Some growers are interested in how to grow watermelon in their area. Everyone has such an opportunity today, and for a long time already. This is due to the developed hybrid and early varieties. However, for planting and harvesting in the form of juicy fruits with excellent taste, you need to know about some of the nuances.
Preparing and planting seeds
Experts note that the most problems arise with the seeds of watermelons during cultivation compared to other members of the melon family. First, the seeds need to be placed in slightly salted water. Seeds suitable for planting will sink to the bottom, while lighter and weaker seeds will remain on the surface.
But this will not be enough if you grow a crop by this method. 1-2 days before planting, watermelon seeds need to be kept for 3-4 hours at temperature indicators at 55 degrees or leave for 6-7 days under the sun, so that the material for sowing is thoroughly disinfected. After disinfection, the seed must be left for a day in warm water. So you can speed up their germination..
In the southern regions and the Chernozem region, where juicy watermelons are grown right in the country or in the territories industrial use, the plant can be immediately planted in open ground seed way. Optimal time for this purpose, it comes when the soil heats up to 12-16 degrees at a 10-centimeter depth. The dimensions of the grooves for planting seeds depend on the size of the seed.
Any representatives of melons need abundant food during maturation. It is provided with a massive root system and individual roots, which are formed on special loops. Therefore, for planting a watermelon, you need to choose a spacious place, the size of which depends on the variety of the plant and the type of soil. For example, experts advise the following:
- If the crop is planted in several rows, then an interval of 0.6 m to 1.6 m should be left between them. The distance between individual rows should not be less than 1.5 m.
- Using a square layout, between crops you need to leave at least 0.8 m and no more than 2.1 m.
It is important to ensure that the plantings do not become too dense over time, as the berries in this case will lack nutrition, fluid and light.
Growing watermelon from seedlings
In Russian regions, in cold conditions, it is preferable to grow this berry using seedlings. From sowing in pots to planting watermelons in open ground, it takes from 20 to 40 days. For initial sowing, it is recommended to use small peat pots. They need to be filled with a special mixture of the following substances, taken in equal proportions:
- peat;
- turf soil;
- humus.
Seeds are placed in moist soil to a depth of 3-5 cm, and then covered with a film until the first shoots appear. The temperature of the space under the polyethylene should be about 25 degrees.
After the emergence of sprouts, the seedlings are cleaned in a cool room. In the first 3-4 days, you need to maintain a temperature of about 17 degrees, and then temperature regime can be raised again.
Water the watermelons with water at room temperature, avoiding getting it on the sheets. One week after germination root system plants need to be fertilized with phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers.
Due to the fact that gourds are very fond of light and heat, illuminated greenhouses are selected for watermelon seedlings. However, about 1.5 weeks before they are planted in open soil, plants must be hardened using a special technology. For this purpose, the shoots are taken out into the street for several hours, after which the duration is increased. Landing on the beds can be done as early as late May or early June.
Soil and site selection
To achieve excellent yields, a number of conditions must be met. To do this, prepare a place in advance:
- it must be adequately lit;
- protection from strong wind currents is necessary;
- the soil should be as nutritious as possible.
Loose, fertile and light soil is more suitable for watermelons. The best option -
sandy or sandy soil, saturated with humus and any other organic matter.
The forerunners of gourds can be potatoes, tomatoes, radish, cabbage and cruciferous. Before growing watermelons in open ground, you need to properly nourish the earth and prepare the beds. For 1 m furrow in the middle of spring, you need to make:
- 20 g of fertilizers containing calcium;
- 40 g of superphosphate;
- 30 g ammonium sulfate.
The wells need to be moistened in advance. They need to be located 1-1.6 m apart, immersing peat cups inside. The groove is then mulched with sand mixture and protected from direct sunlight. The same is done after the release of the first shoots (when growing early watermelons in open ground from seeds). Until the plants adapt to the new conditions, they are watered warm water.
Feeding and watering
Watermelon cannot be grown at home without providing it with the right fertilizer and adequate watering. If he does not have enough moisture, then it is pointless to expect sweet and juicy fruits. However, it is also not recommended to be too zealous: otherwise, you will not be able to get a quality berry either. Before flowering it is better to stick moderate watering, and when forming the ovary - slightly increase the flow of water.
