Secrets of growing watermelons in open ground. How to plant and care for watermelons in open ground. Basic steps to grow the most delicious watermelon on the planet
The issue of growing watermelons in the country is becoming increasingly relevant. This berry is a storehouse of nutrients. It contains vitamins and microelements that are useful for diabetes, diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys, not to mention the fact that it is simply a very tasty fruit. Like everything else, watermelon grown on your own plot will be much healthier than purchased watermelon.
Did you know? Watermelon is not exactly a berry; more precisely, it is the fruit of the watermelon vegetable. An example of the same berry is the tomato. This is the fruit of the tomato vegetable.
How to grow watermelon seedlings
As you know, if you plant watermelon seeds in open ground too early, you will not be able to harvest the crop - the seeds will simply rot due to insufficient soil temperature, and if it is too late, they will not have time to ripen before the end of the warm period. The solution for our climate will be selection suitable variety or a hybrid, followed by planting seedlings.
Growing in a greenhouse
Since watermelons love light, there should be no trees or bushes near the greenhouse. The seedlings will stay here for about a month before planting the watermelons in open ground. During this time, the seedlings should not be influenced by cold air, so eliminate this possibility in advance. It is worth starting work in mid-spring. Prepare a suitable substrate. In the first option, take soil for seedlings and humus (1:3) and add fertilizers with nitrogen and potassium (a spoonful) and three tablespoons of fertilizers with phosphorus. In the second option, add about a spoonful of potassium sulfate and a glass of wood ash to a bucket of soil.
In order to properly grow watermelon seedlings, first select suitable seeds. To do this, dip them in a saline solution. Drowned seeds are ideal for germination. Rinse them with water, then soak them for half an hour in a manganese solution and dip them in water again. Now leave the seeds in hot water for 10-30 minutes (temperature about +50-55°C), and then germinate until the “biting” stage.
The next step is to plant them in separate, half-filled containers (about 10 cm in the crossbar) to a depth of 2 to 4 cm. Before germination begins, maintain the desired temperature:during the day at +23-+25°С, and at night – +18°С. After the sprouts appear, for 4-6 days it is necessary to reduce the temperature to a constant value of +18°C. In the future, maintain temperatures at +20-+25°C during the day and +16-+18°C at night.
Make sure that there is enough space between the containers and that the leaves of the plants do not touch. Provide adequate lighting: use lamps for 12-14 hours daily. Water the seedlings only with warm water, not often, but in large quantities. Try not to get on the leaves.
When there are 10-12 days left before planting, start hardening the seedlings and open the greenhouse for 1.5-2 hours, gradually increasing the number of hours. Before planting, you need to leave the greenhouse open for a day.
Important! When planting in the soil, place the seeds on their side. This will make it easier for the sprout to emerge from the shell, but there is no need to cut the seeds. Do not pinch the seedlings.
Growing at home
Growing seedlings at home is almost no different from growing them in a greenhouse. The same substrate and the same seed preparation are needed. Only, after planting in pots, they should be covered with plastic film, and after germination, it is better to place the sprouts in southern windows, where there is more light. There is also no difference in the required thermal and light conditions.
Before planting in open ground (7-10 days before), the seedlings should also be hardened off; to do this, you need to ventilate the plants and lower the temperature to +15-+17°C during the day and +12-+15°C at night.
Choosing a place to plant watermelons
It is very important that the place for planting watermelons is well lit. Light, sandy or sandy loam soil is more suitable for the plant, preferably neutral or alkaline. The south, southwest of the site is suitable. Due to the characteristics of the root system, groundwater should go quite deep. Also take care of protection from cold winds.
Important! It’s good if legumes grew on the territory before the watermelons, winter wheat, cabbage or corn. It is not advisable to plant them after melons, tomatoes or cucumbers.
How to transplant seedlings into open ground
Technology of growing watermelons in open ground provides for fertilizing the soil in the fall, for which humus or other organic fertilizer (well rotted) is used. In the spring, all that remains is to dig up the area well (at least 30 cm deep). You can also create beds with a slope to the south, 15 cm high. Place the holes, a meter in diameter, at a distance of about one and a half meters from each other.
When the time comes without night frosts (usually the end of spring), and the plants have already formed 3-4 leaves, you can transplant the seedlings into open ground. Pre-moisten each hole and only after that place the plant there with earthen lump, dig in, but the cotyledon leaves should remain on the surface. For some time, before recovery, the seedlings should be shaded.
