How to properly grow watermelons and melons in a greenhouse?

Why in a greenhouse?

Melons and gourds demanding on the composition of the soil, humidity and air temperature. The deep root system does not tolerate close groundwater and begins to rot. Late frosts, which are common in cold climates, will leave seedlings no chance of survival.

A rainy summer will not ruin the harvest, but will affect taste... The fruits will be unsweetened, watery. When growing watermelons and melons in greenhouses, these problems can be avoided.

Which greenhouse to choose?

The frame and covering material can be anything. So, cultivation melons and watermelons in a polycarbonate greenhouse are finding their supporters more and more. They also feel comfortable under the cheap film.

It is worth paying attention only to a number of points.

• the greenhouse must be high. Ideally at least two meters. Shoots of watermelons and melons, tied to trellises, rise high;
• exclude the penetration of cold air. The structure should not have gaps, cracks, rupture of the covering material;
• exclude the development of fungal diseases (melons are especially sensitive to them).

  In the spring, disinfect the frame and the ground in the greenhouse with a Bordeaux mixture or a solution of copper sulfate.

Do you need "neighbors"?

So that the greenhouse does not stand idle while waiting for a suitable temperature to create melons, you can sow early greens or radishes in it. Precursors will not harm watermelons and melons. Melons will thrive next to drought-resistant, light-loving tomatoes, eggplants.

Moisture-loving cucumbers and bell peppers will not be the best neighbors. Adherents of a hot, dry climate, watermelons and melons suffer from diseases (powdery mildew, angular spotting, peronosporosis) with a humidity of sixty percent.

Which varieties should you choose?

For growing in a greenhouse you need to choose zoned varieties with medium-sized fruits of early or mid-season ripening. Melons of varieties: "Solnechnaya", "Sweet pineapple", "Russian vegetable garden", "Thirty days", "Rainbow", "Autumn" give an excellent harvest in greenhouses. Popular varieties watermelon: "Siberian", "Moscow Region Charleston", "Gift to the North", "Ogonyok", "Cinderella", "Ultra Early".

How to prepare the ground?

Melon and watermelon love fertile soil with mild to neutral acidity. It should be loose, breathable. Water stagnation should not be allowed... It is good to start preparing the soil for the future harvest in the fall.Put tops, cut grass, rotted manure in the beds.

What layer should to be manure in a greenhouse for watermelons and melons? About 30 centimeters will be sufficient. Important! Discard fallen leaves.

Dangerous garden pests like to winter in them. In the spring, you can add straw manure or humus with mineral fertilizers.

To improve the structure of the soil, a bucket of river sand is poured into each square meter of the area and the beds are dug up. To reduce soil acidity add calcium and magnesium compounds... They nourish plants and improve their growth.

Sulfur or ammonium sulfate will help to increase the acid balance. By the time the seedlings are planted, the land must be warmed up. To do this, remove a layer of soil to the depth of a shovel, put a mixture of grass material and humus, pour plenty of hot water. Put the earth on top and cover with foil.

What you need to know about seedlings?

Two factors influence the production of strong, healthy seedlings:

1. Correctly selected seeds. They must be large and of high specific gravity. A solution of table salt will help not to make a mistake. The seeds are dipped in liquid (a teaspoon in a glass of water). Those who come up are thrown away. For sowing, they take those who have settled at the bottom. Necessarily rinse from salt residues, dry.
2. Nutrient soil. It is sold in stores, but it is not difficult to make it yourself. Mix three kilograms of humus with a kilogram of sod land. Add 200 gr. wood ash and a small spoonful of potassium sulfate. Sometimes mix in peat or river sand... The soil should be loose, light, moisture permeable.

How to grow watermelons and melons in a greenhouse? Seedlings usually begin to grow in early April. From sowing the seeds to the formation of a plant ready to move to a greenhouse, it takes 25-35 days for watermelons and 20-25 days for melons. Based on this, the exact date of the start of work is calculated.

