What do you need to grow watermelons? Warmth, light and care! Growing watermelons in open ground in the middle lane: technology for growing from seeds and seedlings Planting watermelons in open ground

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.

Is it possible to plant watermelons and melons side by side?

Melons belong to the gourd family. Cultures are very useful and contain a huge amount of vitamins. If you learn how to properly grow these plants, you can get a high yield of 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.

And melons and watermelons tend to run wild

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

1. 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.
2. 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 the container with cling film on top and put in a warm place +25 degrees.

It will take 40-45 days to grow watermelon seedlings, and 30 days for melon.

It will take about 40 days to grow watermelon seedlings.

• 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;
• feed seedlings a week after sowing mineral fertilizers, a week later - infusion of mullein with superphosphate.

Landing in open ground

When planting in open ground, you need to focus on climatic conditions, the selected crop variety, and 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 shadow and no wind.

Melons love nutrient soil and sunny plots of land

Melons and watermelons need rich soils, as well as those that can withstand moisture well. Perfect option- sandy and sandy loamy soil with a pH of 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.

Seedlings are ready for transplanting after the appearance of 5-7 leaves

Outdoor Landing Pattern - Depth and Distance

For planting in open ground, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Harvest after planting should be watered with summer or slightly warmed water.
4. 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.

Seedlings are planted in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of about half a meter

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 appear, 2-6 of the strongest and largest specimens are left 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.

To reduce the load on the whip, the fruits can be hung in a net.

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.

Growing watermelons and melons in a greenhouse and open field is not associated with great difficulties. Some summer residents refuse to plant gourds, considering it inappropriate to borrow large area site. Meanwhile, these crops get along well together and give an excellent harvest, subject to certain rules. On a compact garden plot, it is not necessary to divert separate place for melons and for watermelons, they can be planted side by side and enjoy juicy sweet fruits.

Seed treatment before planting

Seed material is planted in peat forms at the end of April. Before sowing, it is advisable to warm the seeds well indoors or near a heating device. It is also recommended to soak them in warm water and disinfect in one of the solutions:

• hydrogen peroxide solution is prepared at the rate of 10 tablets per liter of water;
• a weak solution of manganese or boron 0.05% concentration;
• "Epin extra", the stimulant is diluted as follows: 6 drops of bioadditives per 100 ml of water;
• "Zircon", the solution is prepared at the rate of 2-4 drops of liquid per liter of water.

Treatment with biostimulants will not only destroy pathogens, but also allow plants to adapt to temperature disasters, and also increase crop yields. Soaking is carried out in a cotton bag, which is dipped in heated (about 60 °) water, the liquid is allowed to drain and left for a day. During this time, the seeds should swell and crack a little. If this did not happen, planting them in the ground does not make sense: the culture will turn out to be weak. When planting, 2 seeds are placed in each mold, in the future this will allow you to remove a weaker branch.

Simultaneous soaking and warming the seeds is the best preparation for seedlings. Melons are watered only with water at room temperature, while making sure that it does not irrigate the leaves. Seedlings of gourds are quite capricious and require good lighting, heat and accurate watering.

Special soil is sold in stores, but you can cook it yourself. For this in suitable soil mineral fertilizer "Kemira universal" is added. For each pot, 1 teaspoon is enough, then the earth is well mixed. Seeds are buried to a depth of 2-3 cm and watered. Under favorable conditions, the first shoots appear on the 5-6th day, and after a week you can see the first leaf.

Growing gourds in a greenhouse

Planting gourds in covered ground is carried out at the end of May. By this time, the soil will already be warm enough, and frosts will not hurt root system. Previously, young plants are recommended to be hardened, for this they are taken out into the street at a temperature of 13-15 degrees or the air in the room is cooled to these figures. The best age of seedlings for planting is approximately 25-30 days.

The soil is tightened before planting plastic wrap, in which holes are cut for peat containers. This allows not only to protect heat-loving crops from low temperatures but also increases productivity. Fertilizers are additionally added to the wells: humus, ash or mineral additives. From above, the nutrients are covered with a layer of earth.

The greenhouse should maintain optimal temperature and light conditions. The temperature during the day should be 20-25°, and at night - 15-18°. Water moderately and infrequently warm water. To prevent condensation, the greenhouse must be periodically ventilated. Watermelons and melons are quite sensitive to excess moisture, their seedlings can rot, and the fruits themselves grow watery and tasteless. If it gets colder outside, you should cover the soil and young shoots with a film, cotton cloth or paper.