Rules for caring for watermelon
After replanting, you should follow simple rules for caring for the plant, then it will delight you with a rich harvest.
Temperature and lighting
Watermelon - heat-loving plant. For active life activity and fertilization of ovaries, the temperature should not be lower than +25°C. Already at +15°C, development slows down, and with a sharp cold snap, the plant can get sick and even die. In such cases, the previously mentioned film is also used to protect the melons. No less important factor is lighting - do not shade the plants. Cloudy weather may make pollination more difficult. In this case, simply touch the stamens of some flowers to the others.
Humidity and watering
To properly care for watermelons, you should not water them often, but watering should be plentiful. During flowering, the application of liquid should occur approximately once every 3-4 days, and with the beginning of ripening of the berries, in order to obtain juicy fruits, soil moisture should be reduced to 70-75% and watering should be stopped (except for the absence of precipitation for more than a month). Water along the grooves, the water should be warm.
Soil fertilization
After planting, wait two weeks and then feed the plants ammonium nitrate, liquid mullein or chicken droppings. The next time fertilizers are applied during the formation of buds. Take calcium chloride, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate in a ratio of 1:1:1.5.
When to Harvest
Typically, watermelon ripens 30 days after the formation of ovaries. The drying of the bract, the falling of the hairs of the stalk, and the glossiness of the bark will tell you about its maturity. Also pay attention to the color of the pulp and seeds. It is characteristic of each variety and will help determine the state of first maturity.
Watermelons are harvested selectively as they ripen, but harvesting is completed before frost sets in.
Watermelon is a melon crop. Its growth is associated with a warm climate. But currently this crop is grown in various climatic conditions in their gardens and greenhouses. Read the article about when to plant watermelons so that they reach ripeness.
Description of watermelon
This plant survives due to its long stems, which reach from the deep layers of the soil. nutrients for the fetus. 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 ovoid in shape and have pubescent 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 many people find this unusual. Under the dense, thick crust contains juicy, tasty, sweet and very aromatic pulp with a large number 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 preparatory work. What is needed for this?
- To get a good harvest of watermelons, you need to create them normal conditions growth. First of all, a site is selected that will be heated by sunlight throughout the day and not blown by strong winds. It is important that there are no drafts.
- The seedlings quickly take root and grow well in the area previously occupied by onions, alfalfa, cabbage, and legumes. There is no need to plant watermelons in those beds where eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes previously grew.
- Once you have decided on the site, you should begin preparing the soil. Sandy and sandy loam soils are suitable for watermelons. While the area is free of plants, it needs to be fertilized with manure, potash fertilizers, and superphosphate. If it turns out that the soil in the area is heavy, it needs to be discharged. To do this, it is enough to add fine-grained sand, otherwise the watermelons will grow and bear fruit poorly.
Preparing seeds for planting
For planting watermelons planting material need to be prepared. The stages of this procedure are as follows:
- First, calibration is done, for which you need to pour the seeds onto horizontal surface and arrange them into separate piles, focusing on size. For large, medium and small seeds, containers with appropriate parameters are prepared. This will increase their germination rate: large specimens will not suppress small ones. The seeds will sprout together and grow evenly. Small specimens do not need to be thrown away. They are suitable for planting, only the seedlings from them will bear fruit later.
- The second stage is scarification. It is not necessary to do this, but it is advisable. This is done to make it easier for the sprout to come to the surface. To do this, just rub the “nose” of the seed with fine-textured sandpaper.
- Then the seeds are heated. To do this you need to place them in hot water for 30 minutes. The procedure cannot be ignored; it is mandatory for watermelons.
- After this, 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 radiator or in the oven, but naturally. The seeds are laid out in one layer on a horizontal surface of a table or floor outside under a canopy. It is imperative to exclude exposure to the sun and drafts.
To increase germination. Before drying, wrap them in a soft cloth made of natural fiber and moisten it clean water and place it on a plate next to a heat source. The condition of the cloth must be constantly monitored; it should not dry out. If necessary, it is moistened.
How to plant watermelons with seeds?
If the crop is grown in regions where a warm climate prevails, then the seeds do not need any preliminary preparation other than soaking. When the sprouts hatch, they are immediately sown in the ground. Read below on how to plant watermelon seeds.