Seeds for fast germination soaked in warm water for two to three hours. It will not be superfluous to dip them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to protect against diseases.

In peat pots for seedlings (can be replaced with plastic cups or a cut bottle), drop one seed at a time to a depth of three centimeters. Cover with foil on top. The temperature is kept at least 25ºC. When shoots appear, the film is removed... If the greenhouse is heated, the pots with future watermelons and melons are transferred there. If the temperature is low, it is grown on a windowsill.

A few tips will help ensure high vitality of young plants.

• seedlings need a lot of light. In order to prevent stretching of the plants, it is advisable create an extended daylight for them (at least 14 hours);
• watering carefully. If water gets on the leaves, they can rot;
• plants are sensitive to personal space. The pots should not be close to each other;
• do not neglect mineral dressings.

The seedlings are transferred to the greenhouse at the stage of two to three true leaves. The earth should warm up to 14ºC... The night air temperature is not lower than 5ºC-8ºC, and the daytime temperature is above twenty.

In case of sudden drops in air temperature, the seedlings in the greenhouse must be covered. Plants will not tolerate even short-term frosts.

The sprouts are carefully removed from the plastic container along with a lump of earth and dipped into the holes spilled with warm water. Their depth is 10 cm. The seedlings are placed at a distance of 50 - 70 cm from each other in a checkerboard pattern. Above the ground is mulched with sawdust.

You can plant two plants in one hole. In this case, the lashes are directed in opposite directions from each other. To avoid decay of the root collar, do not deeply bury the plant in the soil. The lump should rise 2 cm above the ground.

How to take care of it properly?

Work to get a decent harvest not time consumingbut requires certain conditions to be met.

• A well-formed plant will give good fruiting.
• Watermelons and melons need plenty of sun and warmth.
• Humidity should be lowered.
• A garter to the trellises is required.
• The emerging yellow flowers indicate the need to move on to the next stage - pollination.
• Melons growing in the greenhouse require mandatory feeding with wood ash.
• Melons should not touch the ground.

There are several ways to solve the problem:

1. Place each ripening fruit in a separate net and tie it to the trellis. This is the best method to preserve watermelons and melons.
2. Place a board under the watermelon or melon. This method is good only for the lower fruits (or you will have to bend the lashes to the ground). The disadvantages are the need to regularly turn the berries for their uniform ripening.
3. Make shelves of any material, fix them on the walls of the greenhouse. The fruit will also have to be turned over.
4. Sometimes cardboard boxes are used instead of nets. It is difficult to attach them to the trellises, it is difficult to monitor the development of the fetus.

The ripeness of watermelons will be reported shiny bark with a clear pattern, a shriveled stalk and a characteristic dull sound when hitting the berry. Ripe melons give off a unique aroma. The harvest is stored in cardboard boxes. Desirable each fruit in a separate container.

How to avoid mistakes?

In some cases, the melons are not tied. This happens because of the mistakes made.

1. Wrong seed selection. It is better to buy them in specialized stores. Pay attention to the expiration date and the acceptability of cultivation in a particular region;
2. Violation of the conditions for growing seedlings and fruiting plants. Lash formation, garter, pollination affect the formation of ovaries;
3. Low ambient temperature. In a cold rainy summer it is necessary to provide additional heating of the greenhouse and illuminating plants with LED or sodium lamps.

Subject to simple planting and care conditions, melons and gourds in protected ground will grow no worse than under the southern sun. Eco-friendly, nitrate-free watermelons and melons will delight gardeners with a bountiful harvest and excellent taste.

Useful video:

It is quite possible to grow a watermelon or melon, having at least a film greenhouse, even in the harsh Russian climate. It is enough just to choose the right varieties, grow seedlings in a timely manner and take a responsible approach to agricultural technology.

Of course, the first year of caring for capricious melons and gourds may seem difficult or incomprehensible to you. But the very next season, when you understand all the principles of growing watermelons and melons, things will go easier, and the harvests will delight you.