At the time of planting gourds in the greenhouse, you can have time to harvest young cabbage, early radishes and greens. This will not only additionally warm the soil, but also save space.

Boarding order

The scheme of planting in open ground is as follows. The distance between plants should be 40-50 cm for watermelons and 50-60 cm for melons. When grown together in a greenhouse, watermelons and melons are planted in a checkerboard pattern. Peat containers are buried shallowly in the ground, there should be a gap of about 3 cm between the leaves and the ground. This trick will further protect the plant from diseases and decay.

When planting, the scheme and the distance between the rows are taken into account. It is usually recommended to plant in 2 rows, between which a piece of land 50 cm wide is left. The next planting of melons in the ground is carried out at a distance of 80 cm from the first rows.

Care for melons in the greenhouse

Caring for watermelons and melons is not particularly difficult and not too laborious. Young shoots can be covered with cut plastic bottles, this protective frame allows you to increase the yield. As the plant grows, the bottle is removed or replaced with a higher shelter. When the stem has grown sufficiently in length, it is attached to a special support - a trellis, you can tie the top with a thread to the ceiling of the greenhouse. Heavy fruits are placed in nets, cardboard boxes. The main thing is that they do not come into contact with the ground.

7-10 days after disembarkation, you can feed nitrogen fertilizer- urea or saltpeter, for this, 20 grams of the substance is diluted in 10 liters of water.

Caring for gourds consists in loosening the soil, watering and top dressing. It is necessary to ensure that after planting, weeds do not appear between the sprouts. Young plants are watered once a week, then it is allowed to do this twice a month.

Watermelons and melons are drought-resistant crops, they sprout in the southern regions, where the absence of rain for a long time is considered normal. When the first fruits appear, watering is stopped. Irrigate melons should be carefully, making sure that water does not get on the root part of the stem. Otherwise, the culture may be damaged by rot.

Every 2-3 weeks, the soil should be fertilized with mullein infusion and minerals. During feeding, a small handful of ash can be added to each well.

Artificial pollination in a greenhouse is carried out by a male flower, it is determined by its impressive size. The flower is plucked and applied to female flowers. Before pollination, the crop should not be watered so that excess moisture does not affect the quality of the pollen. Many gardeners attract bees to pollination: they open the doors of the greenhouse, put saucers with sugar syrup.

plant formation

As they grow, the stems are bred in different directions. In the future, they are tied to wooden or metal trellises.

To teach a good harvest, you must follow the rules.

• On melons stop the apical part of the stem. This procedure will be sufficient for early ripening varieties. Late-ripening varieties of melon are docked differently. In addition to removing the top, the side parts are also examined, their thickness and power are estimated. Young lashes are removed, leaving 3-4 strong branches.
• With watermelons will have to tinker. The cultivation of this culture is carried out in one stem, it is chosen according to the presence of shoots in the leaf axils. The stems on which there is no ovary are removed, the rest are pinched. When the culture grows above the size of the trellis, the apical lash is re-pinched at the level of the 4-5th leaf.

Features of growing in open ground

Before planting plants in open ground, you should decide on a place. Watermelons and melons prefer to grow in somewhat elevated flat areas that are well warmed up and illuminated by the sun's rays. Here they grow better, fruit abundantly and ripen early.

Care is carried out by loosening the soil, removing weeds and excess lashes. In the process of growth, several inter-row tillage is carried out. The first - when young leaves appear, to a depth of 6-8 cm, the second - when 5-6 true leaves appear, loosening can be combined with top dressing.

Harvest watermelons and melons as they ripen. The ripeness of watermelons is determined by the drying of the tendrils in the axils of the leaves, the disappearance of haze and the appearance of shine, and the lightening of the skin of the fruit. If you knock on a watermelon, there is a dull sound, but to distinguish it, you need to have practical skills.

The ripeness of a melon is determined by the dried stalk.

Are melons compatible?

Is it possible to plant watermelons and melons side by side? These crops consume from the soil similar chemical substances and require approximately the same processing methods. If you plant them side by side, this will greatly simplify the care procedures: watering, garter, bait. However, melons and gourds greatly impoverish the soil, and they can be planted in the same place only after a few years. To prevent this, watermelons and melons should be regularly fed with mineral fertilizers.

