulate the development of beneficial microflora of fungi of the genus Trichoderma, which protect young plant roots from fusarium and verticiliosis.
It is advisable to stop using herbicides on watermelon beds during the cultivation of watermelons, since their decay products accumulate in the pulp of the fruit.
What prevents you from growing a high yield of watermelons?
Despite the fact that almost all agrotechnical instructions for growing watermelon concern large-scale production in the warmest regions of our country, even in Polissia, gardeners, gardeners and summer residents do not give up hope of growing these juicy berries in their beds. However, even the southerners do not always get the desired result. To save you from disappointment, we will name the main reasons for a low or poor-quality harvest of watermelons.
- In the southern regions, most often you have to deal with a lack of moisture and damage to plants by melon aphids. "Tired" and depleted soil does not allow the culture to develop fully.
- In the north and west, respectively, the main negative factors will be the abundance of moisture and the lack of sun. Due to prolonged and cold rains, the emergence of watermelon seedlings is delayed, and excessive moisture leads to the spread of root rot. And most importantly: the fruits will not be sweet due to lack of sunlight because the accumulation of sugars depends on the intensity of photosynthesis.
- Weather surprises cannot be predicted in any region. Spring may be too cold, requiring re-sowing. And they, in turn, having lingered at the seedling stage, will develop already with a long light day, because of which, most likely, flowers capable of fertilization will form poorly.
Watermelon and melon are associated with the taste of summer, and every gardener dreams of growing delicious fruits on his plot. Watermelon has long been used as a healing diuretic to cleanse the body. Melons are thermophilic and grow in a warm climate, so for their cultivation and planting watermelons in the open field, you need to have special knowledge.
Be sure to find out in advance whether it is possible to plant gourds if a cucumber, pepper, pumpkin or zucchini grows nearby.
Melons belong to the gourd family. Cultures are very useful and contain a huge amount of vitamins. If you learn how to grow these plants correctly, you can get high yield delicious fruits.
Melon is quite suitable for "neighborhood" with watermelon. Plants tend to grow. It is not recommended to plant them too close together..
Melons are prone to infection with various identical diseases. Therefore, if you plant nearby, you need to understand the risks of spreading diseases from one culture to another.
Proper sowing of seeds for seedlings at home
Seeds for seedlings are planted approximately 60 days before planting in open ground. So, already in mid-March, the seeds should be bought. You can buy them at any specialized store or ask those who have already managed to grow a quality crop of watermelons and melons.
It is impossible to get a good harvest from the seeds of last year's watermelon. The best seeds to plant- 5 years ago. It is important to understand that only any early-ripening varieties with a ripening period of up to 70-85 days are suitable for our climate. It's better to prioritize hybrid varieties that are more suited to adverse conditions.
When preparing seeds, you need to make sure that they are not empty. To do this, seeds are immersed in a container with water, Anything that comes up can be safely thrown away.. Watermelon seeds germinate more slowly than melon seeds. Therefore, it is recommended to scald watermelon seeds with boiling water, for better germination, and only then sow.
Preparation for planting and soaking
- Soak. Each separate view seeds need to be wrapped and soaked in cloth rags and maintain in a humid environment until germination. You can also soak in special napkins.
- If the seeds have already hatched, but there is no way to plant them in a timely manner, you can leave the seeds in the refrigerator.
Seeds germinated at home are planted in separate small pots with a diameter of 10 cm, preferably peat. The soil should be a mixture of: humus, sod land 3:1, add peat, sawdust, humus 3:1:0.5.
planted in each pot 2 seeds to the depth 5 cm. Moisten the soil with a sprayer. Cover container on top cling film and put in a warm place +25 degrees.
It will take 40-45 days to grow watermelon seedlings, and 30 days for melon.
- when the seeds germinate, move them to sunlight at a temperature +22 degrees. Remove the film;
- the best place for seedlings is the windowsill on the south side of the house;
- a week after sowing, feed the seedlings with mineral fertilizers, and a week later - infusion of mullein with superphosphate.
Landing in open ground
When landing in open ground, you need to focus on climatic conditions, the selected variety of culture, the readiness of seedlings.
Soil selection
Before planting melons in open ground, you need to choose a place for planting. exotic plants love sunny places where there is no shade and wind.