How to choose varieties of watermelon and melon for the greenhouse

Even having a good greenhouse will not provide you with a warm period as long as in the homeland of watermelons and melons. Therefore, it is better to choose early maturing and ultra-early maturing varieties that have time to ripen before it gets colder or planting attacks diseases. In addition, you should not chase large-fruited varieties - in the middle lane these plants will still not give the promised result, but they will be much inferior to their medium-sized counterparts in taste.

Watermelon varieties for greenhouses

In garden centers, you can see the seeds of dozens of varieties of watermelons for greenhouses and open ground. For the first time, you should not type a dozen sachets, 1-2 will be enough, but with proven options.

Variety / hybrid	Ripening period	Fruit weight	Features of the variety
Knyazhich	68-73 days after germination	4-6 kg	Raspberry pulp, thin skin
Crimson Sweet	67-82 days after germination	3-5 kg	Resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose
Twinkle	70-87 days after germination	1.5-2.5 kg	Slightly segmented surface, brittle crust
Orange Medoc F1	70-85 days after germination	2-2.5 kg	Orange pulp, high sugar content
Gift of the sun	68-73 days after germination	4-4.5 kg	Orange fruit skin, leaves with yellow veins and petioles, compact bushes
Suga Baby	75-85 days after germination	3-5 kg	Grainy pulp, high in sugar

Melon varieties for greenhouses

Melons adapted for cultivation in greenhouses are also distinguished by early maturity and ultra-early maturity. Many of the varieties are disease resistant and boast aromatic juicy flesh in a small size.

Variety / hybrid	Ripening period	Fruit weight	Features of the variety
Altai	65-75 days after germination	0.8-1.6 kg	Lemon-yellow oval fruits, lashes up to 2 m long, the plant is resistant to low temperatures
Gold of the Scythians F1	75-80 days after germination	1.1-1.3 kg	Resistant to powdery mildew, the rind is covered with a dense mesh
Mohawk F1	75-80 days after germination	1.2-1.7 kg	Unsuitable for storage, loses sugar quickly after ripening
Reward	65-70 days after germination	1.5-2 kg	The crust is covered with a dense mesh
Auge F1	80-85 days after germination	0.8-0.9 kg	A compact shrub with short branches, well suited for vertical trellises, when ripe, the fruit rind turns yellow
Ethiopian	70-80 days after germination	3.5-5 kg	Compact, powerful bushes, fruits are well stored, the variety is resistant to sunburn

Seedlings of watermelons and melons

At the stage of growing seedlings, watermelons and melons are no different from each other. All procedures and terms for these cultures are the same, so you can carry out the work "in bulk".

How and when to sow watermelons and melons

A mixture for sowing seeds of melons and gourds is prepared from 1 part of low-lying peat, 1 part of humus, 0.5 part of washed sand. For each liter of the finished mixture, add 2 tablespoons. ash and mix well.

Watermelon and melon seeds are sown for seedlings in mid-April. 1 seed is placed in separate pots to a depth of 2 cm. Initially, the pots are filled with soil by 2/3, and in the process of growth, the soil is poured so that the seedlings form additional roots.

The first days after sowing (before germination), the pots are kept in a warm room with a temperature of 25-30 ° C. After that, for a week, the temperature is reduced to 16-18 ° C, and during the period of active growth of seedlings, the temperature should be 20-25 ° C during the day, and 16-18 ° C at night.

From the emergence of seedlings to planting seedlings in a permanent place, 30 days should pass.

Care for watermelon and melon seedlings

Excessive moisture for melons is destructive at any stage, so water the seedlings no more than 2 times a week, and let the soil dry out in between. But you should not forget about feeding - spend the first one at the stage of the appearance of the first true leaf, and the second one after 2 weeks.

To fertilize seedlings, dissolve in 1 liter of water:

• 2 g superphosphate;
• 1.5 g of potassium chloride;
• 1 g of ammonium nitrate.

