Growing watermelons in the ground. Three simple rules for growing large and sweet watermelons in your garden. Terms of sowing watermelon seeds in open ground

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 watermelon seeds 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 a temperature of 55 degrees or left for 6-7 days under the sun so that the material for sowing is thoroughly disinfected. After disinfection, the seed should be left for a day in warm water. So you can speed up their germination..

In the southern regions and the Black Earth Region, where juicy watermelons are grown right in the country or in industrial areas, the plant can be immediately planted in open soil by seed. The optimal time for this purpose comes when the soil warms up to 12-16 degrees at a depth of 10 cm. The dimensions of the grooves for planting seeds depend on the size of the seed.

Any representatives of melons need abundant nutrition during ripening. 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 appearance 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 the temperature can be increased again.

Water the watermelons with water at room temperature, avoiding getting it on the sheets. A week after the discovery of seedlings, the root system of the plant must be fertilized with phosphorus 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. Then the groove is mulched with a 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 with warm water.

Feeding and watering

Watermelon cannot be grown at home without providing it with the right fertilizer and sufficient 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 adhere to moderate watering, and when the ovary is formed, slightly increase the water consumption.

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 of harmful substances in the berry pulp. In addition, such a measure will contribute to a more active ripening of the fruit.

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 the warm season. 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 fully ripe berries. Knowing how to plant a watermelon at home, you can enjoy tasty and healthy berries every season.

Watermelon is a favorite treat not only for children, but also for adults. The juicy pulp of this berry refreshes well and quenches thirst in the summer heat. If in the South a watermelon grows without any problems, then in the middle lane it is necessary to have certain knowledge in order for the plant to survive in the open field. The gourd culture reacts extremely positively to a warm climate and negatively to the cold, but first things first.

The site where you plan to grow this plant should be chosen with particular scrupulousness. There should be no shade at the site of the future plantation, the site should be as much as possible illuminated by the sun. The soil should be sandy ideally, but sandy loam will do. Watermelon roots penetrate deep into the soil, from where they are saturated with moisture and saturated with sweetness, for this reason, dense, clay soil will not work. To make the soil the most porous, it must be dug up in the autumn. The acidity of the soil should not be higher than 7 units.

An excellent option would be to use areas where potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage or wheat used to grow. It is worth noting that growing melons in one area for the second year in a row will turn out to be a failure for you. Before planting, do not ignore the clearing of the area, the watermelon will not tolerate extraneous neighbors in the form of weeds or other vegetation.

Good time to grow

Unfortunately, if the summer of the year turned out to be cool, then no tricks will help you get a juicy, and most importantly, sweet watermelon. It is worth being ready for a rich harvest only when the summer turned out to be successful, with hot, sunny days.

Planting a plant should begin as early as the end of May, by this period the soil will be warmed up quite well. If planting will be carried out by seedlings, then start seed preparation from the beginning of May. However, in any case, the last word remains with the weather conditions. If at the beginning of May you only have to dream of warmth, then you should not rush into landing.

Seed preparation

Planting watermelons occurs in 2 ways - seedlings and seedless.

seedling method

The berry has dense and fairly hard seeds that require pre-soaking. Just half an hour is enough, but make sure that the water is warm. Seeds that float in water are unsuitable for planting, they can be safely disposed of. Cover the container with seeds and water with polyethylene and leave it in the sun, under its direct rays. So you create an analogue of a greenhouse. It is important that the temperature in such a greenhouse during the day does not fall below 25, and at night below 20 degrees.

After the seeds have hatched, they can be transferred to a cup with earth. Typically, this procedure can be carried out in late April or early May. When choosing a glass, remember that the root system in it should not be crowded. Damage to the roots for a watermelon will be fatal. Before planting, mix the soil with mineral composition and humus.

While the seedlings are growing, they will have to be fed for the whole process several more times. Plant several seeds at once in one glass, counting on the fact that one of them may not germinate. If both seeds give a sprout, then in the future they will simply be divided.

A sprout is healthy and suitable for transplantation, on which at least three healthy leaves have formed. Before planting, loosen the soil and add compost to it. Seedlings sit at a distance of 20 cm from each other. If you plant several sprouts in one hole, then later they should be deployed so that they grow in different directions. Recesses for seedlings should not exceed 10 cm in depth. When planting, the leaves must remain above the ground. At the end of the process, the seedlings are abundantly watered with warm water, so it will take root better.

seedless way

If the weather is already warm enough outside, you can plant watermelons without using seedlings. As in the previous version, the seeds should be soaked in warm water. After the seeds have hatched, you can start planting them, but no longer in a glass, this step can be skipped. It is worth noting that the method of planting watermelons immediately in open ground is permissible only if the weather forecast unequivocally denies the sudden onset of cold weather.

Several seeds are planted in one hole, prepare the holes in advance at a distance of 25 cm from each other. For an excellent harvest, mix soil, humus and ash in a 1 to 1 ratio. In this mixture, add a few bed of mineral fertilizer. Add 1 tablespoon of this mixture to each well. Put the seeds in the holes and cover with humus on top. So you will not allow the formation of a crust in the top layer of soil.

watermelon care

Despite the fact that melons are considered unpretentious in their growth, it is worth knowing some of the nuances in order to get a rich harvest.