It is not recommended to collect seeds from watermelons and melons when they are planted together, since mutual pollination occurs. The result of such a hybrid may not be entirely palatable.

If you are the owner of a large plot of land, it is better to plant these crops in open ground in different places in the garden. If the plot is small, then they can be planted nearby, nothing bad will happen. The proximity of melons to each other will not affect the yield.

Other entries about gourds

Who does not love melon, watermelon, pumpkin, zucchini. One for treats, the other for food. Both of them grow on my melon, not a lot, but just right for us. They grow like this: I plant everything with seeds in the ground. To do this, I make a bed in early spring, this time I did 5 ...

What is the best way to plant watermelons, pumpkins and melons - seeds or seedlings? Thanks

For several years in a row I have been trying to grow watermelons and melons, but all to no avail (The maximum size they reached fit in the palm of your hand (And in recent years, due to bad weather, nothing has grown at all (Oves formed by the end ...

Is it possible to grow watermelons and melons in Siberia? And when should they be planted?

I am writing this post at the request of the seven-year-olds. It will be small, I will only write how I do it. Perhaps someone does something completely different, let's discuss! I decided to grow melons after reading N. Kurdyumov’s book “Smart melon for everyone”, he infected ...

How to fertilize watermelons and melons in St. Petersburg. The melons are starting to bloom, and the watermelons are about to.

See all materials

about melons :

See all

• Preparation of soil, seeds, seedlings
• Sowing seedlings for melons and in a greenhouse
• Fertilizers and top dressing

Melons and watermelons are very fond of the sun and feel comfortable in Krasnodar Territory, in the Caucasus, in the Astrakhan region, in the Primorsky Territory and other regions with a similar climate. They grow outdoors in fields called melons, which is why these plants are called gourds. But gardeners from the Urals, from Siberia and the North-Western part of Russia are not far behind their colleagues from the south and can also grow watermelon or melon in their garden. They plant gourds not in open ground, but in greenhouses. The fruits from the north, of course, are inferior to the southern ones in size, but still very tasty.

Melons do not like transplants, so they are planted in the ground only after the appearance of the first true leaf.

Melons and watermelons are divided into different varieties. The choice of any of them depends on the climate in the place where the seeds are planted and the preferences of the gardener. Melons are used for food not only fresh, but they are also used to make jam and even salt for the winter.

Selection of seeds for different regions

The first priority, if you want to grow any plant, is to buy high-quality seeds.

This rule also applies to watermelons and melons. It is best to purchase seeds in specialized stores or at fairs. It is not recommended to buy them from the hands of individuals or in the markets, as the change can be replaced with cheaper and lower quality ones. Seeds of gourds differ among themselves in terms of ripening time into early, mid-season, mid-late and late. The former ripen in mid-June, and the latter in autumn.

Seeds are best purchased in specialized stores. Preference should be given to products from your region.

There are a great many varieties of watermelon that can be grown in the southern part of the country: Astrakhan, F1 Madeira, Crimson Sweet, Galaxy, Black Prince, competitor, etc. (more than 100 types of varieties). Watermelons grow large, sweet, juicy, fruit weight from 7 to 20 kg. Things are completely different in northern regions, where you can plant only a few types of the largest berries. These include Ogonyok, Sugar Baby, Early Kuban, Siberian Lights. Fruits are usually not heavier than 5 kg, but juicy and tasty. Watermelon pulp is not only red or pink, but also yellow.

There are several dozen types of melons, the most famous of them are honey, aikido, Scythian gold, Altai, Cinderella, collective farmer, mohawk and others. In sunny regions, you can grow any variety, but in Siberia, in the Urals, it is better to plant early-ripening varieties, for example, Altai or Barnaulka. The mass of the fetus is from 0.50 to 3 kg. Melon pulp is very juicy and sweet, like a watermelon, white or yellow.

You can grow a melon or watermelon in the open field or in a greenhouse. At the same time, the technology of growing melons in different conditions is very similar. The following is a step-by-step guide on how to grow a melon or watermelon in the garden.

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 prepare 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.