- In the spring, when the snow melts, the soil will begin to warm up under the influence of sunlight. You need to wait until its temperature reaches +13 °C. The seeds should be in a container with water heated to room temperature until they germinate.
- A site for planting is selected in a garden or country house. Holes are made throughout its entire area, their depth is 10 cm. The distance between them should be large. About one meter.
- Then, independently prepared fertilizer is poured into the bottom of each hole: humus is mixed with a tablespoon of ash and a teaspoon of ammophoska.
- After this, the seeds are placed in the hole, covered with soil and waited until they sprout. This happens after two weeks or a little earlier.
- Planting seeds in regions where cold climate, carried out at other times. When to plant watermelons in this case? Taking into account climatic conditions, seed planting should be done at the end of the last month of spring or at the beginning of summer.
When to plant watermelon seedlings? It depends on the region of growth and the method of cultivation. If watermelons are grown in open ground, seeds are sown in pots (for example, in the Moscow climate zone) at the beginning of April. When to plant watermelon seedlings? Each climate zone has a different time for sowing seeds in pots. This is agreed in lunar calendar.
To sow watermelons for seedlings, use small containers, it is better if they are peat. Soil is poured into them, but not to the very top, but three to four centimeters below. Then they start sowing the seeds. Three, four or five pieces are planted in each pot. They are buried only four centimeters into the soil, no more, otherwise they will take a long time to germinate.
The pots are covered with 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 pots is always moist. Through transparent film it's clearly visible. Before the emergence of seedlings, the film is not removed, and the crops are periodically watered with settled water at room temperature.
After about seven days, shoots will appear. If the seeds were not germinated before planting or were planted deep, this will happen a little later. For pots with young plants, choose a place indoors that is well lit by the sun. It is important that the temperature is within the acceptable range: +16...+24 °C. In order for the seedlings to get used to low temperatures, they need to be taken outside for a short time. When to plant watermelons? This should be done when the seedlings are strong enough - then they will quickly take root in a new place.
Planting watermelon seedlings
How to plant watermelons in open ground correctly? In order for these plants to grow comfortably in the chosen area, the soil is first dug up and well loosened. It is recommended to plant seedlings 30 days after sowing the seeds. This time falls on the last week of May or the first ten days of June. The best time to land is before noon. How to plant watermelons in open ground? The landing technology is as follows:
- Holes are dug with a depth and diameter of up to 50 cm. Gaps of one meter are left between them. It is better to arrange the holes according to the chess principle.
- In each hole you need to add: humus, sand, superphosphate - 5-7 l, 3 l and ¼ part of a glass, respectively.
- The top of the hole is filled 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, and covered with earth, which is compacted well. Above trunk circle The plants are 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 take a long time to rise.
Caring for seedlings in open ground
The planted plants experience stress as they are placed in a new environment. To make the acclimatization process faster, the seedlings need to be looked after.
- Thinning. This procedure is carried out with the appearance of three or four leaves. The 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, you will have to fight them often, especially at the beginning of growth. Very soon the seedlings will grow up and take on the appearance 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. Curly shoots should be pinched at the level of the top two or three 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 we plant watermelons in the ground, we need to be prepared for the fact that they will have to be watered frequently, otherwise they will not absorb juice well. Striped berries need to be watered regularly, once a week, or twice in hot weather. For this they use a lot of water: three buckets per meter square area plot. It is necessary to moisten not only the watermelon bushes, but also the free area between them. With the appearance of fruits, watering is reduced, and before harvesting, it stops altogether (two weeks before).
Top dressing
Plants need it within a couple of weeks after they are planted in the ground. Used as fertilizer aqueous solution ammonium nitrate. One bush will require two liters. The second feeding is done when the buds begin to form. Calcium chloride, 5 g of ammonium nitrate, and 1 g more of superphosphate are added to one bush.
Planting watermelons in a greenhouse
Watermelons are a heat-loving crop. In the distant past, they were grown in regions suitable for such climates. But now there are opportunities to obtain tasty fruits in cold climates. Only here they grow not in open ground, but in greenhouses. How to properly plant watermelons in a greenhouse?
- First you need to plant the seeds in boxes with soil. Allocate a place indoors for planting to place containers with planting material.
- Then the beds are prepared for planting watermelons. This is done like this: the top layer of the soil is removed and a trench is formed. Humus is poured into it, nitrogen fertilizers and on top - the soil.
