How to grow watermelons outdoors in Ukraine?

Growing this culture on your site is available to everyone. To do this, you just need to choose the right varieties and hybrids, prepare properly the seeds and soil, and sow and harvest on time.

Zinoviy Sych Professor of the Department of Vegetable Growing, National University of Bioresources and Nature Management of Ukraine Zinoviy Sych - Professor, employee of the National University of Bioresources and Nature Management of Ukraine, expert on vegetable growing and horticulture

Growing a watermelon

Many summer residents who tried to grow a watermelon in their area were faced with the fact that the fruits grow small and tasteless or even die before flowering. The reasons for the failure - in ignorance of the biological characteristics of this culture, its requirements for light, heat and mineral nutrition.

Watermelon prefers uniform heat without sudden changes, the air temperature is + 20-30 C, a sufficient amount of warm moisture in the soil and at the same time dry air. If the soils are cold and waterlogged, rot develops on the fruits and their roots. To increase soil fertility, clover, alfalfa and perennial grasses should be planted before planting a watermelon.

Also, this culture belongs to calce lovers, therefore, any increase in soil acidity impairs the growth and development of plants. For successful pollination and fruit setting, a watermelon needs pollinators, since the flower opens only for 2-3 hours. Without this, the fruits fall off or become one-sided.

Soil preparation

Preparing the soil for planting a watermelon is carried out in the fall. For this, organic fertilizers are applied (up to 5 kg per 1 m²) and mineral fertilizers are spread evenly. The soil is dug up and snow retention is carried out. In the spring, the soil is harrowed with a rake and loosened with a hoe to the sowing depth. When sowing, you can add 1 tbsp to each hole. l. nitrophoska or ammophoska, thoroughly mixing with the soil. During the winter, it is worth preparing wood ash and shells from eggs, which are high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. All these elements are necessary for watermelon, and calcium and magnesium, in addition, neutralize the excessive acidity of the soil.

Seed preparation

Watermelon seed preparation should be carried out throughout the winter. To do this, they are stored at a temperature of + 18-22 C.In addition, 2-3-year-old seeds are used, otherwise there will be few female flowers on the plant. Immediately before sowing, they are warmed up in the sun for a week. This environmentally friendly method of seed preparation is the simplest and replaces all other chemical treatments with stimulants.

Sowing seeds

The timing of sowing watermelon depends on the climatic zone and the temperature of the soil, which at a depth of 10 cm should not be lower than + 12-14 C. areas - after May 15. In cold soil, seeds can rot.

A watermelon is sown under a hoe, to a depth of 5–6 cm; 3-5 seeds are placed in each hole. Then they are covered with fresh soil and lightly pressed down. The row spacing is made large - 120-200 cm, and in a row the hole from the hole is placed at a distance of 70 cm, and for very early varieties ("Pivnichne syaivo", "Ogonyok", "Sugar Baby") - up to 100-120 cm.

In order to increase the temperature of the soil, the wells can be covered with cut plastic bottles, agrofibre, film, which are removed after germination. Agrofibre can be left on until the stems are formed. As weeds appear, the beds are weeded. After the first true leaves appear, the plants break through, leaving only one most developed in each hole.

Seed preparation

Watermelon is a cross-pollinated plant. The seeds maintain the varietal qualities wonderfully if only one variety grew on the plot. When several varieties are grown, cross-pollination and degeneration of the variety occurs. To avoid this, female flowers are isolated on the best plants and pollen is manually transferred from male plants of the same cultivar. When growing a hybrid (denoted by F1), pure-grade seeds cannot be obtained.

We grow from seedlings

This method is suitable for northern regions, as well as when you need to get an early harvest. Seedlings are grown in pots or cassettes. The soil mixture should consist of 50% sod soil, 30% humus and 20% river sand. For each bucket of the finished mixture, add a glass of wood ash. The sown seeds are kept for 10 days in a dark place at a temperature not lower than + 25-30 C, then for 20 days in a well-lit place and hardening is carried out for 5 days. The grown seedlings in cassettes can be planted at the age of 15 days. In the northern and central regions, it is planted only after May 22, when the threat of cold weather has completely passed.