The resulting solution can be watered up to 15 plants.

Planting seedlings in a greenhouse

Planting seedlings of watermelons and melons to a permanent place is carried out in mid-May, preferably on a cloudy day or in the evening. The plants are transferred with a clod of earth, after having shed the soil well.

Melons are sensitive to fungal diseases, therefore, it is impossible to deepen the root collar, and it is advisable to sprinkle the planting site with sand. For the first couple of weeks, the seedlings are watered with warm water so as not to increase the stress from the transplant.

Watermelon and melon care

Under natural conditions, melons and watermelons are so unpretentious that they are sown and forgotten before harvesting. Alas, our climate does not allow us to do the same with melons, and there is not much room in an average greenhouse.

How to water melons in a greenhouse

Watermelons and melons are watered at the rate of 2-3 buckets of water per 1 sq.m. Before flowering, this should be done once a week, during the flowering period 2 times a week, and after the fruits begin to ripen, watering is reduced to 1 time in 10-15 days.

How to feed watermelons and melons

With greenhouse cultivation, watermelons and melons are fed 3 times per season (not counting the fertilizers that are applied during the seedling period):

• 1st feeding - at the time of planting in the ground;
• 2nd feeding - in the growth phase of the side lashes;
• 3rd feeding - during bud formation.

An excess of nitrogen fertilizers lengthens the growing season and delays the ripening of the crop.

Melons respond well to the introduction of complex mineral fertilizers.It is best to prepare for them a mixture of 100 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium salt, 15 g of ammonium nitrate. These substances are diluted in a bucket of water, which is then consumed for 2-3 plants.

Formation of watermelon and melon bushes

The most difficult thing in caring for watermelons and melons is the formation of bushes. Since the size of the greenhouse does not allow them to "spread", you need to install trellises and guide the lashes for vertical growth.

Each plant is capable of giving a couple of dozen ovaries, however, 3-4 fruits on one bush can ripen in our latitudes. The rest simply take away strength and slow down maturation. To wait for ripe watermelons and melons, you need to pick off excess ovaries and female flowers.

So that the fruit branch does not bend, the fruits are placed in a net and tied to a trellis.

Vertical cultivation of melons in a greenhouse not only saves space, but also gives the lashes more lighting, which means that it accelerates the ripening of fruits. To get a trellis culture, a few days after planting the seedlings, a structure of supports and wire is installed above it. At a height of 2 m, a rope is tied, and its lower end is twisted in a free loop around the stem of the plant. As they grow, the shoots are twisted around the rope.

There is one more subtlety in the formation of melons - they need to pinch the apical growth points of the lashes above 3-4 leaves. Then shoots are formed from the axillary buds, two of which must be left and lifted onto a trellis in the shape of the letter V, and the rest must be removed. Without pinching, the plant will spend energy on the development of lashes to the detriment of the fruit.

Problems and diseases of greenhouse melons

The greenhouse is able to provide watermelons and melons with the required temperature, but these southern plants are also accustomed to dry air. In the closed space of the greenhouse, it is very humid, and this leads to a number of problems and diseases.

Diseases

Most often, watermelons and melons in the greenhouse suffer from powdery mildew and anthracnose. In the first case, the leaves are covered with a white, gradually darkening bloom, and in the second, brown or pink spots form on them, and the fruits wrinkle and rot.

Anthracnose stains on watermelon leaves

High humidity, lack of sun and low temperatures lead to the appearance of diseases. Treatment with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid or copper oxychloride can serve as prophylaxis.

If there are signs of powdery mildew or anthracnose on the melons, the affected areas of the plants must be removed immediately. Two-fold (with an interval of 7-10 days) processing of plantings with Bordeaux mixture and regular airing will help to save the harvest.

Growing difficulties

Even the most diligent and experienced gardener can face a number of challenges when growing these crops. Fortunately, each has its own solution.