Melons and watermelons need rich soils, as well as those that can withstand moisture well. Perfect option- sandy and sandy soil with pH indicator 6-7 units.
Site preparation is carried out in the fall. When digging, they add 4-5 kg of manure per square meter, 40 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium salt. and ammonium sulfate.
Preparing seedlings of watermelons
When the seedlings appear 5-7 leaves, it is ready for transplanting into open ground. Best time – the end of May. However, you need to focus on weather conditions so that at night the air temperature remains +15 degrees.
A week before planting in open ground, seedlings must be taken out for hardening at a daily temperature of + 16 + 20 degrees.
Outdoor Planting Pattern - Depth and Distance
For planting in open ground, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Holes should be made in the garden at a distance 0.5-0.7 meters apart in a checkerboard pattern. Leave 70cm spacing between rows.
- Seedlings are placed in holes so that the surface remains only a few top leaves. The soil should be crushed and sprinkled with sand around to protect the plant from rot.
- Harvest after planting should be watered with summer or slightly warmed water.
- To protect a young plant from scorching sun you need to close the sprouts for 2-3 days with moistened caps made of plastic or paper.
10-14 days after planting, you need to feed the crop with a solution ammonium nitrate 20g per bucket of 2 liters for each bush. During the period when the buds appear, you need to feed melons with infusion of mullein.
Features of growing melons
To provide Free access oxygen to the roots, the soil needs to be constantly loosen to a depth of 10 cm. With the development of lateral loops, spud the culture. In order for the plant not to spend all its strength on gaining mass during the growth period, you need to pinch the main stem. For the full development of melons, three shoots are enough.
When fruit ovaries leave 2-6 of the strongest and largest specimens on the bush. To reduce the load on the whip, it is recommended to tie the fruits into nets and hang on a support. The fruits are placed on foil linings to prevent rotting.
If watermelons will be used for storage and transportation in the future, then it is better to take a berry not fully ripe.
Advantages of planting in open ground:
- in warm weather, you can achieve maximum ripeness fruits;
- daily watering of the culture is not necessary;
- it is possible to increase the yield if the basic rules for selecting soil and planting seeds for seedlings are observed.
Grow watermelons and melons suburban area is quite real. Some even grow them in bags or greenhouses. If you follow all the recommendations, then by the end of summer you can enjoy sweet, sugary fruits. The main advantage of growing melons in your garden is the absence of chemicals.
Watermelon is a favorite melon crop of many gardeners, which gives the taste of summer. It is quite capable of growing even a novice gardener. However, for this it is not enough to prepare the site and provide appropriate care for the plants after planting: it is also necessary to correctly select and prepare the seeds for sowing.
Selection and preparation of the site and soil for planting watermelon
For growing watermelon in open ground and obtaining good harvest care must be taken to select a location that must meet the following requirements:
- be well lit;
- protect from the effects of winds;
- provide plants with the necessary nutrition.
Based on these factors, it must be taken into account that the area under the watermelon should receive a sufficient amount of light during the day, warm up and ventilate well. It is best if you start preparing the soil in advance: sow the future bed with green manure, apply the necessary fertilizers.
The plot for the future watermelon bed should be well lit, ventilated, and well fertilized.
Green manure - plants that are grown for the purpose of their subsequent incorporation into the soil, which improves its structure, enriches it with nitrogen and prevents the growth of weeds.
An important point is the previous crops, that is, which were grown on the site before the watermelon. The most preferred are onions, garlic, carrots and early cabbage, as well as potatoes and tomatoes. Gourds (watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin, melon) should not be constantly planted in the same place, as pathogens accumulate in the soil.
It should be noted that watermelons and other melons require light, loose and fertile soil. Most suitable option if the plot of land will consist of sandy or sandy soil, and the necessary organic fertilizers (humus, compost) will be applied for digging in the fall. Organics are applied at the rate of 2.5 buckets per 1 m² of land. In addition, attention should be paid to the acidity of the soil: for watermelons, it should be in the range of pH 6-7.
The humus is excellent organic fertilizer to prepare a site for planting watermelon
In the spring, a watermelon bed should also be fertilized with mineral fertilizers for digging. For 1 m² you will need:
- 24–35 g ammonium sulfate;
- 40–45 g of superphosphate;
- 15–25 g of potash fertilizers.