Harvesting

The main stem of a watermelon is not pinched - it is on it that the first female flower is formed, from which the first largest and sweetest fruit grows. Sometimes it is possible to remove excess lateral shoots without female flowers. After setting the first fruit, the plant seems to "rest" for seven days - it blooms, but does not perceive pollen. There are 2-3 such flowering waves on each plant.

After the formation of the first 10 cm fruits, they are lightly marked with a cross. This will help you find out exactly when the cleaning is done. Fruits of early ripening varieties ripen 30–35 days after setting, mid-ripening ones - 40–45 days later, and late-ripening ones - 50 days later. The ripe fruit is recognized by the following signs: it stops its growth, the wax coating disappears, the stipule dries up near the stalk, with a light tapping, the watermelon makes a dull sound and crackles when pressed. Unripe fruits in the early morning seem whitish and do not shine, they do not ripen in maturation. For salting, not fully ripe watermelons are chosen, and for long-term storage - only ripe fruits of late-ripening varieties.

Watermelon diseases and pests

In the forest-steppe and Polesie, in wet and cold years, anthracnose causes great damage to watermelons. In the south, it appears less frequently - approximately 1-2 times every 10 years. When this disease occurs, the following drugs are used: "Alet", "Efatol", "Infinito 61", "Quadris 250", "Plant Doctor", "Metaxil", "Previkur", "Ridomil Gold MC".

Melon aphids cause irreparable damage to plants in dry and hot years. Therefore, you should not place a watermelon near zucchini and squash. In addition, in the spring, you can apply the drug "Anteater" against soil ants. In winter, they keep aphids, and in the spring they carry them to plants.

We select varieties

In the southern regions, it is possible to grow varieties from different groups of ripeness, in the Forest-steppe and Polesie - only early and medium-early ripening, for example, "Borchansky", "Garny", "Zoryany", "Knyazhich", "Legin" and many others.

Variety name	Fruit shape	Fruit color	Average fruit weight, kg	Color of the pulp	Characteristics of seeds
Borchansky	Rounded oval	Dark green with a noticeable pattern	2-4	Pink	Medium, almost black
Garny	Rounded	Wide blurry stripes on a light green background	2,5	Dark orange	Medium, dark brown
Holopristan	Rounded	Light green with thread pattern	4-5	Red	Small, black or dark brown
Zoryany	Rounded	Beautiful prickly pattern on a green background	4-5	Raspberry	Medium cream with black nose
Carmine	Rounded	Light green	5-6	Carmine	Small, dark brown
Knyazhich	Rounded oval	Wide spiky stripes	6-8	Raspberry	Small, brown with black dots
Crimson suite (foreign selection)	Rounded	Blurry stripes on light green background	5-6	Red	Medium brown with mesh
Legin	Rounded flat	Dark green prickly stripes	6-9	Raspberry	Medium cream with black nose
Twinkle	Rounded	Dark green	2-3	Carmine red	Small, dark brown
Pivnichne syaivo	Rounded	Green	1,5–2,5	Red	Small, brown
Sicheslav	Rounded	Blurry stripes on light green background	3-5	Pink	Large, brown with a pattern
Scarb	Rounded	Spiny stripes on a green background	5-7	Pink	Large, black
Favorite	Elongated	Spiny stripes on a green background	8-10	Pink	Small, brown with mesh
Montenegrin	Rounded	Black-green	2-3	Bright red	Small, dark brown
Shironinsky	Rounded	Blurry stripes on salad background	2-3	Raspberry pink	Medium, dark brown
Sugar Baby (foreign selection)	Rounded	Black-green	2-3	Carmine red	Small, dark brown

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

Features of planting watermelons in the open field

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

Site preparation

The soil for watermelons should be light and fertile; virgin sandy loam chernozem is preferable. They grow worse on clay soils.

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

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

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

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

Seed selection

First, you need to choose a variety that matches the climate of the region. In the middle lane, it can be Ogonyok, Sugar baby, Crimson Sweet.

Watermelon seeds come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Before boarding, it is recommended:

1. Warm up the seeds in the sun for a week or dip them in a gauze bag in hot (50-60 ° C) water for 5-10 minutes.
2. For disinfection, hold them in a pink solution of potassium permanganate (with a concentration of 0.5-1%) for about 20 minutes, rinse and dry naturally. To obtain a good harvest, it can be soaked in a solution of trace elements - manganese, boron, molybdenum - with a concentration of 0.05% for 16 hours.
3. With the seedless method of sowing, after warming up in hot water, the seeds are dipped into a solution of Zircon or Cytovit (1 ampoule per 2 liters of water). When they swell, you can sow.
4. To accelerate germination, seeds are germinated. To do this, they need to be wrapped in a wet cloth, put in a warm place with a temperature of + 20–25 ° С and constantly moistened without drying out. Remove the top layer for ventilation several times a day. When sprouts appear, the seeds can be sown directly into the ground or for seedlings.