Lack of ovaries associated with a lack of pollination, often found in greenhouse crops. In order for insects to get inside, you need to leave the vents and doors open, spray the bushes with sweet water or plant honey plants next to them. If all the measures do not help, you will have to manually pollinate the flowers.

Rotting fruit occurs due to high humidity and accumulating condensation. The greenhouse must be ventilated at least twice a day and wiped from the inside, preventing cold drops from falling on watermelons and melons.

Unsweetened fruits - another consequence of high humidity. Even if watering is minimized during the ripening period, the plants will still be able to receive water through the leaves, and the sugar level in melons will decrease from this. To cope with this problem, it is worth keeping the greenhouse in airing mode every time the temperature allows it, and only closing it overnight.

Is it difficult to grow a watermelon or melon in a greenhouse in the country? We admit, not as easy as, for example, zucchini. But you will also get a lot of joy from harvesting a sweet harvest, which means it is worth the risk.

Watermelon and melon grown on their own backyard is the dream of many gardeners. As you know, these are thermophilic crops, and in more severe climates, they are best grown in greenhouses. With the right approach, this is not such a hard business, but you can eat honey melons or juicy watermelon already at the beginning of summer.

The right greenhouse

The cultivation of melons requires the creation of appropriate conditions for the plants. They need reliable protection against damage by late frosts, feeding several times per season and forming plants to obtain high-quality fruits.

To ensure the correct development of watermelons and melons in the greenhouse, it must meet certain requirements.

1. Greenhouses are not suitable for growing melons - they are too low and small. A tall greenhouse is a good option. Under natural conditions, the shoots of the plant spread along the ground, and in the greenhouse, due to the limited area, they twist along the trellises. Therefore, the higher the greenhouse is, the better. The optimal height will be about 2 m or more.
2. In a greenhouse, watermelons and melons can coexist with other crops, but this is not the best option. Southern plants perfectly tolerate drought, high temperatures, but humidity in the greenhouse from 60% or more can cause fungal diseases of melons. Therefore, it is better to allocate a separate greenhouse for their cultivation.
3. Melon or watermelon require neutral soil, pH 6.8-7, fertile, not very oily and well-drained. The soil should be well warmed up.

Seeds and seedlings

By choosing the right seeds, you can ensure a good harvest of greenhouse melons. When choosing seeds, it is imperative to give preference to varieties adapted to growing in a particular climate. You also need to pay attention to the ripening time: if the period from germination to ripening is short, then the fruits will be tasty and juicy. With a long ripening period, you can be left without a long-awaited harvest.

The size of the fruit also plays an important role. The best varieties for growing in greenhouses will be varieties with small fruits, giant watermelon and melon can only grow naturally in the south.

To get strong, healthy seedlings, seeds are sown in the second half of April. There are several rules that will ensure good results:

• for each plant, it is better to immediately select a separate pot or glass, with a diameter of 8-10 cm;
• to increase the germination of seeds, before sowing, they must be soaked for several hours in any immunostimulant or just in warm water (25 degrees);
• to provide the seedlings with all the necessary nutrients, three parts of humus, a glass of ash and a teaspoon of potassium sulfate are taken for one part of simple land;
• the seeds need to be immersed to a depth of 2-3 cm, and to make it easier for the sprouts to germinate, they are placed on their side;
• the temperature regime is very important, before germination, the temperature should be maintained at about 25 degrees, and after the sprouts appear, it is reduced by 3-4 degrees;
• before the emergence of shoots, the cups must be covered with foil or glass.

The seedlings grow very quickly. About a month after germination, it can be planted in a greenhouse. But before that, it is worth paying attention to young plants:

• as the leaves grow, you need to move the cups with melons or watermelons away from each other, giving the plants more space;
• daylight hours should be 13-14 hours, so you will have to use additional lighting lamps to prevent the sprouts from stretching and weakening;
• you need to feed the plants with a solution of complex fertilizers, the procedure is carried out 10 days after germination, and then again after 10 days.