Experienced gardeners advise using drip irrigation systems that will provide plants with regular and high-quality watering.
When growing watermelons in the country, you should remember that they prefer plentiful but rare watering. The optimum degree of soil moisture is 85%. On sandstone, the furrows need to be moistened somewhat more often, and on loam and chernozem - a little less often. After pouring the fruits, they begin to ripen. Watering during this period should be gradually reduced, and then completely stopped.
During the growth of the lashes on the plant, they need to be additionally fed, reducing the concentration of potash and phosphorus-containing fertilizers. When ovaries begin to form, each plant must be provided with the following substances:
- 30 g of potassium salts;
- 10 g of superphosphate and twice the amount of ammonium sulfate.
Reducing the dosage of fertilizers is due to the risk of accumulation harmful substances in berry pulp. Besides, such a measure contribute to more active fruit ripening.
Features of care
To grow healthy and fruitful watermelons, they need to provide timely and proper care. It includes:
The soil under the watermelons must be loosened not only immediately after they are planted, but also after heavy rainfall and watering. This should be done until the leaves and lashes cover the voids between the bushes.
To protect lashes and branches from the wind, they can be fixed with hairpins.. You can also sprinkle problem areas with moist soil. If moisture often accumulates at the place of growth of watermelons and there is no full-fledged lighting, then in this case special trellises are erected and, after the growth of the lashes, the shoots are fixed on strong supports installed vertically. A similar method will be useful if there is not a lot of space in the country.
When growing watermelon at home using a trellis, it is advisable to leave only one main lash. On it, after the flowering period of the plant, from 4 to 7 berries may appear.
If there is a risk of cold weather, then the plants must be protected with a special film or cardboard sheets.
Harvesting
The earliest varieties of watermelons in the central Russian regions can bear fruit only by the second half of August. It is not customary to carry out mass harvesting in dachas, in addition to situations where the risk of frost is very high. Ripe berries are cut as they ripen in warm time of the year. Determining their maturity is not difficult. To do this, you need to remember the following signs:
- dry antennae and bract at the base of the leaf;
- smooth stalk, without hairs;
- a dull sound when tapping a berry;
- the bark is dense with a glossy sheen.
It is recommended to take these signs into account in a complex and only after that start collecting watermelons, otherwise unripe fruits can be cut off. But if watermelons will be transported or stored somewhere for a long time, then it is recommended to cut them 3-4 days before ripening, as they can ripen in rooms with a sufficient temperature without losing their aroma, taste and useful qualities.
If the fruits are collected to obtain seeds, then you need to take completely ripe berries. Knowing how to plant a watermelon at home, you can enjoy tasty and healthy berries every season.
Bahce on suburban area an honorable warm place is given. Sunny melons and round-faced watermelons bring indescribable pleasure to adult eaters and gourmet kids. Children are ready from morning to evening to enjoy the juicy pulp of watermelons to the envy of intrusive wasps and hardworking bees. If earlier it was believed that watermelon is an exclusively southern berry, now more than 200 varieties and hybrids are adapted for cultivation in various climatic regions of our country. A fruit grown in a spacious open field, is more likely to score desired weight and the necessary taste than his country relative. The plant is held by the tendrils for stable stems of weeds, which, in turn, protects the watermelon lashes from tangling. When planting watermelons in the backyard, consider the availability of the necessary free space and do not overdo it with weeding.
Sowing watermelon seeds in open ground
Much to the chagrin of amateur melon growers, growing a wonderful crop of ripe watermelons is quite difficult. Especially when it comes to areas with unsuitable climatic conditions. Even the most caring care will not be able to provide the berries with juicy ripe pulp if the summer is not hot and long enough. Of course, a good owner will not let such a crop go to waste - salted watermelons are still a delicacy. But a well-ripened, fragrant fruit plucked from its garden can be endlessly crushed on both cheeks from morning to evening.
Watermelons are ripe - the family is delighted
Preparation of seeds for sowing in open ground
It is advisable to choose a place for sowing watermelon seeds in the fall. Excellent predecessors for them are onions and potatoes. It’s not bad if cabbage or legumes flaunted in the garden before. Young sprouts do not like fresh organic fertilizers, therefore, beds with half-rotted manure or compost are prepared in the fall. minerals (ash, dolomite flour) are also contributed at this time of the year.