Sowing seeds in open ground

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

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

The main thing is that as the planting grows, it does not turn out to be excessively thickened and all the berries that have set up have enough light, moisture and nutrition

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

5-6 seeds are placed in one hole to ensure germination. If everyone makes their way, they choose one, the strongest plant.

Planting watermelon seedlings

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

Sprouted seeds are placed in cups with soil, watered with warm water and covered with glass or polyethylene to create greenhouse conditions. Seedlings appear in 3-5 days.

Seedlings need to provide a favorable regime: temperature + 20-25ºC and lighting, natural or artificial, for 10 hours a day, no less.

After two weeks, the plants are fed with a water-soluble complex fertilizer, no organic matter is needed. Watering should be plentiful, but not frequent, twice a week is enough. Loosening of the soil is obligatory.

Soil for watermelon seedlings - a mixture consisting of humus, turf soil and river sand

Within 7 days before planting, it is necessary to temper the plants: take them out into the fresh air for 2-3 hours, then gradually increase the time. The day before, you need to water the seedlings well and spray with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid. The seedling must have at least 4 leaves. Plants are transplanted onto the garden bed very carefully, along with an earthen lump.

Growing watermelons outdoors

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

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

Bush formation

When the bushes have grown and several apple-sized fruits are formed, they begin to form. The side lashes are cut off, leaving 2 watermelons on each, the main one is pinched so as to save 2 leaves after the fruit.

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

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

How to form a watermelon whip - video

Growing watermelons on trellises

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

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

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

What do the tapestries do for the device:

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

From the moment of sowing, watermelons need constant care. They must be loosened, watered, fertilized, protected from pests and diseases.

Weeding

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

Weeding should be done several times during the growing season.

Watering

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

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

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

Melon growers advise to remove the fruit only 15–20 days after it has stopped growing in size

Fertilizers

Top dressing is carried out at the beginning of the formation of lashes of plants, before rain or watering. 10 sq. m you need to make:

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

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

Treatment of watermelons from diseases and pests

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

Agrotechnical protection measures

They consist in the strict fulfillment of the requirements for sowing and growing plants:

1. Compliance with crop rotation: the return of melons to their original place no earlier than after 5 years.
2. Treatment and dressing of seeds 1–2 months before the start of sowing.
3. The location of plantings on well-lit and warmed light sandy loam soils. Do not use heavy clay soils for watermelons.
4. Deep plowing and sowing of seeds at the optimum time.
5. Application of mineral fertilizers and microelements.
6. Constant weed control, prevention of thickening of plants.
7. Refraining from excessive soil moisture, frequent watering.

Chemical methods of protection

The following preparations are used to treat plants:

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

Prevention of diseases of watermelons - video

Cultivation of culture in the regions

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

Ukraine

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

Cultivation of watermelons in Ukraine begins in late April-early May, the latest date is mid-June.

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

Krassen variety - Ukrainian early ripening watermelon with a smooth black-green surface and tender juicy pulp

Local varieties and hybrids are grown here:

• early ripe:
  • Charivnyk,
  • Orpheus,
  • Kakhovsky,
  • Redness,
  • F1 debut,
  • Rank F1.
• mid-season:
  • Alliance,
  • Knyazhich,
  • Kherson.
• late ripening:
  • Sunrise,
  • Snowball.

Transbaikalia

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

• Fire;
• Sugar baby;
• The watermelon is ultra-ripe.

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

In mid-April, they begin to grow watermelon seedlings in peat cups. They are planted in a permanent place when 3-4 leaves appear, when the soil warms up well. This is usually the end of May.

How to make watermelons take root in the open field:

1. A week before planting, the seedlings are hardened, leaving for several minutes, then for several hours a day outside at a temperature of + 15-17 ° C.
2. A high bed is made for watermelons.
3. They dig holes in it, where they put dry grass for insulation, then compost, sand, fertilizers or ash.
4. Watered with warm water with potassium permanganate and planted seedlings with a clod of earth.
5. Arcs are made over the bed and covering material is laid.