Humus is an excellent organic fertilizer for preparing 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 substances 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

The variety of watermelon for growing in your 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 begin to germinate seed material. To begin with, watermelon seeds are recommended to be kept 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 in seedlings. 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 small box, 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. In 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 should cover 2 ridges at once, i.e. a standard width of 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? One of the main problems can be low quality seeds. 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 obviously of 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. With the invasion of pests, they resort to the use of chemicals, such as Decis, Aktara, Fufanon. Of the most common diseases of melons, anthracnose, powdery mildew, and peronosporosis are distinguished. 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, combined with proper preparation for 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.

The watermelon comes from areas of South Africa with high temperatures and low humidity. The culture is thermophilic and drought-resistant, it needs light in in large numbers. Shade and cloudy weather will not allow the watermelon to develop normally and give a good harvest. But still, these berries are grown not only in the south, but also in more northern regions.

Features of planting watermelons in open ground

Before planting watermelons in the garden, you need to prepare the land, seeds and familiarize yourself with the rules of cultivation.

Site preparation

The soil for watermelons should be light and fertile, virgin sandy loamy chernozem is preferred. On the clay soils they grow worse.

It is undesirable to plant watermelons after legumes, cabbage. It is good if earlier there were tomatoes, onions, rye or winter wheat on the site.

It is also necessary to apply mineral fertilizers per 1 sq. m:

• 30 g of urea or ammonium nitrate;
• 30 g of superphosphate;
• 20 g of potash fertilizers.

Excess fertilizing is harmful: greens grow better than fruits, and nitrates accumulate in watermelons.

Seed selection

First you need to choose a variety that matches the climate of the region. AT middle lane it could be Fire, Sugar Baby, Crimson Sweet.

Watermelon seeds are various shapes, sizes and colors

1. Warm the seeds in the sun for a week or dip them in a gauze bag in hot (50–60 ° C) water for 5–10 minutes.
2. For disinfection, hold them in a pink solution of potassium permanganate (with a concentration of 0.5-1%) for about 20 minutes, rinse and dry natural way. To get a good harvest, you can soak in a solution of trace elements - manganese, boron, molybdenum - with a concentration of 0.05% for 16 hours.
3. With a seedless method of sowing after warming up in hot water the seeds are dipped in a solution of Zircon or Cytovit (1 ampoule per 2 liters of water). When they swell, you can sow.
4. To speed up germination, the seeds are germinated. To do this, they need to be wrapped in a wet cloth, put in a warm place with a temperature of + 20–25 ° C and constantly moistened, preventing drying out. Shoot several times a day upper layer for ventilation. When sprouts appear, seeds can be sown immediately in the ground or on seedlings.

Sowing seeds in open ground

Watermelons should be sown in the ground, warmed up to + 12–14ºC, 10 cm deep. In cold soil, they may not sprout or suffer from pests. Usually sowing is done in late April-early May, but in each region you need to focus on climatic conditions.

Watermelon seeds in the open field germinate within 5-7 days with good quality and warm soil. If the earth is not warm enough, seedlings may be delayed for 2 weeks.

The main thing is that, as the plantings grow, they do not turn out to be overly thickened and that all the berries that have started have enough light, moisture and nutrition.

The distance between the rows is made at least 1 m, since the plants have long lashes and they can stretch up to 1.5–2 meters. The depth of the hole is 5–8 centimeters.

5-6 seeds are placed in one hole to ensure germination. If everyone breaks through, choose one, the strongest plant.

Planting watermelon seedlings

In regions with a short summer, watermelon seedlings are grown. Seeds are sown a month before planting, that is, if heat is established in the region at the end of May, then seedlings are planted at the end of April.

Germinated seeds are placed in cups with soil, watered with warm water and covered with glass or polyethylene to create greenhouse conditions. Shoots appear on the 3-5th day.

Seedlings need to be provided with a favorable regime: a temperature of + 20–25ºC and lighting, natural or artificial, for 10 hours a day, no less.

After two weeks, the plants are fed with a water-soluble complex fertilizer, organics do not need to be applied. Watering should be plentiful, but not frequent, twice a week is enough. Be sure to loosen the soil.

Soil for seedlings of watermelons - a mixture consisting of humus, soddy soil and river sand

Within 7 days before planting, it is necessary to harden the plants: take them out into fresh air, first for 2-3 hours, then gradually increase the time. On the eve, you need to water the seedlings well and spray them with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. Seedlings should have at least 4 leaves. Plants are transplanted into the garden very carefully, along with an earthen clod.