- After this, the seedlings are transplanted into the beds (they will sprout from the seeds by this time). The plantings are covered with polyethylene film in two layers. When to plant watermelons in a greenhouse? Optimal time for this procedure is the end of April.
- To plant sprouts, dig holes of shallow depth - from 10 to 11 cm. Gaps of 70-100 cm are left between them.
- A trellis needs to be installed near each hole. It is needed to tie growing stems to it, since they are climbing and they need to cling to something.
- To improve the fruiting of watermelons, you need to introduce 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, the weak and sick ones should be removed.
- As plants grow, they need beneficial supplements, so they should be fed with mullein or chicken droppings.
- Required condition To grow watermelons in a greenhouse, it is necessary to regularly ventilate it. There is no need to forget about this.
Caring for watermelons in a greenhouse
When the growing vines begin the flowering period, watermelons must be pollinated by hand, otherwise 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 prevent it from coming into contact with the ground. Watermelons growing in a greenhouse are much weaker than those growing in melon fields. Their lashes cannot support the weight of the fruit and fall to the ground. If they are not wrapped, they may rot.
If many side shoots have formed and they branch in the direction other than the support, they are cut off. Plants need to be constantly turned towards the sun, as the lashes need good lighting, otherwise leaves and fruits will form poorly.
Watermelon is a favorite melon crop of many gardeners, which gives the taste of summer. Even a novice gardener can easily grow it. However, for this it is not enough to prepare the site and provide appropriate care to the plants after planting: it is also necessary to correctly select and prepare the seeds for sowing.
Selection and preparation of site and soil for planting watermelon
For growing watermelon in open ground and obtaining good harvest care must be taken to select a location that must meet the following requirements:
- be well lit;
- protect from winds;
- provide plants with the necessary nutrition.
Based on the listed factors, you need to take into account that the area for the watermelon should receive a sufficient amount of light during the day, be well warmed up and ventilated. It is best if you start preparing the soil in advance: sow the future bed with green manure and add the necessary fertilizers.
The area for the future watermelon bed should be well lit, ventilated, and well fertilized.
Green manures are plants that are grown for the purpose of their subsequent incorporation into the soil, which improves its structure, enriches it with nitrogen and prevents the growth of weeds.
An important point is the previous crops, i.e. those that were grown on the site before the watermelon. The most preferred are onions, garlic, carrots and early cabbage, as well as potatoes and tomatoes. Melon crops (watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin, melon) should not be constantly planted in the same place, since pathogens accumulate in the soil.
It should be noted that watermelons and other melons require light, loose and fertile soil. Most suitable option, if the plot of land consists of sandy or sandy loam soil, and the necessary organic fertilizers (humus, compost) will be added for digging in the fall. Organic matter is added at the rate of 2.5 buckets per 1 m² of land. In addition, attention should be paid to the acidity of the soil: for watermelons it should be within the pH range of 6–7.
Humus is excellent organic fertilizer to prepare a site for planting watermelon
IN spring period The watermelon bed should also be fertilized with mineral fertilizers before digging. For 1 m² you will need:
- 24–35 g ammonium sulfate;
- 40–45 g superphosphate;
- 15–25 g of potash fertilizers.
Combining mineral and organic substances can increase the productivity of watermelon.
Preparing watermelon seeds for sowing
It is no secret for experienced gardeners that quality training seeds for sowing. This process is quite important and consists of several stages that must be performed in a certain sequence.
Variety selection
Watermelon variety for growing on your own garden plot you need to choose very carefully. If you do not have sufficient experience in cultivating this type of melon, then it is best to give preference hybrid varieties. This is due to the fact that they are characterized by more quality characteristics compared to varietal watermelons. Hybrids are characterized by faster maturation, resistance to a number of diseases and unfavorable environmental conditions.
When planning to grow watermelon on your plot, you need to carefully choose the variety.
Seed calibration
At first glance, seed calibration may not seem like such a significant procedure. If we look at it in more detail, the germination of seeds and the subsequent development of young plants will directly depend on it. Everything is actually simple: stronger and healthier seedlings develop better, thereby suppressing weaker seedlings. When separating (calibrating) seeds by size, seedlings will be more friendly and abundant.