The combination of mineral and organic matter allows you to increase the productivity of watermelon.
Preparing watermelon seeds for sowing
For experienced gardeners, it is no secret that an important role in obtaining good and friendly seedlings is played by high-quality seed preparation for sowing. This process is quite important and consists of several stages that must be performed in a certain sequence.
Variety selection
Variety of watermelon for growing on your own garden plot must be chosen very carefully. If you do not have sufficient experience in the cultivation of this type of melon, then it is best to give preference to hybrid varieties. This is due to the fact that they are characterized by more quality characteristics compared to varietal watermelons. Hybrids are characterized by faster maturation, resistance to a number of diseases and adverse environmental conditions.
When planning to grow watermelon on your site, you need to carefully approach the choice of variety.
Seed calibration
At first glance, seed calibration may not seem like such a significant procedure. If you look in more detail, then the germination of seeds and the subsequent development of young plants will directly depend on it. Everything is really simple: stronger and healthier seedlings develop better, thereby oppressing weaker seedlings. When separating (calibrating) seeds by size, seedlings will be more friendly and plentiful.
Seed sizing involves dividing them by size, which allows you to get more friendly and abundant seedlings.
Warming up the seeds
Such a procedure as heating the seeds before planting allows you to activate biochemical processes in the planting material. To do this, the seeds are placed in a container of suitable size and poured with water at a temperature of about + 50 ° C. After half an hour, the water can be drained.
Pre-sowing treatment
Preparation of watermelon seeds involves their disinfection, i.e. disinfection. In most cases, gardeners and gardeners use manganese for these purposes, from which potassium permanganate is prepared (a solution of low concentration). In order to prepare the substance, a small amount of manganese is added to a small container filled with water. After stirring the solution, the seeds are soaked for 15–20 minutes, and then washed with water.
Disinfection minimizes the likelihood of infection of young plants with diseases or damage by pests.
Processing watermelon seeds in potassium permanganate allows you to perform disinfection, thereby protecting planting material from the adverse effects of microorganisms
After all the previous procedures are completed, you can start sprouting seed material. To begin with, it is recommended to keep watermelon seeds for 12 hours in a nutrient solution: this is done to saturate the seeds with microelements, which will provide active growth and speed up germination. Today, many drugs of this kind are offered, for example, Kornevin, Zircon, Heteroauxin.
After the seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator, you should not wash them with water in any case: just dry them in the sun.
Germination of watermelon seeds accelerates the emergence of seedlings, and treatment in growth stimulants saturates the seed with microelements
Before soaking watermelon seeds to soften a dense peel, they are poured hot water for 10 minutes. Then you need to make a gauze bag by folding the material in several layers, and place the seeds in it at some distance from each other. A bag with planting material is placed in a saucer or a shallow plate, having previously moistened the gauze, while it is not necessary to fill the seeds with water - they must "breathe". After that, the container is placed in a warm place (about +25˚С) and the humidity of the gauze is periodically controlled: it is moistened as needed.
To create more seeds comfortable conditions, the container can be covered with a cut plastic bottle, film or glass, thus, it will be possible to retain moisture for a longer time. It should be noted that watermelon seeds do not germinate very quickly. Therefore, the first sprouts can be seen at least in a week (depending on the seeds of a particular variety, their quality and the conditions created). By providing an optimal microclimate, it will be possible to accelerate the germination of seed material and bring it closer to the moment of planting it in the soil. If the seeds are not soaked before planting, then you can not count on the rapid emergence of seedlings. For the Middle Strip and the northern regions, the soaking and germination procedure is necessary.
Video: sprouting watermelon seeds
Terms of sowing watermelon seeds in open ground
Planting watermelon is quite common in the seed way. The timing of sowing crops depends on the weather and the time when it is planned to get a crop. If spring comes early and is worth warm weather, you can start sowing seeds from the end of April to mid-June. If the approach of heat is delayed, then the sowing dates are shifted to the end of May.
When landing in the southern regions, you can start work from mid-April, while taking into account the weather conditions. For middle latitudes, sowing watermelon with seeds in open ground is carried out only after stable warm weather has been established. To determine the time of planting seeds, attention should be paid to the air temperature. Minimum temperature indicator+ 15˚С is considered for emergence of shoots. In regions with an unpredictable climate, gardeners prefer growing watermelons. seedling way. Seeds in this case are sown in the second half of April, and grown seedlings are planted in open ground in May-early June.