Watermelon seeds are hard to grow, especially if the germination energy is low. I bubbling mine with an aquarium compressor, you can scarify it to break the seed coat, that is, file the end of the seed with a file or nail file. And t should be 23o - 27 °C.
Fech Eugene
Choose seeds for sowing hardy and early. Two different varieties should not be placed side by side, so as not to over-pollinate.
Before planting, you need to properly prepare the seed:
Sowing seeds in the ground
Immediately before sowing watermelon seeds, the land prepared for melons is cultivated by a cultivator. Wells of a meter diameter are formed, the distance between the holes is from 1 to 2 meters. From 5 to 10 seeds are introduced into each well to a depth of 4–5 cm. The soil should be warmed up to 13–15 ° C by the time of sowing. Each well is watered with warm settled water and mulched with peat.
Watermelons do not tolerate crowding
After the seeds sprout and get a little stronger, 2 plants are left in the hole. The rest are removed or transplanted to free place suitable for ripening watermelons.
After germination, two plants are left in the hole.
Do not be too lazy to re-sow the seeds in a week. If for some reason the first seedlings die, the second run will certainly be more successful.
Watermelon seeds are sown in the farmer's fields different ways: tape, square, rectangular or square-nested.
Video: how to sow watermelon seeds in open ground
Photo gallery: watermelon varieties for cold regions
The variety is characterized by unpretentiousness and disease resistance. 
Watermelons of the Ogonyok variety ripen in 60–70 days 
Variety Kholodok is well resistant to low temperatures, suitable for Siberia
The scheme of planting seedlings of watermelons in open ground
Seeds for seedlings are prepared in the same way as for planting in the ground. They can be sown in plastic trays or cups, but are best used peat pots. Land for seedlings is mixed in equal proportions with sand and peat. 2 seeds are placed in a pot (glass or tray) on moistened soil and sprinkled with dry earth. In this state, the pots are placed in a well-lit warm place. It takes 40–45 days from sowing seeds to planting seedlings.
Before planting in the ground, seedlings need to be hardened in the open air.
Seedlings are planted in the ground at the end of May or the first decade of June, depending on climatic conditions and the geographical location of the region. Some recommendations for planting watermelon seedlings in open ground:
After planting, the seedlings are watered for a week with settled warm water daily and slightly covered from direct sunlight. Fortified seedlings are watered abundantly, but not too often. During the ripening period of the berries, watering is stopped completely, so that the fruits gain sugar content and do not have a watery taste.
It is necessary to water infrequently, but in large quantities (10 liters per root). The most important thing is to ensure complete dryness at least 2 weeks before pick-up. Only then will watermelons be sweet. No watering of either the watermelons themselves or nearby growing plants.
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A bountiful harvest sugar watermelon will delight summer residents and their children
Video: planting watermelons in open ground
Little tricks for planting watermelons
Weather conditions are not always helpful in such a painstaking task as growing gourds. The cold and short summer in some regions leads to the fact that the harvest rarely pleases even the diligent vegetable grower. Watermelons simply do not have time to gain enough weight and reach a state of absolute maturity. And even in this case, do not despair. There are little tricks with which the fruits will become a real pride even on 5-6 acres of homestead land.
The right choice of landing site
Light sandy soils are an ideal springboard for growing a heavy watermelon. But the main thing in a cool summer is the choice of a sunny place.
Watermelons prefer a sunny location
The selection of such a site initially provides for the complete absence of spreading shrubs and shade-forming trees. But with excess solar radiation at the time of ripening, take care of the shelter of the fat belly in order to avoid significant overheating. For this purpose, old newspapers or large leaves burdock.
Shelter in two stages
For successful ripening, the seeds are sown in open ground a little earlier than the due date - not at the end of May, but in its first decade. But in a cold climate zone, tender sprouts are at risk of dying from frost. This is where a little trick comes in handy - double shelter. At a liter plastic bottle, the bottom is cut off and placed on the plant.
One and a half liter bottle can be cut in half
over liter bottle in the same way, a 5-liter container with a cut bottom is installed.