Imitation of a greenhouse. Weak sprouts are covered with material on top to prevent them from dying and getting a ripe berry ahead of time. To create a homemade greenhouse, stick a few pegs along the edges and stretch tight polyethylene between them. Such a greenhouse should be maintained until the end of June. When it comes time to shoot the film, it's best if it happens on an overcast day. This will allow the plant to adapt more easily. If you choose to remove the film on a hot, sunny day, you may end up burning the sprouts.
Watering. Excessive watering is unacceptable for watermelon, he prefers to feed on groundwater. The powerful root system of the plant successfully takes moisture from the lower layers of the soil. It is also impossible to overdry the watermelon, so it will not differ in its juiciness. The normal frequency of watering is several times a week.
Fertilizers. Already a week after planting seedlings in open ground, it needs to be fed with ammonium nitrate. In 20 liters of water it is necessary to dissolve only 10 grams of the substance. After such top dressing, fertilizer with the usual mineral composition once every few weeks will be sufficient. In addition to fertilizers, do not forget to hill the soil. It is vital for a watermelon to have loose soil, and experienced gardeners completely forbid walking and trampling down the ground next to a watermelon planting.
Molding. This part is important in the care of watermelons. If the lashes of the plant have grown very long, they can be safely tied up or nailed with earth so that the wind does not hurt. A month later, the formation of the first ovaries begins. When these ovaries reach the size of a large plum, the largest ones are left, a few pieces, the rest are removed. This procedure is called pinching. When a plant produces fruits, it provides them with all the necessary nutrients that they take from the soil. When there are too many of these fruits, they will remain small, since the plant is not able to provide all of them with the necessary amount of components for growth and ripening. In order for the fruits to be large and tasty, several pieces are removed at the very beginning. On one bush, usually no more than pieces of watermelons are left.

Learn more about watermelon care here:

When watermelons begin their ripening, they can be turned from side to side about 1 time in 10 days. If the soil began to rot, it is worth putting a few boards under the berry, which will reduce contact with the ground.

Harvesting

The harvest traditionally takes place in August. In order to determine the degree of ripening of a watermelon, it is enough to carefully examine it. A ripe fruit will have a shiny skin and a dry tail. The stalk of a ripe berry will not be hairy. If you knock on the fruit, then you will hear a dull sound, it is through it that experienced gardeners understand that it is time to harvest.

Watermelon is a melon crop. Its growth is associated with a warm climate. But at present, this crop is grown in various climatic conditions in their gardens and greenhouses. For information on when to plant watermelons so that they reach ripeness, read the article.

Description of watermelon

This plant survives due to its long stems, which from the deep layers of the soil get nutrients for the fruit. Their length reaches four meters or more. They are curly in structure. Despite the fact that the stems are thin, they are able to withstand large fruits. The leaves are egg-shaped and pubescent along the edges. They grow in length up to 10-20 cm, and in width - from 6 to 17.

The flowering period of watermelons begins in summer. Their fruits are considered berries, and this seems unusual to many people. Under a dense, thick crust contains juicy, tasty, sweet and very fragrant pulp with a large number of large seeds.

How to choose the right site and prepare the soil?

The growth and development of plants, the formation and ripening of their fruits largely depend on how to carry out the preparatory work. What is needed for this?

To get a good harvest of watermelons, you need to create normal growing conditions for them. First of all, such a site is selected, which during the whole daylight hours will be heated by the sun's rays and not blown by strong winds. It is important that there are no drafts.
Seedlings take root quickly and grow well in the area previously occupied by onions, alfalfa, cabbage, legumes. You do not need to plant watermelons on those beds where eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes grew before.
When you have decided on the site, you should start preparing the soil. Watermelons are suitable for sandy and sandy soils. While the site is free from plants, it must be fertilized with manure, potash fertilizers, superphosphate. If it turns out that the soil on the site is heavy, it must be discharged. To do this, it is enough to add fine-grained sand, otherwise the watermelons will grow poorly and bear fruit.

Preparing seeds for planting

For planting watermelons, planting material must be prepared. The steps for this procedure are:

First, calibration is done, for which you need to pour the seeds on a horizontal surface and arrange them in separate piles, focusing on size. For large, medium and small seeds, containers are prepared with the appropriate parameters. This will increase their germination: large specimens will not oppress small ones. The seeds will sprout and grow evenly. Small specimens do not need to be thrown away. They are suitable for planting, only seedlings from them will bear fruit later.
The second step is scarification. It is optional, but desirable. It is carried out in order to make it easier for the sprout to reach the surface. To do this, just rub the “nose” of the seed with sandpaper with a fine texture.
Then the seeds are heated. To do this, put them in hot water for 30 minutes. The procedure cannot be ignored, it is mandatory for watermelons.
After that, the seeds are disinfected, for which they are placed in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes.
The last step is drying the seeds. This should be done not on a battery or in an oven, but in a natural way. Seeds are laid out in one layer on a horizontal surface of a table or floor outside under a canopy. Be sure to exclude the sun and drafts.

To boost germinate. Before drying, they are wrapped in a soft cloth made of natural fibers, moistened with clean water and placed on a plate next to a heat source. The condition of the rag must be constantly monitored, it should not dry out. Moisturize if necessary.

How to plant watermelons in seeds?

If the cultivation of the crop will be carried out in regions where a warm climate prevails, then the seeds do not need preliminary preparation, except for soaking. When the sprouts hatch, they are immediately sown in the ground. How to plant watermelon seeds, read below.

In the spring, when the snow melts, under the influence of sunlight, the soil begins to warm up. It is necessary to wait until its temperature reaches +13 ° C. Seeds should be kept in a container of water at room temperature until they germinate.
In the garden or in the country, a site is selected for planting. Holes are made over its entire area, their depth is 10 cm. The distance between them should be large. Approximately one metre.
Then, fertilizer prepared independently is poured at the bottom of each hole: humus is mixed with a tablespoon of ash and a teaspoon of ammofoska.
After that, the seeds are placed in the hole, covered with soil and waiting for them to sprout. This happens two weeks later or a little earlier.
Planting seeds in regions where a cold climate prevails is carried out at other times. When to plant watermelons in this case? Taking into account climatic features, planting seeds should be carried out at the end of the last month of spring or at the beginning of summer.