Seed germination - timing and verification
High-quality planting material is the key to a good harvest. An indicator of the quality of watermelon seeds is their germination. In most cases, in preparation for the next season, gardeners revise the seed different cultures while discovering that some of them are more than one year old. What to do in this case, throw it away and buy new ones, or can it still be used for planting? It is enough to know that the germination of watermelon seeds lasts for 6–8 years.
In addition, there is a way to test watermelon seeds for germination, which is also suitable for other melon crops. For this you will need sawdust, which are preliminarily doused several times with boiling water (with a frequency of half an hour). You will need to prepare a container, for example, a tray or a box small size, which is filled with raw sawdust. The seeds are laid out in rows with a distance of 2–3 cm. A gap of 1–1.5 cm is made between the seeds. Then the seed is sprinkled with sawdust and tamped, and the container is placed in a warm place with a temperature of + 23–27 ° C and wait for the appearance of sprouts. To determine the percentage of germination, a simple calculation is performed: if out of 10 seeds sprout 6, then the germination is 60%.
Proper planting of watermelon seeds
When favorable weather has set in, and the watermelon seeds have undergone preparatory procedures, you can start sowing them in open ground.
How far to plant
Since watermelon is a very spreading plant, a sufficient amount of space is needed to grow it. Thus, the bush will feel comfortable and develop normally. Watermelons are planted in open ground in a certain way, namely according to the scheme. AT standard scheme, which is called ordinary, the row spacing is 2 m, and in a row 1 m sown 5–10 seeds per hole. After germination, only the strongest sprouts are left, 1 seedling per meter.
An ordinary watermelon planting scheme involves planting seeds at a distance of 1 m in a row and 2 m between rows
In addition to the ordinary scheme, there is also a square-nested one. In this case, the distance between the holes with planted seeds should be 70–280 cm. The difference in distance depends on the variety of watermelon grown. When planting compact varieties, the gap between the holes is made smaller.
With a square-nested planting of watermelon, a distance of 70–280 cm is made between the holes, depending on the variety
Long distances between watermelon plantings are necessary to get enough sunlight. With a close location, the culture will not receive required amount nutrient elements.
Seeding depth
When planting watermelon seeds in open ground, it is important to observe the planting depth. The optimal planting depth for small-seeded varieties is 4-6 cm, for large-seeded varieties - 6-8 cm. If the planting material is deeper, it will be more difficult for it to hatch, which will affect the timing of germination. In addition to the variety, the soil also has an effect on the sowing depth. On sandy soils, the seeds are buried by 7-8 cm, on sandy soils - 5-7 cm, on loamy soils - 4-5 cm. AT northern regions with heavy soils, the seed should not be planted deeper than 4 cm.
The planting depth of watermelon seeds depends on the type of soil and the particular variety.
Landing under the film
It is also possible to grow watermelons under a film. This method allows you to sow as early as March and thus get an earlier harvest. Film shelter makes it possible to maintain high humidity, which eliminates the lack of moisture and contributes to the rapid development of plants. When using film, it creates Greenhouse effect which ensures rapid seed germination.
On the site prepared in the fall, ridges are cut with a distance of 70 cm from each other, for which a hiller is used. The covering film must cover 2 ridges at once, i.e. standard width 1.5 m should be enough. Between the rows recede by 2.5 m, which is necessary for the normal development of plants. Holes are prepared in the formed ridges at a distance of 1 m from each other and seeds are sown.
When growing watermelons under a film, it is recommended to make holes in a checkerboard pattern.
Growing watermelons under a film allows you to plant seeds in March and get an earlier harvest
The number of seeds sown in one hole can be different and depend on the varieties used. Seeds of inexpensive varieties can be laid out 2-3 grains per hole. When shoots appear, pinch out weaker plants, leaving one of the most developed seedlings. If expensive varieties are used, then one seed is placed in each well.
After sowing, the soil is moistened and covered with a film. To do this, the material is deployed along the length of the beds, pressing it with the ground so that it is not blown away by the wind. If the weather is cloudy, then seedlings should appear a week after planting. Since the seedlings will soon begin to rest against the film, it will be necessary to make cross-shaped slots for free growth plants.