Seed calibration involves separating them by size, which allows for more uniform and abundant seedlings
Warming up the seeds
A procedure such as warming the seeds before planting allows you to activate biochemical processes in planting material. To do this, the seeds are placed in a container of suitable size and filled with water at a temperature of about +50˚C. After half an hour, the water can be drained.
Pre-sowing treatment
Preparing watermelon seeds involves their disinfection, i.e. disinfection. In most cases, gardeners and gardeners use manganese for these purposes, from which they prepare potassium permanganate (a solution of low concentration). In order to prepare the substance, a very small amount of manganese is added to a small container filled with water. After stirring the solution, the seeds are soaked for 15–20 minutes and then washed with water.
Disinfection allows you to minimize the likelihood of young plants becoming infected with diseases or damaged by pests.
Treating watermelon seeds in potassium permanganate allows for disinfection, thereby protecting planting material from the adverse effects of microorganisms
After all the previous procedures have been completed, you can begin to germinate the seed material. To begin with, it is recommended to soak watermelon seeds for 12 hours in nutrient solution: this is done to saturate the seeds with microelements, which will ensure active growth and accelerate germination. Today, many drugs of this kind are offered, for example, Kornevin, Zircon, Heteroauxin.
After the seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator, you should not wash them with water under any circumstances: just dry them in the sun.
Germinating watermelon seeds accelerates the process of germination, and treatment with growth stimulants saturates the seed with microelements
Before soaking watermelon seeds to soften the thick rind, pour them hot water for 10 minutes. Then you need to make a gauze bag, folding the material in several layers, and place the seeds in it at some distance from each other. The bag with planting material is placed in a saucer or shallow plate, after moistening the gauze; however, there is no need to fill the seeds with water - they must “breathe”. After this, the container is placed in a warm place (about +25˚C) and the humidity of the gauze is periodically monitored: it is moistened as necessary.
To create more comfortable conditions for the seeds, the container can be covered with trimmed plastic bottle, film or glass, thus retaining moisture more long time. Please note that watermelon seeds do not germinate very quickly. Therefore, the first sprouts can be seen in at least a week (depending on the seeds of a particular variety, their quality and the conditions created). By ensuring an optimal microclimate, it will be possible to accelerate the germination of seed material and bring the moment of planting it into the soil closer. If the seeds are not soaked before planting, then you can’t count on rapid emergence of seedlings. For the Middle Zone and northern regions, the soaking and germination procedure is necessary.
Video: germinating watermelon seeds
Timing for sowing watermelon seeds in open ground
Planting watermelon is quite common by seed method. The timing of sowing crops depends on the weather and the time when the harvest is planned to be obtained. If spring has come early and the weather is warm, you can start sowing seeds from the end of April to mid-June. If the approach of warmth is delayed, then the sowing dates are shifted to the end of May.
When landing in southern regions You can start working from mid-April, taking into account weather conditions. For middle latitudes, watermelon seeds are sown in open ground only after stable warm weather has established. To determine the time of planting seeds, attention should be paid to the air temperature. Minimum temperature indicator+15˚С is considered for germination. In regions with an unpredictable climate, gardeners prefer growing watermelons seedling method. In this case, the seeds are sown in the second half of April, and the mature seedlings are planted in open ground in May-early June.
Seed germination - timing and testing
High-quality planting material is the key to a good harvest. An indicator of the quality of watermelon seeds is their germination rate. In most cases, when preparing for the next season, gardeners carry out an audit seed material various cultures, while discovering that some of them are already more than one year old. What to do in this case, throw it away and buy new ones, or can it still be used for planting? It is enough to know that the germination of watermelon seeds lasts for 6–8 years.
In addition, there is a way to test watermelon seeds for germination, which is also suitable for other melons. For this you will need sawdust, which are first doused with boiling water several times (every half an hour). You will need to prepare a container, for example, a tray or small box, which is filled with raw sawdust. The seeds are laid out in rows with a distance of 2–3 cm. A gap of 1–1.5 cm is made between the seeds. Then the seed is sprinkled with sawdust and compacted, and the container is placed in a warm place with a temperature of +23–27˚С and wait for the sprouts to appear. To determine the percentage of germination, a simple calculation is performed: if 6 out of 10 seeds germinate, it means the germination rate is 60%.
Proper planting of watermelon seeds
When the weather is favorable and the watermelon seeds have undergone preparatory procedures, you can begin sowing them in open ground.