When to plant watermelons for seedlings? It depends on the region of growth and the method of cultivation. If watermelons are bred in open ground, sowing seeds in pots (for example, in the Moscow climate zone) occurs at the beginning of April. When to plant watermelons for seedlings? Each climate zone has a different time for sowing seeds in pots. This is agreed in the lunar calendar.

For sowing watermelons for seedlings, small containers are used, it is better if they are peat. Soil is poured into them, but not to the very top, but three to four centimeters lower. Then proceed to sowing the seeds. Three, four or five pieces are planted in each pot. They are only four centimeters deep in the soil, no more, otherwise they will germinate for a long time.

The pots are covered with a film - it will protect the soil from drying out. Then they are transferred to a cool place with an air temperature of +17...+20 °C. It is very important that the surface of the soil in the pots is always moist. It is clearly visible through the transparent film. Before the emergence of seedlings, the film is not removed, and the crops are periodically watered with settled water at room temperature.

Shoots will appear in about seven days. If the seeds were not germinated before planting or they were deeply planted, then this will happen a little later. For pots with young plants, choose a place in the room so that it is well lit by the sun. It is important that the temperature is within the acceptable range: +16...+24 °С. In order for the seedlings to get used to the low temperature, it must be taken out into the street for a short time. When to plant watermelons? This should be done when the shoots are strong enough - then they will quickly take root in a new place.

Planting watermelon seedlings

How to plant watermelons in open ground? In order for these plants to grow comfortably in the selected area, the earth is first dug up and loosened well. Planting seedlings is recommended 30 days after sowing seeds. This time falls on the last week of May or the first decade of June. The best time to land is in the early afternoon. How to plant watermelons in open ground? Landing technology is as follows:

Holes are dug up to a depth and diameter of up to 50 cm. Gaps of one meter are left between them. It is better to arrange the pits according to the principle of chess.
In each well you need to add: humus, sand, superphosphate - 5-7 liters, 3 liters and ¼ of a glass, respectively.
From above, the hole is covered with loose soil to form small mounds.
Holes are made to a depth of 10 cm, and 0.5 liters of water is poured into each.
The seedlings are taken out of the cup, lowered into the hole, covered with earth, which is well compacted. From above, the near-stem circle of the plant is covered with a thick layer of sand.
The seedlings are watered and covered for a while to avoid direct sunlight on the leaves, otherwise they will rise for a long time.

Outdoor seedling care

Planted plants are under stress as they are placed in a new environment. In order for the acclimatization process to go faster, seedlings need to be looked after.

thinning. This procedure is carried out with the appearance of three or four leaves. Plants are thinned out, one or two are left in the hole, all the rest are removed.
Weeding. Watermelons are very clean plants, they do not tolerate weeds. Therefore, they will often have to be fought, especially at the beginning of growth. Very soon, the seedlings will grow up, take the form of bushes, and then the frequency of weeding will be reduced. Weeds will no longer be able to harm mature plants.
Topping. This is done so that the lashes grow faster. Pinch curly shoots at the level of two or three upper leaves. At the same time, weakened lashes are removed. Three to five ovaries are left on each bush.
Loosening. This procedure is carried out constantly, since watermelons prefer airy soil.

Watering

When planting watermelons in the ground, you need to be prepared for the fact that they will often have to be watered, otherwise they will not draw juice well. Striped berries should be watered regularly, once a week, in hot weather - twice. To do this, use a lot of water: three buckets per square meter of area. You need to moisten not only watermelon bushes, but also the free area between them. With the advent of fruits, watering decreases, and before they are harvested, it stops altogether (for two weeks).

top dressing

Plants need it already a couple of weeks after they were planted in the ground. An aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate is used as a fertilizer. One bush will require two liters. The second dressing is done when the buds begin to form. Calcium chloride, ammonium nitrate 5 g each, superphosphate - 1 g more are added under one bush.

Planting watermelons in a greenhouse

Watermelons are a thermophilic culture. In the distant past, they were grown in regions corresponding to such a climate. But now there are opportunities to get tasty fruits in cold climates. Only here they do not grow in open ground, but in greenhouses. How to plant watermelons in a greenhouse?

First you need to plant the seeds in boxes with soil. Allocate a place for planting in the room to put containers with planting material.
Then prepare the beds for planting watermelons. This is done as follows: the top layer is removed from the soil, a trench is formed. Humus, nitrogen fertilizers are poured into it and the soil is on top.
After that, the seedlings are transplanted into the beds (they will germinate from seeds just by this time). Landings are covered with a film of polyethylene in two layers. When to plant watermelons in a greenhouse? The optimal time for this procedure is the end of April.
To plant sprouts, they dig holes of small depth - from 10 to 11 cm. Between them leave gaps equal to 70-100 cm.
A trellis should be installed near each hole. It is needed to tie growing stems to it, as they are curly, and they need to cling to something.
To improve the fruiting of watermelons, you need to launch bees into the greenhouse, but not a whole swarm, but several individuals. They will pollinate the flowers.
When the shoots begin to sprout intensively, they should be cut off immediately, but first of all they get rid of the weak and sick.
In the process of growth, plants need useful supplements, so they should be fed with mullein or chicken manure.
A prerequisite for growing watermelons in a greenhouse is its regular airing. This should not be forgotten.