A week after germination, the watermelon will adapt to environment. During this period, the holes in the film are covered with earth to prevent the emergence of weeds. To avoid damage to young seedlings, the sprout is carefully pulled out of the film, put on a piece plastic pipe(can be a jar), sprinkled with earth, lightly tamping it, after which they remove the protection. After such a procedure, watermelons are considered ready for further development.
Video: growing watermelons under a film
What to do if watermelon seeds do not germinate
Sometimes gardeners are faced with such an unpleasant situation when watermelon seeds did not germinate. What could be the reason and how to fix the situation? Seeds can be one of the main problems Low quality. If the seed is purchased in a store, be sure to check the expiration date on the package. In addition, you can focus on the price, but it is not always an indicator of quality: both cheap and expensive seeds can have good germination.
When buying watermelon seeds, attention should be paid to the date of manufacture, and when storing your planting material for a long time, check it for germination
If you still have watermelon seeds from previous years without packaging or you yourself collected planting material, you need to identify seeds that are unsuitable for sowing. To do this, seeds are poured into a container with water, and those that are on the surface - it makes no sense to plant.
Seed germination is influenced by many factors:
- degree of maturation;
- collection and drying conditions;
- storage conditions;
- packaging date.
These factors depend, as a rule, on the seed producer. However, the success of the entire event directly depends on the conditions that will be created for their germination. This suggests that if the seeds are known to good quality, and the humidity or temperature does not meet the required indicators, then the material may simply not germinate. In addition, when planting germinated seeds in open ground with cold soil, they can slow down in growth or even die.
Further care for watermelon seedlings
When growing watermelon in open ground, periodic loosening of the soil and watering are important conditions. It is recommended to mark the holes when planting seeds, for example, with pegs, so that rows can be seen when loosening. During the period of growth of leaf mass and lashes, top dressing is performed. To do this, you can use urea (150 g) and the same amount of superphosphate, as well as potassium salt (50 g) per 10 m². Fertilization should be accompanied by irrigation or rainfall.
For the normal development of young watermelon seedlings, timely watering and loosening of the soil is necessary.
Irrigation Special attention should be given when building leaves and stems, flowering and the appearance of ovaries. During fruit ripening, on the contrary, watering is highly undesirable, since excessive moisture leads to the appearance of cracks in the fruit and a deterioration in taste. Watermelon beds are irrigated with warm water once a week, but at the same time plentifully. Caring for watermelons also involves the formation of a bush, as a result of which it is possible to get larger and sweeter berries. In this case, no more than four fruits are left on one plant. In addition, they pinch the shoots and remove the whiskers.
Video: the formation of a watermelon in the open field
Important is the prevention and control of diseases and pests of watermelon. Common pests include sprout fly, melon aphid, wireworm. If an insect is detected before it damages the plant, they are treated with biological preparations, for example, Fitoverm. When pests invade, they resort to using chemicals, such as Decis, Aktara, Fufanon. Of the most common diseases of melons, anthracnose is distinguished, powdery mildew, downy mildew. As a preventive measure, colloidal sulfur, Ordan, Khom are used.
One of the common pests of watermelons is the sprout fly, the larvae of which damage the roots, seeds and stem of the plant.
High-quality planting material in combination with proper preparation to sowing is the key to a good harvest. It is in this case that it will be possible to avoid wasting time, increase the germination of seeds and ensure the active growth and development of plants.
First you need to clearly understand that in order to grow a high-quality watermelon in the open field, you need the same high-quality planting material, so buy seeds in places you have checked. If your household plot located closer to the south of Russia, then you can grow watermelons in open ground, otherwise, most likely, you can’t do without a greenhouse.
Place and soil
It should be a very sunny place with deep waters, as watermelon does not tolerate excessive moisture. The soil is preferable sandy or sandy, light, as the juiciness of the berry is gaining from the root system, which penetrates deep into the ground. In heavy soil, the root system of a watermelon is not able to fully develop, however, its deep loosening will slightly improve the situation. pH 6.5-7.0. Pay attention to the presence, oh how watermelon does not like them.
Well, if the predecessor of watermelons was alfalfa or winter wheat. It is impossible to grow watermelons after any melon crop or nightshade.