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

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

Kuban

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

In dry years, local watermelons can be affected by spider mites. If lesions are found, they are treated with acaricides 2-3 times with a weekly interval.

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

Bashkiria

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

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

First, the seedlings are grown in cups, and then they are planted in warm soil. You can sow directly with seeds into the ground, but then you must mulch the ground and cover the planting with a film, which is cut when 2-3 leaves appear in the places of germination.

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

Lovers of sweet and juicy berries try to plant them in various parts of the country. And not without success! This means that you do not need to be afraid, but you should at least try to grow a watermelon on your site. We hope the experiment will be successful!

  The climate of Ukraine allows you to grow watermelons throughout the territory by sowing seeds in open ground.Note that this crop is very demanding for heat and light, so the seeds should be sown in the soil when warm weather sets in, usually in mid or late May. Cultivation of watermelon seedlings is not carried out here, because warm days in Ukraine are quite enough to get the harvest of these berries. Experienced melon growers claim that watermelons can sprout when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 centimeters warms up to 15 degrees.

For growing watermelons in Ukraine, it is recommended to choose well-aerated soils, such as sandy loam or loam. Heavy soil with a surface bed of groundwater is absolutely unsuitable for plants. The best option is neutral or slightly acidic soil with sufficient nutrients.

The key to a good harvest will be the correct preparation of the seed material. First, the seeds are placed in water heated to 50 degrees, then they are left to soak in a thin layer of liquid until the shell collapses. After ripening, around the 20th of May, the seeds can be planted in open ground. Seedlings of watermelons will appear at the end of the month, when the soil warms up to + 18 degrees. If the temperature of the air and soil is unsatisfactory, then the sowing of seeds can be postponed until warm weather is established.

Fertilization of the site is carried out pointwise, that is, useful components are poured into the planting holes, which reduces the consumption of expensive nutrients. A tablespoon of wood ash, a teaspoon of nitroammophoska and a little humus are added to each seed dimple. All these components are thoroughly mixed with the ground, then the soil is spilled with warm water and the seeds are sown to a depth of 6-8 centimeters. Next, you need to lay mulch from broken straw or humus on the site, which will retain moisture and prevent the formation of a dense crust.

To accelerate the ripening of crops, a transparent film is laid over the planted seeds or a wooden frame with a shelter is arranged. With the help of the considered devices, it is possible not only to increase the temperature in the soil zone, but also to avoid damage to plants by various pests, for example, beetles.

Crop care is reduced to thinning seedlings, loosening row spacings and removing weeds. Watermelons are irrigated with warm water during the flowering period and the formation of the ovary. After each moistening of the soil, it is necessary to loosen it, which will prevent the formation of a dense crust.

Many summer residents probably had to be upset more than once about the unsuccessful cultivation of watermelons on their plots. You can enjoy the taste of a ripe juicy berry if you take into account the advice of experts and experienced gardeners. In this article, we will consider the question of whether it is possible to plant watermelons at home, how difficult it is to care for them, and how often you need to fertilize and feed to get an excellent harvest.

Is it possible to grow watermelons at home in the country in the open field?

Growing a watermelon in your own garden is not as difficult as it might seem. In the open ground in the country, planting occurs in several ways:

• seed;
• seedling.

Sowing technology directly to the garden is used mainly in the warm regions of the country. As soon as the soil warms up to + 12 ° C, the preparation of seeds for planting begins. In more severe climate conditions, you cannot do without preliminary cultivation of seedlings. Otherwise, the berries tied on the stem will not have time to ripen before the end of summer.

Watermelons in the garden

The key to the successful cultivation of watermelons in the open field is the correct choice of varieties, the growing conditions of which correspond to the climatic features of the region.

Before planting, you need to sort the seed by size, removing damaged and affected seeds.Sizing (sorting) provides for a breakdown into groups according to size characteristics in order to ensure uniform growth of shoots. Otherwise, stronger shoots will not allow small ones to develop.

There is another preparatory procedure used by gardeners in the middle lane. This is scarification, the essence of which is the deliberate damage to the surface of the seed to stimulate growth. It is enough to rub the spout on fine sandpaper. In this case, the main thing is not to overdo it.