Caring for watermelons in a greenhouse

When the growing lashes begin the flowering period, watermelons must be pollinated by hand, otherwise the ovaries will not form. Each lash in greenhouse conditions can withstand a load not exceeding two fruits. But if you leave only one striped berry, it will be much larger.

Watermelons are grown using a trellis. Each fruit is wrapped to avoid contact with the ground. Watermelons growing in a greenhouse are much weaker than those growing on melons. Their lashes cannot support the weight of the fruits and fall to the ground. If not wrapped, they may rot.

If a lot of side shoots have formed and they branch in the opposite direction from the support, they are cut off. Plants must be constantly turned towards the sun, as the lashes need good lighting, otherwise the leaves and fruits will not form well.

It has become commonplace for gardeners to grow watermelon. The process is simple, but it has certain difficulties that must be taken into account when growing (the plant may die before flowering, the fruits do not always grow tasty, and so on). Read more about how to grow a watermelon with your own hands, and will be discussed in this article.

How to grow watermelon

Variety selection

The issue of choosing a variety should be approached with special responsibility. For the central zone of the Russian Federation, it is advisable to choose only early-ripening varieties, and there is no need to chase huge fruits in this matter - such watermelons realize their potential by 100% only when grown in the south of the country. Be sure to read the description of the variety on the package - it indicates information about the duration of ripening (plant ovaries should ripen as quickly as possible).

Choosing a watermelon variety

On a note! You can neglect some qualities when choosing a variety. First of all, it is large-fruitedness and transportability. Do not pay attention also to the color and shape of the fruit - this is only necessary in cases where you grow watermelons not for yourself, but for sale.

The most common varieties of watermelon:

"Kai";
"Sugar Baby";
"Ataman F1";
"Ultraearly";
"Stokes";
"Spark";
"Moscow Region Charleston F1";
"Yarilo";
Crimstar F1;
"Leader";
"Pink Champagne F1";
"Gift to the North F1".

This is only a small part of the varieties that can be grown not only in the south of the country, but most often people choose them. Having decided on the variety of watermelon, you can start growing.

There are many different varieties of watermelon.

How to grow watermelon outdoors

Not everyone knows, but watermelons can be grown without seedlings, but with seeds, already in a permanent place. Often, seedlings are used only for further transplanting into greenhouses so that the watermelon ripens. But if you are growing watermelon in a garden plot, then you can safely skip the stage with seedlings and sow seeds.

Growing seedlings of watermelons

The planting process is divided into several preparatory stages for a good harvest. Let's consider each of them separately.

Seed preparation

Having chosen a suitable variety, wrap the seeds in a cloth bandage and place them on a shallow plate, filling them with a pre-prepared solution of potassium permanganate. The solution should be light pink and warm. After that, the saucer with the seeds should be placed in a plastic bag and tied with a little air. Move the plate with the seed to a warm room (at least +20°C). Change the solution daily and ventilate the bag. After 2-3 days, the seeds should hatch, after which they will be ready for planting in the ground.

Seeds of watermelon

Soil preparation

It is very important to prepare the land before planting watermelon. This is an integral part of growing, without which you can hardly get a good harvest. The prepared soil must provide the plants with nutrients throughout the entire growth period, it must be protected from strong winds, as well as well lit.

Soil preparation for planting

Clearing and leveling

For watermelon, as well as for other gourds, loose, fertile and light soil is needed. It’s great if your suburban area has sandy or sandy soil, which you enriched with rotted humus back in the autumn. If we talk about suitable predecessors of watermelons, then these are, of course, tomatoes, potatoes, cruciferous vegetables, as well as legumes.

For best results, it is advisable to prepare the beds in advance and fertilize the soil. For this, 1 sq. m plot you need to make 20 g of potash fertilizers, 40 g of superphosphate and 30 g of ammonium sulfate. This combination of mineral fertilizers will significantly accelerate the growth of watermelon, as a result of which you can enjoy juicy and sweet fruits a little earlier.

Fertilization

Sowing watermelon seeds

The process of planting watermelon seeds is simple and practically does not differ from planting any other crop.

Table. Step by step instructions for sowing watermelon seeds.

Step one	Start sowing watermelon seeds in early May as it is a very thermophilic plant. Otherwise, if you do this earlier, the plant will greatly slow down in development. Take out the pre-prepared seed material that has already germinated.
step two	You should also have a planting mix at the ready, consisting of rotted humus, ash, mineral fertilizers and peat (the composition may vary, since there are many different recipes for preparing the mixture).
Step Three	Dig a large watermelon hole and fill it with some water.
Step Four	Pour the prepared mixture of fertilizers and humus into the hole. Carefully level with a hoe and water.
Step five	Place at least 5 seeds in the hole (to a depth of 5 cm) and sprinkle it all with earth. The soil layer should be about 4 cm thick. Gently tamp the ground so that the seeds are not blown away by the wind or they are not injured. Repeat the procedure for each well.

Hole for watermelons in the open field

Important! At first, 5-6 seeds should be sown in each hole, but over time, when they begin to develop, leave one plant in the hole.

Aftercare

Without providing full-fledged care, including top dressing and watering, it is impossible to grow a watermelon in the garden. The juiciness of the fruits directly depends on the level of humidity, but you should not overdo it with this matter, because you will not be able to later enjoy the sugary pulp of sweet berries, which everyone loves so much. Conventionally, subsequent care can be divided into 4 stages: watering, top dressing, trimming lashes and pest control. Let's consider each of them separately.