In autumn, the land is fertilized with rotted manure (4-5 kg per 1 sq.m). Fresh manure makes the plant vulnerable to fungal diseases.
Preparation of watermelon seeds and sowing in open ground (seedless method of growing watermelons in open ground)
Before sowing in open ground, watermelon seeds need to be heated in the sun (right in a bag) for 10 days, so that their temperature reaches 55 ° C, if the seeds are wet, then up to 30 ° C. Then fill them with water and leave for 30 minutes. Those watermelon seeds that float up will have to be thrown away, they are not suitable for sowing. Next, fill with hot water (50-60 ° C), when the water cools down, drain it and soak until pecking. If the seeds cannot be calcined in the sun, then since February the seed has been stored near the battery. 3 days before the proposed sowing in the morning, prepare a solution of ash (1 part ash to 2 parts water), stir for 12 hours. On the same day, in the evening, dip the seeds for 15-20 minutes in a dark solution of potassium permanganate, rinse and dip them overnight in the prepared ash solution. Take it out the next morning and dry it.
Watermelon seeds can be sown from the end of April until mid-June, it all depends on the weather conditions and when you want to get the harvest. Focus on soil temperature (16 ° C).
Watermelon seeds are sown to a depth of 6-8 cm at the rate of 10 seeds per running meter, let it be planted more densely, because it is not a fact that all the seeds will sprout. For getting big watermelons usually fresh seeds are taken for sowing, since small watermelons with large quantity ovaries of flowers on one plant. Water the soil after sowing warm water. The first shoots should appear a week after sowing. When 5 leaves appear, hill the plants, with careful loosening of the soil. Remember that warm weather and lack of rain is important for watermelons, so shelter should always be at hand. Sometimes, when the fruits reach 10 cm in diameter, the main lash is pinched with the removal of all side shoots, then the plant spends all its strength on the development of the main ovary.
Growing seedlings of watermelons for open ground
It is easy to grow watermelons in open ground using seedlings. To grow seedlings of watermelons, use peat-humus pots, this is very convenient because when transplanting, seedlings are not removed from them, they are planted directly in the holes, which means they do not damage the vulnerable root system. If you use plastic cups, then the seedlings are removed with a clod of earth, doing this very carefully, without damaging the roots. At the end of April, pour into peat-humus pots (each seed has its own pot) on 2/3 of the soil mixture from peat, humus and soddy soil in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Soak the seeds in warm water(up to 50°С) for 10 minutes. Now deepen one watermelon seed by 1 cm. As the seedling grows, pour in the soil mixture and monitor the temperature in the room (25-30 °). When the first true leaf appears, a complex mineral fertilizer, and after 2 weeks feeding is repeated. When you notice that the leaves of the watermelon seedlings have begun to touch each other, move the pots apart. Watermelon seedlings will be ready for planting in open ground at the age of 30 days, at which point the plant should have about 5 true leaves. A week before transplanting watermelon seedlings into open ground, harden plants (lower the temperature to 17 ° C during the day, and to 12-15 ° C at night.
Immediately before planting, seedlings are fertilized in the soil, about 2 kg of compost is added to each hole with abundant watering. Watermelon seedlings are planted in open ground in holes on ridges according to the scheme 140x70 or 140x140, deepening by 8-10 cm in the resulting slurry, but so that the root collar is 1-2 cm above the surface of the ridge. If you plant 2 plants in one hole, so that they do not touch each other, straighten the whips in different sides. Fill the holes with dry soil, then the crust will not form.
AT middle lane Russia, choose varieties of watermelons for outdoor cultivation with the most early term maturity and small size.
Care of watermelons in the open field
Watering is very moderate, especially during the ripening period, reduce it to a minimum. 14 days after planting watermelons on permanent place add a solution of ammonium nitrate (20 g of the drug per bucket of water per 1 bush 2 liters of solution). During the budding period, top dressing is repeated.
Only 2-6 ovaries are left on the bush. Each time after moistening the soil, loosening is carried out until the foliage closes. In windy weather, watermelon lashes are sprinkled with moist earth, and during the period of possible frosts, the plants are covered with non-woven material.
Place foil or any other non-rotting material under the plants so that moisture, from which the fruits can begin to deteriorate, cannot spoil the crop.