At what distance to plant
Since watermelon is a very spreading plant, it requires sufficient space to grow it. Thus, the bush will feel comfortable and develop normally. Watermelons are planted in open ground in a certain way, namely according to the scheme. IN standard scheme, which is called row row, the row spacing is 2 m, and 5–10 seeds per hole are sown in a 1 m row. After emergence, only the strongest shoots are left, 1 seedling per meter.
The row scheme for planting watermelon involves planting seeds at a distance of 1 m in a row and 2 m between rows
In addition to the ordinary scheme, there is also a square-nested scheme. In this case, the distance between the holes with planted seeds should be 70–280 cm. The difference in distance depends on the variety of watermelon being grown. When planting compact varieties, the gap between the holes is made smaller.
When planting a watermelon in a square nest, a distance of 70–280 cm is made between the holes, depending on the variety.
Large distances between watermelon plantings are necessary to obtain sufficient quantities. sunlight. If placed closely, the crop will not receive required quantity nutritional elements.
Seed placement depth
When planting watermelon seeds in open ground, it is important to observe the planting depth. The optimal planting depth for small-seeded varieties is considered to be 4–6 cm, for large-seeded varieties - 6–8 cm. If the planting material is buried deeper, it will be more difficult for it to hatch, which will affect the timing of germination. In addition to the variety, the soil also influences the planting depth. On sandy soils the seeds are buried 7–8 cm, on sandy loam soils - 5–7 cm, on loam soils - 4–5 cm. IN northern regions with heavy soils, seed should not be planted deeper than 4 cm.
The depth of planting watermelon seeds depends on the type of soil and the specific variety.
Fitting under film
It is also possible to grow watermelons under film. This method allows you to sow in March and thereby get the harvest earlier. Film cover makes it possible to maintain high humidity, which eliminates the lack of moisture and promotes the rapid development of plants. When using film, a greenhouse effect is created, which ensures rapid seed germination.
In the area prepared in the fall, ridges are cut at a distance of 70 cm from each other, for which a hiller is used. The covering film should cover 2 ridges at once, i.e. standard width 1.5 m should be enough. There is a 2.5 m space between the rows, which is necessary for the normal development of plants. In the formed ridges, holes are prepared at a distance of 1 m from each other and seeds are sown.
When growing watermelons under a film, it is recommended to make holes in a checkerboard pattern.
Growing watermelons with film allows you to plant seeds in March and get an earlier harvest.
The number of seeds sown in one hole may vary and depend on the varieties used. Seeds of inexpensive varieties can be placed 2-3 grains per hole. When shoots appear, weaker plants are pinched, leaving one most developed seedling. If expensive varieties are used, then one seed is placed in each hole.
After sowing, the soil is moistened and covered with film. To do this, the material is unrolled along the length of the beds, pressing it with earth so that it is not blown away by the wind. If the weather is cloudy, then seedlings should appear a week after planting. Since the seedlings will soon begin to rest against the film, it will be necessary to make cross-shaped slits for the plants to grow freely.
A week after germination, the watermelon will adapt to environment. During this period, the holes in the film are covered with earth to prevent the appearance of weeds. To avoid damage to young seedlings, the sprout is carefully pulled out of the film and a piece of plastic pipe(you can use a jar), sprinkle it with earth, compacting it slightly, after which the protection is removed. After this procedure, watermelons are considered ready for further development.
Video: growing watermelons under film
What to do if watermelon seeds have not sprouted
Sometimes gardeners are faced with such an unpleasant situation when the watermelon seeds do not germinate. What could be the reason and how to correct the situation? One of the main problems can be low quality seeds. If seed material is purchased in a store, be sure to check the expiration date on the packaging. In addition, you can focus on price, but it is not always an indicator of quality: good germination can be both cheap and expensive seeds.
When purchasing watermelon seeds, you should pay attention to the date of manufacture, and when storing your planting material for a long time, check it for germination
If you still have watermelon seeds from previous years without packaging or you collected planting material yourself, you need to identify the seeds that are unsuitable for sowing. To do this, pour grains into a container with water and those that end up on the surface do not make sense to plant.
Many factors influence seed germination:
- degree of maturation;
- collection and drying conditions;
- storage conditions;
- date of packaging.