A mandatory step is to warm up the seed. To do this, it is kept in a thermos with hot water (+ 50 ° C) for about half an hour. Due to the temperature effect, all biochemical processes are accelerated.

Disinfection is considered an integral part of the preparation. The material is kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for about 20 minutes. After that, it remains to dry it under natural conditions (do not use an oven or battery).

A piece of juicy and ripe watermelon

The most popular varieties of watermelon for planting in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

When choosing varieties of watermelon, preference is given to early and mid-season species. Regardless of where you are going to plant melons: in Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, you need to choose the type of watermelon that will be suitable and will have time to ripen in these climatic conditions.

Pink champagne

The vegetative period lasts 80-95 days. The average weight of the fetus reaches 5-7 kg. The pulp is deep pink, juicy with a characteristic sweetness reminiscent of honey. The skin is dark green with yellowish stripes, medium thickness. The plant is quite unpretentious, tolerates moisture well.

Catherine F1

Vegetative period - 58-62 days, the average berry weight is 7-8 kg. A covering material is used to provide conditions for rapid ripening. Large leaves and spreading of the stem prevents the root system from sunburn. The hybrid is appreciated for its high sugar content and dense, but delicate structure of the red flesh.

Gift to the North

The fruit ripens in 75-85 days with an average weight of 10-11 kg. The plant is not very productive, but it bears fruit steadily. The bright red berry pulp is juicy and crunchy with a characteristic watermelon sweetness. The skin has a striped color, the thickness is small. The variety is immune to disease and moisture. The crop is well preserved and transported.

Nelson F1

The variety belongs to the early ripening species, the fruit ripens in just 65 days. The shape of the berry is elongated, the color is striped with alternating dark green and yellowish tones. On average, a watermelon weighs 12-14 kg. The red pulp is very juicy and tender with a high sugar content.

Libya F1

From the moment the seedlings are planted, the fruit ripens after 62-65 days, which refers it to the mid-early species. The ten kilogram berry has a round, slightly elongated shape with red flesh and an incredibly sweet taste. The plant is adapted to the climatic conditions of the middle zone. Among other varieties, it is the leader in yield, marketability and fruit preservation.

Rules for planting plants in open ground

Before planting seeds for seedlings at home, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of growing watermelons in the open field. This will help you get a good harvest, taking into account climatic factors.

Choosing seeds for planting at home

The seeds should be healthy with no signs of damage. Experts recommend giving preference to hybrids that are immune to many diseases, resistant to weather disasters, and a short growing season.

Inoculum preparation includes the following steps: calibration, warming up and disinfection. Scarification is optional.

Before sowing, you can slightly germinate the seeds by wrapping them in a damp cloth. After 1-3, a sprout will break through from the spout. The main thing in the process is not to let the napkin dry out.Then you can sow them in the ground according to a certain pattern.

Preparing the soil for sowing

Caring for watermelon after planting

The culture does not tolerate transplanting, therefore, the soil must be prepared for subsequent transfer with the sprout into the hole. For this, soil of a loose structure is poured into a pot or other container. Melons and gourds grow well in soil enriched with humus and peat. Therefore, you need to fertilize it in advance. If the density of the earth is high, sand and peat should be introduced into it. Do not forget also about nutrients: superphosphate, wood ash, etc.

Planting: at what distance from each other to plant seedlings in the ground?

Seeds are planted in open ground no earlier than the 20th of May, when warm weather sets in with a temperature regime of + 14 ° C and above. Seeds are sown for seedlings in the second half of April. In one pot with a diameter of 10 cm and a height of 12-14 cm, 2 seeds per 3 cm are buried.After germination, you need to leave a stronger sprout, and remove the other. The main conditions for good germination of the material:

• moderate watering;
• temperature regime + 25-30 °;
• lack of drafts;
• good illumination.

Under favorable conditions, the shoots will appear after 6-8 days. Further, the temperature drops to + 18 ° until the formation of a shoot of 4-5 cm. After removing a weak seedling, you can increase the mode to + 25 °.

At the time of transfer to the garden, the shoot should already have at least 4 leaves (age 30-35 days). 5-7 days before transplanting, the seedlings need to be watered less and the temperature should be set not exceeding 20 °.