Turn watermelons regularly to ensure even ripening.
Pay attention to the fruits, if one berry began to grow intensively, while others lag behind in development and turn yellow, then additional feeding is required. 
Collection of watermelons
In August, there is an intensive ripening of watermelons, so their readiness for harvest can be determined by a set of signs:
- glossy surface;
- drying of the bract;
- there are no hairs on the stalk;
- when tapping on the berries, a dull sound is heard.
We invite you to watch a video on how to grow Charleston Gray and Orange King watermelons from seed soaking to harvest.
In order to grow sweet, juicy watermelons, it is necessary to provide them with a warm climate, low humidity and good lighting. How to grow watermelon at home? Read Tips experienced gardeners!
Perhaps it is difficult to find a person who does not like watermelons. Tasty, sweet and juicy watermelons are loved by both adults and children.
Grow this exotic striped berry almost every gardener dreams. True, not everyone decides on this, because the harsh climate leaves its mark. But in fact, watermelons, although they are a heat-loving melon crop, can be grown not only in the south, but also in the middle lane. To do this, you just need to create favorable conditions for them.
In order to grow sweet, juicy watermelons, it is necessary to provide them with a warm climate, low humidity and good lighting. In the middle lane, they are grown in greenhouses or under a film, and in the south of Russia, watermelons will easily grow without greenhouses. Optimum temperature for normal growth - 25-30 degrees during the day and 18 - at night. The bed or greenhouse should be on sunny place away from bushes and trees.
The main secret successful cultivation watermelon is a choice the right kind. For central Russia, early-ripening varieties should be chosen, the ovaries of which grow and ripen quickly. Do not try to grow unusual large varieties watermelons, as they can realize themselves only in warm countries.
The best varieties of watermelons for growing
The most suitable seeds: Sugar Baby, Pink Champagne, Gift to the North, Charleston near Moscow, Spark, Crimstar.
In the middle lane, you can grow a watermelon only with the help of seedlings, which should be sown around April 20th. Then, after 30-35 days, the seedlings can be transplanted into the ground.
To grow seedlings, you will need small pots with a diameter of 10 cm. Each of them is filled with a mixture of peat, humus and woody soil in a ratio of 1: 2: 1 with a small addition of ash and 2 seeds are planted in one pot.
To speed up germination, you can pre-soak and germinate the seeds. Until shoots appear, the pots are covered with a film and the temperature is maintained at + 20-25 degrees. After that, you need to lower the temperature to + 18-20 degrees so that the seedlings do not stretch too much. For seedlings, you need to select the sunniest window and feed it 2 times with complex mineral fertilizer.
Growing watermelons in a greenhouse
The preparation of the greenhouse or beds must be carried out in advance. In early April, it is cleared of snow and the soil is dug up. Watermelons love sandy and sandy soil rich in organic matter.
heavy clay soils- will be unusable. A few days before planting seedlings, you need to dig a trench 30 cm wide and deep, on the bottom of which manure is laid and completely covered with soil. The earth can be covered with a film so that it warms up as much as possible. Then arcs are installed on the garden bed and a transparent film is pulled.
How to grow watermelons - step by step
How to grow a square watermelon?
If you are growing watermelons on your site, why not grow a berry square shape for special occasions to surprise your loved ones and guests? Such a miracle was invented by the Japanese in the late 80s of the 20th century.
Growing features
Suitable for growing cubic watermelon different varieties berries, and the main shaping tool is a 20x20x20 cube. It must be made of a transparent material such as plastic. On the top side of the container, it is necessary to make a hole with a diameter of about 3 cm, and one of the adjacent sides must be removable. In the corners of the cube, you also need to make holes with a diameter of 5-8 mm.
When the watermelon is about the size of a small ball, it must be placed in the cube by passing the stem through the hole on the top wall. As the size increases, the berry will fill the cube and take its shape.
Sometimes it happens that the watermelon ripens earlier before taking on a clear cube shape, but in any case, it will be unusual. And experience comes with time, and you will learn how to grow square watermelons no worse than Japanese craftsmen.
His beneficial features, amazing taste, that's why both adults and children love it so much!
Don't be discouraged if you can't grow sweet watermelon, take into account your mistakes, then on next year, your watermelons will be much more delicious!