How to grow a watermelon in a greenhouse (video)

Care for melons in the greenhouse

It is possible to plant watermelons and melons in the greenhouse already from mid-May, after warm weather sets in and the night temperature does not drop below +5 degrees.

Before planting seedlings, you need to prepare the soil. In the greenhouse, they dig a trench 20 cm deep, at the bottom of which hay and humus are laid. Then nitrogen fertilizer is scattered and poured over with hot water. After that, the soil is covered and the prepared area is covered for several days with black film to quickly warm up the earth.

Landing is performed as follows:

• the distance between rows should be 70 cm, and between plants in a row - 50 cm;
• two plants can be planted in one hole at once, and then their shoots can be spread along the trellis in different directions;
• the holes are filled with humus and watered with plenty of warm water;
• seedlings have delicate roots, so the transfer from cups or pots to holes must be done very carefully so as not to damage them;
• a lump of earth with seedlings should be slightly raised above the soil to avoid rotting of the hypocotal knee.

Further cultivation of watermelons and melons comes down to a few simple operations.

1. Airing. If the temperature in the greenhouse exceeds 30 degrees, you need to open the vents or slightly raise the film for airing.
2. Watering. If the leaves of the plants begin to drop, then this is a signal for watering. At the same time, it is necessary to avoid the ingress of water on the foliage and excessive moisture in the soil, which can lead to the development of fungus.
3. Fertilization. During the period of active growth of plants during irrigation, nitrogen and ammonia fertilizers and ash are applied. When the fruits begin to ripen, feeding is stopped.
4. Pollination. How to grow watermelons in a closed greenhouse without bees? You just need to do the pollination yourself. For this, large male flowers are plucked, the petals are cut off and the remaining anthers are carried along the stigmas of the female flowers.
5. Pinching is performed after the appearance of 5 leaves. When the emerging ovaries reach a diameter of 4-5 cm, the strongest is chosen on each lash, and the rest are cut off.
6. Plants can be tied up as early as 10 days after planting in the greenhouse. The grown fruits for tying are placed in nets and tied with twine directly to the trellis.

Adhering to the described rules, you can grow a sweet watermelon or melon even in Siberia, having received an excellent harvest.

Watermelons and melons in a greenhouse (video)

Gallery: watermelons and melons in the greenhouse (15 photos)

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Watermelon is considered a heat-loving plant, so many believe that growing such a crop in the northern or central regions is impossible. In fact, this sweet and huge berry can be obtained in absolutely any region, if you build a greenhouse on the garden plot and adhere to all the rules regarding plant maintenance.

Can watermelons be grown in a greenhouse all year round?

Growing watermelons in a greenhouse is aimed at getting the harvest of this crop in the central and northern regions of the country. The year-round cultivation of watermelons is unlikely to end with success, because for this crop all the prescribed planting dates must be observed. By the way, square watermelons can also be grown in a greenhouse.

The greenhouse is needed in order to correct the weather conditions and make them more suitable for the growth of such plants. In the off-season, the cultivation of watermelons even in a greenhouse is unlikely to end with success, because the berry does not have enough sunlight to fully ripen. In the event that you still manage to harvest the crop, it will no longer be so tasty and sugary.

Watermelons in greenhouses

Benefits of using a greenhouse

Growing a watermelon in a greenhouse will help create the necessary climatic conditions and protect the plant from various natural disasters. In addition, the covering structure boasts the following advantages:

1. Late return frosts, characteristic of the central and northern regions, negatively affect the development of culture.Using a greenhouse, you don't have to worry about this factor;
2. Too much moisture in the soil and air can significantly affect the taste of the fruit, they will become less sweet and watery;
3. The greenhouse will help to avoid various types of mechanical damage.

The construction of such a structure in the southern areas is not profitable, because there are favorable weather conditions and the harvest ripens without creating additional conditions there. As for other regions, the greenhouse will be an excellent way to grow such a melon crop.

How to choose and prepare a greenhouse or greenhouse?