It is better to transplant in the morning, so water the pots well in the evening. It is also advisable to treat the shoots with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid. The seedling is transferred into the hole with the soil and deepened to the cotyledon leaves. The spacing between the bushes is 70-100 cm.

Planting watermelon seedlings

How to care after planting on the site?

Young shoots need protection, therefore, after transplanting, the bed is covered with a film. You need to ventilate the shelter regularly to prevent condensation from forming. You can completely remove the protection in June.

To attract bees for pollination, it is recommended to plant honey plants near melons. If it rains during the pollination period, you need to carry it out manually

Watering rules

Melons and gourds love moisture, but you should not overdo it with irrigation. It is enough to water the beds once a week. After the opening of female flowers on the plant, the moisture rate decreases. After the fruit has formed, irrigation is not required.

Top dressing and fertilization for melons

After 12 days, the seedlings need to be fed with a nutrient mixture. based on fermented mullein (10 parts of water and 1 part of manure). A couple of weeks later, a second complementary food is introduced with the addition of superphosphate (50 grams per liter of solution), ammonium sulfate (15 grams), potassium sulfate (30 grams) to the mullein.

Similar groundbaits are used when growing seeds outdoors.

Reproduction

The culture is propagated with the help of seeds. In nature, this is facilitated by the round shape of the berry. After overripe, it opens and seeds are poured out along with the juice. The zealous owners, eating a delicious watermelon, wash the black grains in clean water and dry them. Store at room temperature in a dry place until the next season, after which they are grown in seedlings or non-seedlings.

Garden with watermelon sprouts

How to properly grow melons in the garden: the main mistakes

In order not to repeat the mistakes of other gardeners, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the most common ones.

• Giving preference to one or another variety, it is worth examining the ripening period of the berry. Mid-late and late species should be discarded, no matter what taste they have.
• Seeds are often thrown deep into dense soil. In such a land, the plant does not develop well.Clay or heavy soil must be diluted with sand and peat to give the structure a friability. You need to sow seeds at a considerable distance from each other.
• You should not choose a plot overgrown with perennial weeds for melon. Burian will kill young shoots, not allowing them to spread out and bloom.
• The opinion of some summer residents that the watermelon loves partial shade is considered erroneous. Planting under trees and bushes will not allow the berry to ripen, the culture loves a lot of sun.
• Cultivation of melons without treatments for pests and diseases casts doubt on obtaining a good harvest.
• The lack of nutrients in the soil reduces the fruiting period and the quality of the berries. The berry definitely needs top dressing and fertilization.

Pests and problems of growing watermelons

The culture is susceptible to the same diseases as cucumbers. This is:

• peronosporosis;
• ascochitis;
• powdery mildew;
• anthracnose.

When growing, the same preventive measures and treatments are used as when cultivating pumpkin plants: Ordan, colloidal sulfur, Abiga-Peak, HOM, etc.

Harvesting watermelons

Of the pests are considered dangerous:

• aphid
• wireworm;
• meadow moth;
• scoops;
• sprout fly.

If you detect the presence of insects or products of their vital activity, you should not hesitate with processing, most of the crop or all melon can die. If biological products did not give the desired effect after application, chemical insecticides should be used: Tantrek, Aktaru, Decis, Fufanon.

Correct harvest

You need to remove berries from the garden at a certain time. If you do this later, the watermelon will not be stored for a long time. The interval between the first stage of maturity and full ripeness is only 5 days, so it is important not to miss this period. Correctly harvested crop does not lose the sweetness and firmness of the pulp for a long time.

Ripe watermelons in the greenhouse

The ripeness of the fruit is indicated by the following signs:

• drying of the tail;
• formation of a clear pattern on the crust;
• the disappearance of bluish plaque;
• the presence of yellow spots on the surface of the berry;
• the smell resembles that of freshly cut grass;
• during tapping, a ringing sound is heard.

A hint of the ripeness of the berry can be the approximate ripening time of the fruit:

• early varieties - 32-35 days;
• medium varieties - 40-45 days;
• late varieties - 50-53 days.

It is quite possible to grow a delicious juicy berry on your site, if you take into account all the nuances and rules. Even if you grow watermelons in Khabarovsk or Bashkiria.The watermelon culture, although unpretentious, still requires attention. Diligence and work will certainly be rewarded with a generous harvest with a record-breaking berry.