Watering

When growing watermelons in a summer cottage, it is advisable to use drip irrigation systems. This will allow for regular feeding of crops.

The best option is drip irrigation

For the most correct and accurate application of fertilizers, an agrochemical analysis of the soil is simply necessary.

Watermelons need abundant but rare watering, especially during the hot period with a lack of natural moisture - remember this! For comfortable growth of watermelons, the soil moisture level should be at least 80%. If the site is located on sandy soil, then the beds need to be watered more often due to poor moisture retention. Water clay soils and black soil less frequently. After the berries begin to ripen and they become poured, reduce the amount of watering, and after a few weeks stop them altogether.

top dressing

Feeding watermelons grown in a summer cottage consists of three procedures, each of which must be performed subject to certain conditions: at least 2 liters of liquid fertilizer should fall on one plant. After 7 days from the moment of planting the seeds, it is necessary to regularly water the plants with a special solution prepared by oneself (all ingredients and their proportions were described above).

Watermelons need to be fertilized in a timely manner

After the lashes on the plants begin to grow actively, you need to make a second feeding of watermelons, but this time the amount of potash and phosphorus fertilizers should be half as much. When the formation of the ovaries begins, you need to carry out another top dressing, only with a different composition. Mix 10 liters of water, 35 g of potassium salts, 10 g of superphosphate and 20 g of ammonium sulfate.

Introduce the prepared nutrient mixture into the previously prepared furrows, which should be at a distance of 15 cm from the plant bushes. The amount of nitrogen fertilizers should be reduced due to the likelihood of their accumulation in the pulp of watermelons. In addition, such measures can provoke the maturation of the plant, and not a set of green mass.

Fertilizer for watermelons, melons and pumpkins

Whip trimming

During a short and insufficiently warm summer, some watermelon fruits do not have time to ripen, although the bush still spends energy on them, which could be distributed to other berries that really ripen. Therefore, each plant should have no more than 5 watermelons. Delete everything superfluous.

Scheme of watermelon formation

Important! When growing watermelons, you need to remember that female flowers form on the main lash of the plant - you can’t touch them, but remove the side lashes. Compliance with all recommendations will allow you to get a harvest in the second half of August.

Pollination of watermelon flowers

Pest control

The melon aphid that appears in June can create many problems for watermelons. Dwelling on the underside of the leaves, it sucks all the vital juices from the plant, causing the leaves to shrivel and dry. During the summer, aphids can give 2-3 generations. At first, pests live only on weeds, but with the onset of June, the females move to watermelons, remaining there until the beginning of autumn. The melon aphid lays its eggs on the weeds, which overwinter there.

Melon or cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii)

To protect watermelons from aphids, it is advisable to regularly weed the beds from various weeds, as well as mow the areas located next to the grown watermelons. If you notice pests, immediately treat the plants with a special decoction or infusion prepared from celandine, garlic or onion peel. If these remedies do not help and the deciduous system of plants is severely damaged, then strong chemicals can be used - for example, INTA-VIR, Karbofos, Iskra.

Karbofos

In addition to aphids, watermelons can be subject to various diseases, such as sclerotinia, bacteriosis, verdigris, various types of rot, and so on. For treatment, you need to prepare a decoction of horsetail. To do this, pour 1 liter of water 1 tbsp. l. plants and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can use another remedy - milk mixed with iodine. If the plants were severely affected, use Kuprosat or Oxychloride. The development of Fusarium wilt can cause the plant to die within a few days. The spread of the infection occurs through the remains of plants, seeds or soil.

We fight diseases in watermelons

As a prevention of watermelon from the occurrence of diseases, it is advisable to treat the seeds with a solution of "Bactofit" for 3 hours before planting. If some plants were nevertheless damaged by the disease, then they must be destroyed in order to protect healthy ones from infection, which, in turn, must be fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.

"Baktofit"

Harvesting

Fruit picking is the final stage in the process of growing watermelons. It is not recommended to rush with this matter, because many fruits that have reached large sizes are still immature. Ripe tomatoes can be identified by a change in the color of the fruit; when growing zucchini and cucumbers, it is important not to be late with the collection, otherwise the vegetables may lose their beneficial properties. But when should watermelons be harvested? When planting early-ripening varieties, you can get a harvest no earlier than mid-August. Mass collection during this period is not carried out, it is necessary to determine the ripeness of the berry by external signs. First of all, look at the bract and tendrils - if they are dry, then the watermelon can be harvested. Also, with a light tapping of the fingers on the berry, dull sounds should be heard. The combination of these signs indicates the ripeness of the fruit.

Checking the ripeness of the watermelon

If you are growing watermelons for further transportation and storage, then it is better to pick the berries a couple of days before ripening. They will then ripen, being in a warm and dry room. At the same time, watermelons will not lose their qualities.

Self-grown watermelons are not boring!

Video - Growing watermelon seedlings

Thanks to modern technology, growing berries and vegetables is no longer a fantasy. To understand how to grow watermelon at home, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the nuances in advance that will allow you to harvest an ecological and tasty crop after some time.

How to choose and plant seeds

First of all, you need to choose the material for planting. Not every variety of watermelon can be grown at home. Seeds of delicious watermelon from the market or store are not suitable for this purpose, because this variety is grown in open areas in spring and summer. For the same reasons, the varieties that are grown in summer cottages will not yet be suitable.

But there are hybrids that are resistant to lack of light, early ripening, they do not require special care. The following varieties are considered excellent: Ogonyok, Kaho, Sibiryak, Volgar, Gift of the Sun. They sprout very well, are tenacious, the fruits have a sweet taste.