In order to grow high-quality fruits, it is necessary to observe the agricultural technology of their cultivation, performing the main activities:

1. Periodic weeding and loosening the earth around the bushes.
2. Regular watering.
3. Top dressing.
4. Pinching shoots.
5. Treatment for diseases and pests.

Bush formation

When the bushes grow and several apple-sized fruits are formed, they begin to form. Side lashes cut off, leaving 2 watermelons on each, pinch the main one so as to save 2 leaves after the fruit.

The formation of a watermelon should be carried out on a dry sunny day - then the cut point will dry out faster

The cut parts are not pulled out so as not to damage the plant and ovaries. They dry quickly and do not interfere with the development of watermelon.

How to form a watermelon lash - video

Growing watermelons on trellises

In the southern regions, watermelons do not require a garter, they are grown on the ground. Here they receive enough light and heat, are not susceptible to diseases.

In more northern regions with a humid climate, tapestries are sometimes used. This is done if there is a risk of moisture stagnation on the site or there is not enough space and light. In the north, small-fruited varieties are usually grown. They can be tied to a trellis, like cucumbers.

Fruits that reach the size of an apple or more are hung in nets that hang from the trellis.

What is done for the trellis device:

1. On both sides of the beds, stakes with a height of at least one and a half meters are installed, a rope is pulled between them. If necessary, increase the number of stakes.
2. Others are tied to this rope, descending to the bushes. They serve as a support for the vine and determine its direction.
3. The lowered rope must be attached to the stem of the plant or to the ground.
4. The grown berries are placed in nets and tied separately to the trellis so that they do not fall under the influence of their weight.

Watermelons from the moment of sowing need constant care. They need to be loosened, watered, fertilized, protected from pests and diseases.

Weeding

Row spacing begins to be loosened even before germination. To know the location of the holes, lighthouse crops are sown in them, which will germinate earlier: radish, lettuce and others. When watermelon shoots appear, they are removed along with weeds.

Weeding should be carried out several times during the growing season.

Watering

It is necessary to regularly water the plants during the period of growth of leaves and stems, setting and formation of fruits. This is done as the soil dries up, no more than 1 time per week. During fruit ripening, watering is undesirable, as it can lead to cracking and deterioration of taste.

There will be no severe harm from the lack of watering, the plant is drought-resistant, and its roots penetrate to a depth of more than 1 meter.

Watering should be stopped when the fruits become glossy. During the growth period they are matte.

Melon growers are advised to remove the fruit only 15–20 days after it has ceased to increase in size.

fertilizers

Top dressing is carried out at the beginning of the formation of lashes of plants, before rain or watering. For 10 sq. m must be entered:

• 150 g of ammonium nitrate or urea;
• 150 g of powder or 60 g of double granular superphosphate;
• 50 g of potassium salt.

Subsequent top dressing is carried out during the period of flowering and mass fruit set. With a weak development of plants, you can feed them with slurry. For its manufacture, the container is filled with manure by a third, topped up with water until it is full and mixed. One part of the slurry is diluted in 10 liters of water. Consumption of solution for 1 plant - 1 liter.

Treatment of watermelons from diseases and pests

The preservation of watermelon during the growth period involves the use of both agrotechnical protection measures and chemicals.

Agrotechnical protection measures

They consist in strict compliance with the requirements for sowing and growing plants:

1. Compliance with crop rotation: the return of melons to their original place no earlier than after 5 years.
2. Seed treatment and dressing 1–2 months before sowing.
3. Location of landings on well-lit and warmed-up lungs sandy soils. Do not use heavy clay soils for watermelons.
4. Deep plowing and sowing seeds at optimal times.
5. Application of mineral fertilizers and trace elements.
6. Constant fight against weeds, prevention of thickening of plants.
7. Refrain from excessive soil moisture, frequent watering.