Cut off the bottom big bottle and install on top of a liter
In such a matryoshka, a delicate stalk has enough air and heat, and is also well protected from cold and winds. Securely fix the transparent mini-greenhouse with earth or sand.
magic tablet
Watermelon is a picky berry, does not like excessive dampness. In cool climates, dampness leads to rotting of fruits and even stems. To improve ripening conditions, pour 3-4 handfuls of sand on the root part of the main stem, and place wooden or plastic safety boards under the fruits. Thus, your green couch potatoes will not come into contact with wet soil, and the percentage of crop damage from rot will be significantly reduced.
A wooden plank will protect the watermelon from rot
Thoughtful watering
In arid areas, the root system of watermelons tends to depth to saturate the plant with moisture. However, in northern regions ground water often pass close to ground level and give the roots a lot of trouble: as soon as the roots reach an excess amount of moisture, they rot, and the plant may die entirely. In this case, force the root system to develop not in breadth, but in depth. To do this, water the plant not at the root, but in the aisles. Watering is carried out only when necessary and do not forget about the timely loosening and mulching of the soil.
Try not to water the watermelons at the root
Trimming the side lashes
The carrier of female flowers in watermelons is the main central lash. In order for the plant not to waste energy on side lashes, it is preferable to remove them. At the same time, on each central branch, leave no more than 5 fruit ovaries.
Delete side lashes plants, and forces will be transferred to the ripening of fruits
Listening to these simple advice, you will be able to surprise your neighbors in the country and your loved ones even in conditions that are not very favorable for growing melons.
You can talk endlessly about the benefits of ripened watermelon: thiamine and riboflavin, niacin and other elements of B-group vitamins, vitamin C and carotene protect the body from age-related metamorphoses and resist cancer. But the presence of folic acid is invaluable - a fighter of the invisible front and a tireless builder of DNA cells and ribonucleic acid. Alimentary fiber and trace elements normalize metabolism, cleanse the kidneys, liver, blood vessels, normalize cholesterol in the blood. At the same time, one should not forget about the ability to accumulate nitrates and cause allergic reactions. However, a self-grown watermelon will allow you to avoid such troubles and bring a lot of positive emotions from enjoying the magical taste of a juicy fruit.
First you need to clearly understand that in order to grow a quality watermelon in the open field, you need the same 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 hot water(50-60°C), when the water has cooled, drain it and soak until it pecks. 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. To receive big watermelons usually fresh seeds are taken for sowing, since small watermelons with large quantity ovaries of flowers on one plant. After sowing, water the soil with 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 sod land in the ratio 2:1:1. Soak the seeds in warm water (up to 50 ° C) 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 is applied, and after 2 weeks, top dressing 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 make a solution ammonium nitrate(for a bucket of water 20 g of the drug based on 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.
And open ground is not fraught 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. In a compact garden plot, it is not necessary to allocate a separate place for melons and 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 heating of seeds is better preparation to seedlings. Melons are watered only with water at room temperature, while making sure that it does not irrigate the leaves. Seedlings of gourds are rather 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.
Planting gourds in covered ground is carried out at the end of May. By this time, the soil will already warm up enough, and frosts will not damage the 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. best age 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 with 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 melons in the greenhouse, you can have time to harvest young cabbage, early radish and greenery. 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 disease 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 pruned 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, carton 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 germinate 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 good harvest you need to follow the rules.
- On melons stop the apical part of the stem. This procedure will be sufficient for early maturing 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, gently sloping areas that are well warmed up and lit. sunbeams. Here they grow better, bear abundant fruit 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 fed regularly. mineral fertilizers.
Collect seeds from watermelons and melons when they joint landing not recommended as cross-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 vegetable 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.
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 which are more adapted 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. Everyone separate view seeds need to be wrapped and soaked in cloth rags and maintain in a moist 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, transfer them to sunlight 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 shadow and no wind.
Melons and watermelons need rich soils, as well as those that can withstand moisture well. Perfect option- sandy and sandy loam 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.
Preparation of seedlings of watermelons
When the seedlings appear 5-7 leaves, it is ready for transplanting into open ground. The 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 of 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 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.
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:
- at warm weather can be achieved 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.
Growing watermelons and melons in a summer cottage is quite realistic. 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.