After the acquisition, planting material must be selected before growing watermelon at home. Small and damaged seeds are excluded immediately. Large seeds are dipped in a glass container containing a solution of table salt. It is done like this: 5 g of salt per 0.1 liter of water. Seeds that have sunk to the bottom must be removed, washed in water, and dried. It is these seeds that are needed for planting.

Then they are soaked in a solution of humate (0.5 g per 1 liter of water). This is done as follows: gauze is wetted, in which the seeds are left for a day. This will increase germination and reduce stress. You can also leave the seeds in gauze moistened with ordinary water until they begin to hatch.
Then the seeds need to be planted in small plastic cups of 4-5 seeds each, the earth should be a little tamped in them.

Watering should be carried out in such a way that the soil is always moist. For seedlings to appear, the temperature must be around 25 ° C. Then shoots will appear after 1 week. If the temperature is below 13 ° C, then seedlings can not be expected.

Cups should be in a well-lit and warm place. Drafts should not be allowed. After 2-3 weeks, 1 seedling should be left in each cup.

watermelon care

As soon as 3 leaves appear, the plants are transferred to containers, the volume of which is from 5 to 15 liters. They should have a mixture of seedling soil and perlite in a ratio of 2: 1. Water the plant often, but not abundantly so that the water does not stagnate. Every 2 weeks the soil must be fertilized. Liquid fertilizers for vegetables are suitable here. It is necessary to add 1 tsp to 1 liter of water. fertilizers. This solution can only be used for 1 watering.

When 6 leaves grow, pinch the plant over 4 leaves. The plant needs enough light. If there is not enough lighting, then additional LED or energy-saving lamps will be required.

Pollination of the plant and the appearance of fruits

In most cases, watermelons begin to bloom 30-50 days after germination.

Flowers require pollination to produce an ovary.

To do this, you must first find male flowers that have a thin stem. Such flowers will need to be carefully plucked, they need to pollinate female flowers by touching the pistils with stamens.

After a certain period of time, the withering of the petals and the increase in the peduncle will be noticeable, which after a while will become a fruit. As the lashes grow, they will need to be pinched to stop their growth.

A few weeks before the full ripening of the fruit, watering should be minimized, stimulating the appearance of sugar in the berry. When the grown fruits are ripe, you can harvest.

How to grow watermelons in the country (video)

About the beneficial properties of watermelon

This berry has a lot of sugar (about 12%). It is quite easily absorbed by the body and, unlike refined sugar, benefits.

Watermelon juice has a diuretic effect, so it is able to flush the kidneys and ureters well. Thanks to him, salts dissolve and are washed out of the body. Watermelon juice is considered beneficial for people suffering from kidney disease. Watermelon juice is also useful for people who have diabetes, cystitis, atherosclerosis.

Now you know about growing watermelon at home. We wish you a good harvest!

We plant seedlings of watermelon in open ground (video)

Gallery: watermelon at home (15 photos)

Among many summer residents and owners of household plots, planting vegetables, fruits and berries for their own needs is quite a common activity.

Melons have been especially popular in recent years, but not everyone knows how to grow watermelons correctly so that they are juicy, tasty, and the harvest pleases with abundance. There are many rules and recommendations regarding melons that should be followed in order to get a good harvest.

How to grow watermelons

The rules for growing berries are quite simple: you need to choose the right variety, prepare the soil, seeds or seedlings, plant and grow them according to the rules.

Let's consider each of the points in detail.

Choosing a variety of watermelons

Currently, more than 50 varieties of watermelons are grown in Russia, and their number is regularly increasing. All varieties are divided geographically into the following types:

Transcaucasian;
Western European;
Russians;
Central Asian;
Indian.

The list is by no means complete, as there are a dozen more species of these berries. All watermelons grown on the territory of our country belong to the Russian variety. Sometimes Transcaucasian and Central Asian species are also grown.

Attention! When choosing a watermelon for planting, pay attention to its ripening period, the resistance of watermelons to drought and frost, especially if you live in the middle lane.

Watermelons with medium and late ripening are relevant for regions with a warm climate. Early varieties grow well in central Russia.

How to grow watermelons

The most popular varieties of watermelons in our country include the following varieties.

Watermelon "Spark"- an early ripe variety that feels great in the non-black earth region. Ripening period from 70 to 90 days. The fruits are small in size, round in shape with a thin skin, dark green in color. The weight of the berries is about 3 kilograms. The fruits are juicy, tender, sweet, bright red.
Seeds are sown from late April to early May. The ideal time for planting seedlings is from late May to early June.
Watermelon Crimson Smith- ideal for regions with a short hot summer. Ripening time is approximately 60-70 days. Small watermelon, weighing up to 3 kilograms. The pulp is tasty, juicy, rich red color.
The variety is resistant to various diseases. In particular, to anthracnose and powdery mildew.
Watermelon "Producer"- a relatively new variety, suitable for regions with a warm climate. It has first class taste. Able to be stored for a long time, resistant to transportation over long distances.

All varieties of watermelons belonging to Russian varieties are grown in almost all regions of our country. When choosing a watermelon for growing, pay attention to the recommendations for each particular variety, follow all the rules and recommendations for growing them.

Soil preparation for growing watermelons

Before planting seeds or seedlings, we prepare the soil in advance. It is recommended to do this in the fall, using mineral and organic fertilizers. We evenly scatter them over the area of \u200b\u200bthe proposed sowing of berries, then carefully dig up the soil.

We loosen the soil in the spring, to the depth of sowing, pour 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ammophoska or nitrophoska, thoroughly mixing the fertilizer with the ground.