Chemical methods of protection

For the treatment of plants, the following preparations are used:

• Karatan FN 57, 18.25% s. n. to combat powdery mildew. Consumption rate for a concentration of 0.1%: 0.8–1 kg/ha. Spraying is carried out three times a season, the last time 20 days before harvesting;
• Fentiuram for processing before sowing at the rate of 3 g of powder per 1 kg of seeds mixed with flour paste. This will get rid of the sprout fly;
• Bazudin is applied to the soil during sowing to destroy wireworms;
• BI-58 is used for spraying sprouts against mites;
• Fitoverm is used against aphids and thrips;
• Sherpa, 25% a.e. effective for combating winter and field scoops. Consumption - 0.24–0.32 l / ha, process 20 days before harvesting;
• Decis, 2.5% a.e. (the consumption rate of the drug is 0.25–0.5 l / ha) is taken for spraying plants in the germination phase against cutworms. If necessary, during the flowering period, another processing is performed.

Prevention of diseases of watermelons - video

Cultivation in the regions

Each corner of the country has its own climatic features. The timing of planting, the need to use only local varieties, the method of arranging the beds depend on this.

Ukraine

The south of Ukraine is a fertile place for growing watermelons in the open field. They take root in any soil, if they are not loose and not acidic. Fertilizers are applied to increase fertility.

The cultivation of watermelons in Ukraine begins in late April-early May, the most late deadline- middle of June.

Strong winds in southern Ukraine can damage whips. To avoid this, grooves are made, the stem is laid in them and sprinkled with earth, leaving the ends of the lashes free.

Variety Krasen - Ukrainian early ripening watermelon with a smooth black-green surface and tender juicy pulp

Varieties and hybrids of local selection are grown here:

• early ripe:
  • Charivnyk,
  • Orpheus,
  • Kakhovskiy,
  • Krasen,
  • F1 debut,
  • Wound F1.
• mid-season:
  • Alliance,
  • Knyazhich,
  • Kherson.
• late ripening:
  • Sunrise,
  • Snowball.

Transbaikalia

Summer residents have been growing watermelons in Transbaikalia for more than 20 years. Seeds of early ripening watermelons are used:

• Light;
• Sugar baby;
• Watermelon is ultra-early.

These varieties are medium-sized - 1.5–2 kg.

In mid-April, they begin to grow seedlings of watermelons in peat cups. On the permanent place they are planted when 3-4 leaves appear, when the soil warms up well. Usually it is the end of May.

How to make watermelons take root in open ground:

1. A week before planting, seedlings are hardened, leaving for a few minutes, then for several hours a day on the street at a temperature of + 15–17 ° C.
2. Under the watermelons make a high bed.
3. Holes are dug in it, where they put dry grass for insulation, then compost, sand, fertilizer or ash.
4. Watered with warm water with potassium permanganate and planted seedlings with a clod of earth.
5. Arcs are made above the bed and covering material is laid.

To protect against pests and diseases, plantings are sprayed with an infusion of garlic or nettle, which can be alternated.

From below, the bed is heated from decaying residues, and from above, heat is retained thanks to the covering material.

Kuban

The warm climate of the Kuban allows you to sow seeds directly into the ground. Planting dates are from late April to late May, depending on the variety. Harvested after the 20th of June.

In dry years, local watermelons can suffer from spider mite. If lesions are found, they are treated with acaricides 2-3 times with a weekly interval.

They try to harvest watermelons in the Kuban before the first night frosts come

Bashkiria

In Bashkiria, there is also experience in growing watermelons, although the region is located to the north of the Moscow region and the climate is colder here. Morning frosts can last until June, but watermelons are planted in May, protecting with covering material. Experienced gardeners sprinkle sand under the whip so that the fruits do not rot. In Bashkiria, it is recommended to plant only early varieties so that the crop does not die from the early onset of cold weather:

• Sorento F1;
• Earthling;
• Crimson Sweet;
• Top Gun F1;
• Kai F1.

First, seedlings are grown in cups, and then they are planted in warm soil. You can sow immediately with seeds in the ground, but then it is necessary to mulch the ground and cover the plantings with a film, which is cut when 2–3 leaves appear at the seedling sites.

For insulation, arcs are installed above the bed, a thermal sleeve is laid in the middle (a sleeve based on fiberglass coated with heat-resistant silicone), filled with water, and covered with agrotex on top.

Lovers of sweet and juicy berries are trying to plant it in various parts of the country. And not without success! So, do not be afraid, but you should at least try to grow a watermelon in your area. We hope that the experiment will be successful!