The listed factors usually depend on the seed manufacturer. However, the success of the entire event directly depends on the conditions that will be created for their germination. This suggests that if the seeds are knowingly good quality, and the humidity or temperature does not meet the required parameters, then the material may simply not germinate. In addition, when planting sprouted seeds in open ground with cold soil, they may slow down in growth or even die.
Further care for watermelon shoots
When growing watermelon in open ground important conditions are periodic loosening of the soil and watering. It is recommended to mark the holes when planting seeds, for example, with pegs, so that the rows are visible when loosening. During the period of growth of leaf mass and vines, fertilizing is carried out. To do this, you can use urea (150 g) and the same amount of superphosphate, as well as potassium salt (50 g) per 10 m². Fertilizer application should be accompanied by watering or precipitation.
For the normal development of young watermelon seedlings, timely watering and loosening of the soil is necessary.
Particular attention should be paid to irrigation during the growth of leaves and stems, flowering and the appearance of ovaries. During fruit ripening, on the contrary, watering is extremely undesirable, since excessive moisture leads to cracks in the fruit and deterioration taste qualities. Watermelon beds are irrigated with warm water once a week, but generously. Caring for watermelons also involves the formation of a bush, as a result of which it is possible to obtain larger and sweeter berries. In this case, no more than four fruits are left on one plant. In addition, the shoots are pinched and the mustache is removed.
Video: forming a watermelon in open ground
Prevention and control of watermelon diseases and pests is also important. Common pests include sprout fly, melon aphid, and wireworm. If an insect is detected before it damages the plant, treatment is carried out biological drugs, for example, Fitoverm. When infested by pests, they resort to using chemicals, such as Decis, Aktara, Fufanon. The most common diseases of melons include anthracnose, powdery mildew, peronosporosis. Colloidal sulfur, Ordan, Hom are used as prophylaxis.
One of the common pests of watermelons is the sprout fly, the larvae of which damage the roots, seeds and stem of the plant.
High-quality planting material, combined with proper preparation for sowing, is the key to a good harvest. It is in this case that it will be possible to avoid wasting time, increase seed germination and ensure active growth and development of plants.
Watermelon is delicious and healthy berry, which pleases children and adults with its juicy pulp. You can grow watermelon in middle lane Russia. This melon crop is very heat-loving, but in order to grow large and sweet fruits, you need to observe many nuances. So, let's talk about everything in order.
Where to grow watermelons
The place for growing watermelons must be selected very carefully. This should be a sunny area without trees or shade. Watermelons grow best in sandy and sandy loam soils because watermelon roots penetrate deep into the soil to become saturated with moisture and full of sweetness. That is why the soil for growing watermelons should not be clayey or dense. To make the soil more porous, it is first dug (in the fall). The acidity of the soil of the selected area should not exceed 6.5-7 units.
It is best to choose soil for planting in which crops such as onions, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beans, and wheat grew. You should not grow melons and melons for two years in a row in the same area. The soil is first cleared of weeds; watermelon does not like foreign vegetation.
When to grow watermelons
If the summer turns out to be cold, no amount of tricks will help you grow juicy and sweet fruit. But if there are many sunny and hot days a year, be prepared for a good harvest. It is best to start planting watermelons at the end of May, when the soil is already sufficiently warmed by the sun. If you decide to plant seedlings, then the seeds can be planted in cups as early as the beginning of May. However last word, all the same, depending on the weather. If there is still no warmth in the first ten days of May, there is no need to rush into planting.
How to prepare seeds for planting watermelons
Let's consider two main methods of planting watermelons - seedlings and non-seedlings.
Watermelon has very dense and hard seeds that must be pre-soaked. To do this, pour warm water over the seeds and leave for half an hour. Those seeds that float after the specified time are not suitable for planting - we remove them immediately. After this you need to cover the container plastic bag and leave in a warm place (in direct sunlight). It turns out to be an imitation of a greenhouse. It is best if the temperature in the mini-greenhouse does not drop below 25-30 degrees during the day, and below 20 degrees at night.
When the seeds hatch, they can be planted in a glass. This is usually done at the end of April or beginning of May. The cups need to be large enough to provide room for the root system. Watermelon does not tolerate root damage. The soil for planting must be mixed with humus and mineral fertilizers. During the process of seedling growth, you need to feed the sprouts several more times with fertilizers. Two seeds are usually planted in one glass with the expectation that one of them will not germinate. If both sprouts grow, they are then separated.