In order to start growing watermelons in a greenhouse, you first need to build such a covering structure. The size of the land plot and the greenhouse itself will depend on the wishes of the gardener. It should be borne in mind that such plants are planted according to the scheme at a distance of 1 meter from each other, therefore, to grow 10 bushes, you need a structure with an area of ​​10 square meters, with a length equal to 5 meters and a width equal to 2 meters.

Watermelon, like cucumbers, is grown on trellises, so for the plant to feel comfortable and not be limited in growth, the height of the greenhouse should be at least 2 meters.

To determine which design is best suited to others, you should consider their characteristics:

Tied watermelons in the greenhouse

1. A greenhouse covered with film will be the cheapest and easiest option. The downside of the design will be that it is impossible to install additional heating in it, and, accordingly, it will not be possible to control the temperature regime in the room. It is possible to plant seedlings in such a structure as early as May at home or in the country.
2. The glass structure will be the most bulky you will have to establish a foundation for it. But if you build such a greenhouse, you can be sure of its durability and reliability. It is possible to build a heating system in it;
3. A polycarbonate greenhouse will be the best option, the only drawback of which will be the price. The structure is easy to install, holds firmly in place and creates opportunities for organizing heating. Planting seedlings is possible in April. Growing fruits with your own hands is not difficult.

Before planting watermelons, the greenhouse is prepared for this process:

1. Pipes are laid underground, through which hot water will flow and thereby create additional heating. A gas or electric boiler can be used as the main element;
2. In order to be able to increase daylight hours, fluorescent lamps are installed on the roof of the structure;
3. Melons and gourds do not tolerate the occurrence of fungal diseases, therefore, the frame, covering material and soil must be disinfected with Brodsky liquid or a solution of copper sulfate.

Selection of varieties and purchase of seeds

In order for a watermelon to ripen and give a good harvest, even in the northern region, it is necessary to choose the right variety, it must be zoned and refers to an early or medium ripening period. The following varieties of watermelon are popular:

• Siberian;
• Charleston near Moscow;
• Gift to the north;
• Light;
• Cinderella, etc.

Seeds suitable for growing crops must be large and heavy. Hollow planting material will not be able to adapt to environmental conditions.

You can check the quality of the seeds using a saline solution, into which the future planting material is released. For sowing, specimens that have settled to the bottom are suitable. Before planting, they are pre-washed and dried.

Planting and caring for a crop with your own hands

In order to grow a watermelon in a greenhouse, you need to take into account many factors that affect this process. In addition, they need to be looked after, watered and fed.

Growing seedlings

In order to get watermelons from seeds, you first need to grow seedlings... It is necessary to plant seeds at the end of April. A mixture of pergnea, sod land, sand and mineral fertilizers is used as a fertile soil.

Before sowing the seeds, they are soaked in warm water for several hours. With this procedure, you can improve their germination. To disinfect the planting material, it is immersed for several minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Peat pots, plastic glasses or cut bottles filled with fertile soil are used as containers for growing seedlings. Seeds are sown one at a time, deepening them by 3-4 centimeters.

Small watermelon fruit

In order for the seedlings to appear as quickly as possible, the container must be kept in a room with a temperature of at least 25 degrees. With the further cultivation of seedlings, you should adhere to some rules:

1. Daylight hours should be at least 14 hours a day;
2. Watering the seedlings must be very careful so as not to get on the foliage of the plant;
3. The pots should be spaced 20-30 centimeters apart;
4. Watermelons respond well to mineral fertilizing.

Planting seedlings in a greenhouse

Before planting watermelon seedlings in greenhouses, it is necessary to prepare the soil. This culture prefers fertile soils with neutral acidity. To achieve the best result, the following components are added for digging:

• humus;
• peat;
• superphosphate;
• potassium salt;
• ammonium sulfate.

The next step will be the formation of bulk ridges, which are placed along the walls of the greenhouse. They should be 30 centimeters high and 50-80 centimeters wide. The optimal distance between the rows is 1 meter.