Do you have a lot of free land in your garden? Try to plant the most big berry- watermelons. They are unpretentious and do not require much trouble with them.

Choosing seeds

First you need to decide on the seeds. It is better to select such varieties of watermelons that do not ripen for long, but it is also better not to purchase varieties that ripen very quickly. For the garden the best option there will be varieties such as Sugar Baby or Ogonyok. When buying, also specify where the seeds were brought from. If from the south, then it is not a fact that they will be adapted to natural conditions your lane. You can start growing watermelons in the spring. The first step is to grow seedlings. After all, planting watermelons in the garden is dangerous because of the risk of sudden frosts. They can destroy landings. Pots for seedlings of watermelons need to choose a medium diameter. Do not make any cuts on the seeds, ostensibly for an earlier shoot! Before planting the seeds in a pot, they must be held for 10 minutes in warm water. Then deepen into the ground by 3-4 centimeters. It is necessary to monitor the temperature in the room where the pots of seeds are. It should be between 18 and 23 degrees. And when shoots appear, try to stick to a temperature of 18 degrees.

Watermelon seedlings: care

In late May - early June, seedlings can be planted in the ground. It would be better to cover the watermelons with some material after landing. A few days before planting watermelons in the ground, seedlings should begin to harden. Within a week, you need to gradually extend the time the plant stays without shelter. If the temperature does not drop below 8 degrees at night, then you can try to leave the seedlings open at night.

How to plant watermelons: choosing a place

The place must be sunny and warm. The best option is that it is accessible from the south to the sun and closed from the north and west from cold winds. Holes are best done from north to south in one row. The distance between them must be at least 60 centimeters. Pits are made about 50 cm deep, 2-3 buckets of compost or humus, one-third of a bucket of sand and a little superphosphate, preferably double, must be added to them. Mix all contents thoroughly. You can mulch the soil, as a result there will be no need to constantly weed, and for the root system, thanks to mulching, practically ideal conditions. Holes are cut out on the covering material into which seedlings should be planted. You can also water over the material, it passes water well.

top dressing

The seedlings of watermelons took root and began to grow, which means that you need to start feeding them. For the first feeding, chicken manure or mullein is well suited. Then, after 12 days, feed again, but with mineral fertilizers, it is necessary to water the watermelons with strictly warm water, especially if it costs hot weather. Watering should be frequent, but watering can be stopped from the beginning of August.

Time to harvest

So, how to plant watermelons, figured out. Now let's see when you can harvest. If summer pleases with warm days, then the first watermelon can be ready for use as early as the twentieth of July. But the main crop is usually harvested from mid-August. If the weather is still hot at this time, then do not rush to harvest, watermelons can still grow until September. So grow and enjoy the sweet results of your efforts. Now you know what you can plant in the garden. Everyone can do this, since planting watermelons, and even more so growing and caring for them, is not difficult at all.

Juicy, sweet, red watermelon from my garden. This is not a dream, but a reality, even if the garden is not in southern climate and does not resemble melon. There is a way to get real tasty watermelons in the middle lane and even in the northern regions. Secrets of success - right choice varieties and cultivation of seedlings.

It's no secret that in the South, watermelons are sown directly into the ground of melons. There they grow and ripen on the hot earth, under the hot sun, pour sweet juice. To ripen, watermelon needs a lot of sun over a long period. Therefore, in our climate, the plant does not have enough sunny warm days. But this is if you choose the wrong variety, intended for the southern regions. Today, everywhere you can find on sale seeds of zoned varieties designed specifically for your region. These are the ones that need to be sown.

Advice! Watermelons should not be sown in the ground, but on seedlings. By growing seedlings in a room, you will give your plants a head start and provide them with more heat and sun for successful maturation.

When choosing a variety, hybrid varieties should also be preferred. Their advantage is that they are characterized by precocity, are immune to diseases, and are resistant to various climatic conditions. This means that even if the summer turns out to be cold and rainy, the hybrid will have enough time to grow to the desired size, ripen and acquire the sugar content required for the variety.

Growing seedlings of watermelons

Watermelon seedlings are what you need for a summer cottage. With the seedling method of growing, you can get a crop of fully mature watermelons 15-20 days earlier. This method works even in the northern regions, where it is not possible to grow watermelon in a seedless way.