To minimize the acidity of the soil and improve the growth of watermelons, we use magnesium, calcium, potassium. These elements are found in egg shells and wood ash. It is recommended to prepare them in advance.

Preparation of watermelon seeds

Watermelons can be planted with seeds or seedlings. In any case, it is necessary to stratify the seeds in order to select the highest quality material for planting.

To identify the strongest seeds, dip them in salt water. Those watermelon seeds that have risen to the surface are safely thrown away, and those that have sunk to the bottom are used for planting.
To disinfect the seeds, before sowing, leave them for a week in the sun or warm them up at a temperature of +55 degrees for 3-4 hours.
To strengthen future sprouts and speed up the germination process, soak the seeds for a day in warm water and only then plant them in the ground.

Preparing and planting watermelon seeds

Sowing watermelon seeds

When planting watermelon seeds, we must take into account the peculiarities of the climatic zone. The temperature of the soil at a depth of 10 centimeters should be + 12- + 14 ° С.

In the western and northern regions of the country, seeds are planted from May 15.
In the southern part of the forest-steppe since May 6.
In the steppe regions since April 28.

Watermelon seeds should not be planted earlier, as they will simply rot in cool soil. Before planting, we must warm up the ground.

We put no more than 5 watermelon seeds in the hole and sprinkle them with earth. The distance between the holes is not less than 0.7 -1.0 meters, and between the rows is approximately 1.5 meters. It is recommended to cover the sowing with a film or agrofibre before emergence.

When weeds appear, they must be weeded immediately.

watermelon sprout

When tying leaves on seedlings, one of the strongest plants is left in each hole.

Planting seedlings of watermelons

Wanting to get an early harvest or living in the northern regions, we plant not seeds, but seedlings of watermelons. For its cultivation we use pots or cut plastic bottles.

Watermelon seedlings in peat pots

The soil for seedlings is a mixture consisting of humus, soddy soil and river sand. It is recommended to add a little wood ash to the mixture.

Having planted the seeds, we leave them for 10 days in a dark place with a temperature not lower than + 25ºС. After this time, we rearrange the pots with seedlings for 20 days in a place with good lighting.

Planting seedlings of watermelons

The last stage is hardening. It takes 5 days and implies a daily decrease in temperature for seedlings for several hours. If the watermelon variety is resistant to cold, hardening is not necessary. Plant seedlings in open soil after frost has ended.

Choosing a place to grow watermelons

One of the most important factors in obtaining a bountiful harvest of watermelons is the correct choice of a place for planting seeds or seedlings. The site must be protected from the wind, and located in the sun.

Good predecessors for watermelons are tomatoes, potatoes, beans, radishes or cabbages.

The soil for watermelons is fertile, loose and light. Sandy or sandy soil is fertilized in advance with rotted organic matter or humus.

In pre-moistened holes, we plant no more than 2 plants. Their leaves should remain above the ground. The distance between the holes is from 1.0 to 1.5 meters. We cover the seedlings with a film and water them with warm water for a week.

Choosing a place to grow watermelons

Watering and feeding watermelons

Good watering and timely top dressing of watermelons is the key to a good harvest. Water is responsible for the juiciness of fruits, but remember that it should be in moderation. Watering seedlings abundantly and often, it is difficult to achieve the desired taste of the fruit.

Watering

Follow the following watering scheme for berries:

Before flowering, watermelons water them moderately, and after - more abundantly.
In extreme heat, water the watermelons infrequently, but plentifully. Soil moisture - not less than 85%.
With sandy, poorly retaining moisture soil, the plant is watered more often than with clay or black soil.
When the fruits ripen, we reduce the number of waterings, and gradually, completely stop.

top dressing

Plant nutrition is carried out in 3 stages. Each requires about 2 liters of liquid fertilizer.

The first dressing of seedlings is carried out a week after planting. Add ammonium sulfate, superphosphate and potassium salt to a 10-liter container with water.
The second feeding is carried out during the active growth of watermelons. The solution used is the same as in the first procedure, but the amount of fertilizer is reduced.
The last feeding procedure is performed at the time of the formation of the ovaries. The solution is poured into pre-prepared furrows, at a distance of 15-20 centimeters from the plants.

Watering and feeding watermelons

Watermelon care and harvest

Watermelon seedling care includes the following procedures:

Loosening the soil;
Top dressing and watering;
Disease and pest control;
Weed removal;
Frost protection for ovaries.

It is necessary to loosen the soil after planting seedlings, after rains and watering to a depth of 7 centimeters. With frequent winds, sprinkle the stems with soil or fix them with wire pins.

Growing watermelons using the melon method, after 3-6 strings we pinch the shoots. If frost is likely, we protect the plants with special covering material or cardboard.

The harvest season for watermelons starts at the end of August. Finding out that the fruit is ripe is quite simple: the tail will dry out and the skin will become shiny. The drawing on the berry will take on a distinct shape. It is recommended to lightly tap on the fetus. If the sound is deaf, feel free to cut the berry.

As you can see, growing a watermelon is quite simple, the procedure does not require much time and effort. Following all the recommendations and advice, the harvest of watermelons will delight you with abundance, and the taste of the fruit will be at its best.

A long liana, with carved leaves and hanging, huge, by home standards, fruits - this is how a watermelon at home might look like . It is usually grown in the summer, when there is plenty of light and heat. And today, growing a watermelon at home on a windowsill is not at all a fantasy, because with proper care you can get a decent harvest. How to grow watermelon at home - read the article.