Planting seedlings is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. To begin with, dig holes 10 centimeters deep;
2. The seedlings are taken out of the container along with an earthen clod. This is necessary in order to avoid damage to the root system;
3. Plants are staggered at a distance of 50-70 centimeters from each other;
4. Deepening the root collar into the ground can cause decay, so it is left on the surface;
5. After the seedling is in the ground, it must be watered and mulched with sawdust.

Watermelon close up

Correct temperature and lighting

In the best way, watermelon develops and forms its fruits at an air temperature of 30 degrees. To avoid condensation, the greenhouse is periodically ventilated, while avoiding the creation of a draft.

Optimal daylight hours should be 14 hours... With a lack of this indicator, it is necessary to use artificial lighting. Watermelon does not react well to open sunlight, therefore, on too hot and sultry days, the walls of the greenhouse are slightly shaded.

How often to water the berry?

Watermelons have a deep root system, thanks to which the plant can extract moisture from the deep layers of the soil. How often is watering done? You need to water the bushes only when the leaves begin to wilt slightly. In this case, the risk of waterlogging is minimized. During watering, you should avoid getting drops on the leaves and shoots of the plant.

The consequences of waterlogging are root rotting and the appearance of cracks in the fruits.

To obtain the richest harvest, once a month, the soil is watered with complex mineral fertilizers diluted in water. Also, before the start of fruit formation, the bushes were fed with ammonium nitrate every 2 weeks.

Plant formation

Getting a rich harvest directly depends on how the shrubs were formed:

Greenhouse watermelon care

1. The growth point must be pinched above the fifth sheet;
2. On the two lower shoots, flowers appear later than the others, so the fruits will not have time to ripen. Such lashes are removed immediately after they appear;
3. Shoots without ovaries are also removed;
4. In order for the berries to develop well, the shoots are tied to a trellis. Such work is performed under the second or third sheet. As the lashes grow, they are periodically twisted;
5. Lateral shoots, on which ovaries have formed, are also subject to pruning. They are cropped above the third sheet above the female flowers and above the seventh sheet above the male flowers.

5-6 fruits are left on one plant, this amount is the most optimal.

Experienced gardeners believe that watermelons should not lie on the ground during fruit ripening, so they are placed in a separate net and hung from a trellis.

Pollination

After the yellow flowers appear, they will need to be pollinated on their own. In the open field, bees do this job, but in the greenhouse there are no such “workers”. The whole process takes place according to the following rules:

1. It is very important not to miss the indicated dates, because male flowers fall off after a few hours, and female flowers will retain the ability to pollinate for only 3 days;
2. Male flowers (the largest and without ovary) carefully pick and remove the petals so as not to damage the pollen;
3. The stamens are applied several times to the pistils.

Possibility of joint planting of watermelons with melons and tomatoes

Growing watermelons in a greenhouse is quite an interesting process, and with the proper skill, such a culture can be placed in the same room with other plants:

1. In order not to wait for a favorable time for planting watermelons, you can grow early greens or radishes in the greenhouse, which will be useful predecessors;
2. Watermelon is a drought-resistant crop, next to which tomatoes and eggplants are successfully grown. These plants have similar care needs and rules.
3. Melons are also good neighbors for watermelons. By the way, they can be planted even in the same garden bed.

Watermelon seedlings for planting in a greenhouse

Harvesting

Harvesting usually begins in mid to late August. The full ripeness of the fruit can be judged by the following features:

• the junction of the berry and the whip partially dries up;
• a bright pattern appears on the surface of the watermelon;
• when tapping, you can hear a dull sound and feel vibration.

Gather the grown fruits very carefully to avoid mechanical damage. In the event that a scratch appears on the watermelon, the shelf life will be much shorter.

Growing watermelons in a greenhouse is a very painstaking process that requires constant monitoring of various indicators. With the help of such a design, melon crops can be grown not only in the south, but also in the north and in other regions.