Seedlings are ready for planting when the sprout has at least three healthy leaves. Planting of seedlings occurs in loosened soil fertilized with compost. Watermelon seedlings should be planted at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. If two sprouts are planted in one hole, you need to turn them so that they grow in different directions. Seedlings should not be planted too deep into the ground - the depressions should not exceed 10 cm. The leaves of the sprouts must remain on the surface. After planting, the sprouts need to be watered generously with warm water to help them develop better.
A non-seedling method of planting watermelons
If the days are already warm enough, you can plant watermelons without seedlings. To do this, just like in the previous planting method, you need to soak them in warm water and leave the seeds to hatch. When small sprouts appear, you can skip the stage of planting the sprouts in cups and sow the seeds directly into the soil. I would like to note once again that the seedless method of planting watermelons is feasible only when the long-term weather forecast does not predict cold weather.
Seeds should be planted in holes at a distance of 20-25 cm, 2 seeds per hole. To get a good harvest, you can prepare the following mixture. Mix soil, ash and humus in a one to one ratio. Add a few spoons to the mixture mineral fertilizer nitroamophoska. Before planting the sprouts, place one tablespoon of the prepared mixture in each hole. Place watermelon seeds on top of the mixture and then sprinkle with humus. This is done so that the top layer of soil does not become crusty. As was said, watermelon loves loose soil, and the sprout simply cannot break through the thick crust.
Although watermelon is considered a fairly unpretentious crop, to get a good harvest you need to follow certain aspects in caring for watermelon.
- Imitation of a greenhouse. While the sprouts are not yet strong, you need to cover them with a covering material. This will allow them to gain strength and bear fruit for several weeks. ahead of schedule. To create such small greenhouse Stick small sticks on the sides of the bed and cover with thick plastic film. Keep the greenhouse until the end of June. It is better to shoot film on a gloomy day when there is no sun. This will allow the plants to adapt better. If you remove the film on a sunny day, the sprouts may simply burn.
- Watering. Watermelon does not like over-watering as it feeds inland waters. It has a powerful root system that takes water from the lower layers of the soil when necessary. But you should not overdry the plant, otherwise the fruits will not be juicy. The optimal frequency of watering is once or twice a week.
- Fertilizers. A week after planting the seeds, they need to be fed with ammonium nitrate. To prepare the solution, you need to dilute 20 grams of the substance in ten liters of water. After the first feeding, watermelons should be fertilized once every three weeks, using a regular mineral complex. Along with fertilizers, you need to constantly hill up the soil. Watermelon vitally needs loose soil. In general, gardeners advise walking less around the holes and not compacting the soil. Especially in the intervals between planted sprouts. Root system Watermelon is quite spreading, but also quite fragile. If you step on loose soil near the hole, you can damage the root of the plant.
- Molding. This is an important part of caring for a watermelon planting. If the lashes are very long, they can be tied to posts or nailed with earth so that they are not damaged by the wind. In a month, ovaries will begin to form. When they become the size of a large plum, you need to leave only the largest ones - a few pieces. This is called pinching. This procedure is carried out for the following purpose. When a plant has many fruits, it spends its energy on each fruit. Thus, we will get a lot of unripe and small fruits. To get good and tasty fruits, you need to remove several ovaries at the very beginning of their growth. Usually, no more than 5-6 watermelon fruits are left from one bush. Moreover, there should not be more than two ovaries on one lash.
In the second half of summer, when watermelons begin to ripen, they can be carefully turned from one side to the other every 10 days. This will allow them to quickly gain flavor and juice. If the soil under the watermelons is rotting, you need to place small planks under the fruits to reduce the area of contact between the watermelon and the ground.
When to Harvest
The harvest is harvested in August. To understand that a watermelon is ripe, you need to carefully examine it. Ripe fruits are distinguished by shiny skin and a dry tail. Pedicel ripe watermelon not hairy. If you knock on a watermelon, the ripe fruit produces a characteristic dull sound, by which experienced gardeners understand that it’s time to harvest!
In years rich in watermelons, approximately 10 plants can be grown from six holes. About 40 fruits grow and ripen from them various sizes and weight. At proper care and sufficient light and moisture, 90% of them ripen completely.
What could be tastier and more enjoyable than enjoying watermelon grown yourself? Follow all the rules of planting, care and feeding to grow a rich harvest of watermelons in your summer cottage!
Video: how to grow watermelon in open ground