Conditions for growing watermelon

The choice of soil, top dressing, watering, temperature and light conditions, and the choice of location determine how the watermelon will grow and whether it will produce edible fruits.

It is preferable to grow watermelon on the south side. The more sun, the better. Direct sunlight is only good for him.

An ideal place at home would be a warm, sunny loggia or balcony. You can plant plants on the southern, western and eastern windows, the northern ones are categorically not suitable for them.

In fact, growing a watermelon on a balcony is not so difficult, you just need to comply with the necessary conditions.

Light day for the successful cultivation of watermelon is 12-14 hours. In the evenings, turn on LED, fluorescent lighting or phytolamps. On cloudy days, the lamps are left on all day.

Temperature

Watermelons are grown at high temperatures of 25-30 °C during the day and not below 18 °C at night. It is especially necessary to monitor the thermometer during the formation of the ovary.

Regarding watering, the opinions of plant growers differ greatly. Some prefer normal, and even abundant watering, others talk about its strong limitation and its complete cessation during ripening, arguing that water is not needed to increase sugar content. In any case, seedlings are watered in the usual way, and watering a plant in the second stage of its life depends on a number of conditions, including experience.

The soil is prepared loose and fertile with a neutral reaction: 1 part of soddy soil, sand, humus, plus one tenth of ground wood ash. For disinfection, the soil is steamed in a water bath for 1.5–2 hours, kept in a microwave oven for 10–20 minutes, and poured with boiling water.

Feeding begins when the plant has 3 true leaves. Plants are watered with water, and then with complex mineral fertilizers (Kemira and others), diluted according to the instructions. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in them at this stage may well be shifted towards nitrogen, but it is better that they are equal. At the stage of formation of the ovaries, they are fed again - there should be more phosphorus and potash fertilizers. After 2-3 weeks - the third time.

Not all watermelons growing in open ground are suitable for growing at home. There are varieties that bear fruit indoors, such as Ogonyok, Crimson Sweet, Ultra Early, Sugar Baby, Siberian, Gift of the Sun, Kai F1, Cinderella, Gift to the North F1. They have good taste, do not need abundant light, early ripening, disease resistant.

The seeds of these varieties are characterized by good germination, and if they are purchased from trusted suppliers and the brand name is reliable, then almost everything germinates. Before planting, they are kept for 10-15 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate at a temperature of 50-55 ° C. Then they are placed in a damp cloth (sand, etc.) until they peck, after which they are planted 2 in cups for seedlings, digging 2 cm into the ground. You can plant them immediately in cups.

Interesting, but optional, is the stratification technique when germinating seeds in a humid environment, which stimulates the processes in the seed: they are kept for 12 hours on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator at a temperature of +6 ° C, then another 12 hours at room temperature. Repeat the process 2-3 times.

2 weeks after the emergence of sprouts, weak seedlings are discarded and left in each cup, one of the strongest.

It is undesirable to plant watermelon seeds immediately in large containers: a large mass of undeveloped soil easily turns sour, and seedlings may die. Transplanted in a month, the plants are moved to a permanent place along with a clod of earth, in order not to injure the roots.

Seedlings can be planted in open ground and get a good harvest in the garden. Pre-hardening: within a week, take out the seedlings for a short time every day in the open air.

After transshipment of seedlings into pots, the rapid growth of the root begins. It grows long, with well-developed lateral roots, so large containers are picked up - 5-15 liters.

Pinching is done over 3-4 leaves, lateral branches are directed vertically or allowed horizontally. They also grow with one lash, in which case flowers and fruits will appear faster.

Flowering (after 30-50 days) and fruiting of watermelon depends on the variety, which are early, mid-ripening and late-ripening. It is interesting that, depending on the timing of flowering, the flowers appear in different leaf axils: in early ripening - in 4-11 leaf axils, with an average term - at 15-18, late ones - at 20-25. Any variety can be grown in the house, but given the thermophilicity and light-loving nature, early varieties are preferred.

To obtain the fruit, the flowers are pollinated artificially. Watermelon has 2 types of flowers - male and female, which appear both on the main and on the side shoots. Male flowers (developed stamens, thin peduncle) pollinate female ones (developed pistil, thick stalk) and wait for the fruit to set. An increase in the stalk of a female flower means that a small watermelon has begun to grow. With a vertical arrangement of the lashes, it becomes necessary to attach it to prevent breakage.

In the house, you should not leave more than 2 watermelons on the branches if you want to enjoy delicious pulp. The shoots are pinched after the formation of the fruit so that the forces go to its maturation, and not to growth.

From planting to the end of the growing season takes an average of 3 months. At home, it is difficult to grow a fetus over 1 kg. Wait until the watermelon ripens and perhaps it will taste better than the store-bought ones. Recall that in a mature fruit, the bark is glossy, the stalk is dried up, without hairs. when knocking, a ringing sound is heard.

But, even following all the rules of care, there is no guarantee that you can get a large watermelon on the windowsill or balcony. And yet, growing such an exotic plant will bring a lot of pleasure and new skills in growing unique plants at home.

And open ground is not fraught with great difficulties. Some summer residents refuse to plant gourds, considering it inappropriate to occupy a large area of the 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 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, warmth and careful watering.

Special soil is sold in stores, but you can cook it yourself. To do this, mineral fertilizer "Kemira universal" is added to suitable soil. 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. The best age of seedlings for planting is approximately 25-30 days.

Before planting, the soil is covered with plastic wrap, in which holes for peat containers are cut. 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 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 planting, you can feed with nitrogen fertilizer - urea or nitrate, 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 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 similar chemicals from the soil and need roughly 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.