Advice! Don't chase size. It is better to grow in our climate varieties with medium-sized fruits, but characterized by increased sugar content. Choose also thin-skinned species - they will ripen faster.

How to cook watermelon seeds

To prepare for sowing watermelon seeds with them it is necessary to make several manipulations. They must first be calibrated. After calibration, scarification is carried out. Then warming up and disinfection.

Stages of preparing seeds for sowing

To increase germination and reduce the time, seeds can be germinated. To do this, after warming up and disinfection, they are wrapped in a moistened cloth and placed on a saucer or tray closer to the heat source (battery, heater). The temperature can be up to + 35 ... + 40 ° C. Just make sure that the cloth does not dry out and the seeds remain wet.

What should be the soil and container for watermelon seedlings

You can grow the best watermelon seedlings on humus or peat-humus soil. The soil is mixed from these two components in equal proportions. If there is no peat, you can make a mixture of the following composition: three parts of humus and one part of soddy land. Let's say another option for a fertile soil mixture: 3 parts of peat, 1 part of small sawdust, ½ part of mullein diluted with water 1 to 4. At the end of the preparation of any soil, superphosphate must be added to it - 1 tsp. and wood ash- 2 tbsp. per 1 kg of mixture.

Container for growing watermelon seedlings it is taken 12 cm high and 10 cm in diameter. The culture is grown in individual pots, since it is not subject to picking.

Seedling containers are filled 4/5, leaving about three centimeters to the edge of the pot. The soil is well moistened.

Sowing watermelon seeds

Since 30-35-day-old seedlings with four leaves are already ready for planting, it makes no sense to sow watermelon seeds before the end of March. Let's sow seedlings during the whole April and in the first half of May.

Properly prepared seeds are sown two in one pot. Of the pair, one will definitely be stronger, and the second will be weaker (if both ascend). A weak sprout must be removed, and a strong one should be left.

Sowing depth - 3 cm. Cover the seeds with peat, water. Pots with crops are placed tightly in a row on the southern windowsill, making sure that cold from the glass does not penetrate to them.

Seedling Care

Future watermelons, in order to hatch from a seed, need real heat - up to + 30 ° C. Shoots may appear as early as the sixth day.

1. The temperature immediately needs to be reduced to + 18 ° C. The sprouts are given 3-4 days to finally look out of the soil, then the weak ones are removed and the temperature is raised again to + 20 ... + 25 ° C. At night, the room should not be higher than + 18 ... + 20 ° C. This mode is maintained for three weeks before the start of hardening.
2. Watermelons need intense light, otherwise the seedlings will stretch and deform. Additional lighting will be required, even in March - April, especially if the seedlings do not grow on the south window. Ordinary fluorescent lamps will do.
3. Watering watermelon seedlings can be done only with water at room temperature. Water moderately, only the soil, without falling on the leaves. Watermelons, like all seedlings, with excessive zeal with moisture, are prone to a black leg, from which the plants will not be saved.
4. Seedlings need fresh air, so you should regularly ventilate the room, avoiding drafts.
5. 10-12 days after germination - the first top dressing. It is best to use fermented mullein in a ratio of 1:10 with water.
6. The next top dressing is in two weeks. In it, to the mullein, 15 g of ammonium sulfate, 30 g of potassium sulfate and 50 g of superphosphate per liter are added.

Hardening must be done a week before disembarkation. Gradually, day after day, reduce the temperature in the room by 2-3 degrees, gradually reducing watering. Before planting in the ground for two days, watermelon seedlings must be taken out to the balcony or to the street (to the greenhouse). On the evening before planting, the seedlings must be well watered and sprayed with a one percent solution of Bordeaux mixture. Landing should be done in the morning, carefully removing each plant along with a lump from the pot and placing it in a separate hole. Holes are formed at a distance of 40-60 cm from each other. Seedlings are planted with four leaves and developed roots, deepening to cotyledon leaves. The holes are covered with peat, watered. Watermelons do not like frequent watering; the soil should be moistened deeply and abundantly, but not more than once a week. Around the plants it is necessary to weed the weeds and loosen the soil.

Growing watermelon in our climate is no more difficult than zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber. Agricultural practices are similar. The problem of lack of sunny days can be easily solved by seedling cultivation. If there is no melon on your site yet, start growing gourds from watermelons.

Video - Growing watermelon seedlings