How to grow watermelons outdoors in the Volga region?

Growing watermelons in the open field is possible even in the unstable climate of the middle zone. And we were convinced of this from our own experience. In order not to be unfounded, we will tell and show how to grow delicious watermelons in the country.

Several years ago, my parents already tried to grow a thermophilic melons and gourds, but the first experience was unsuccessful: the fruits did not have time to ripen and turned out to be tasteless. Perhaps the main mistake was choosing the wrong variety. Now we took a more responsible attitude to this matter and took into account the advice of experienced gardeners.

Choosing a variety of watermelons

The fact is that not every variety of table watermelon is suitable for growing in our latitudes. First of all, you need to pay attention not to the yield indicators or the taste of the fruit pulp, but to the ripening period. For the middle lane, those varieties and hybrids are suitable for which the growing season is 70-80 days, that is, early and mid-early. It is also important that the variety is cold-resistant.

We chose a very early variety Ogonyok and a medium early variety - Foton. The fruits of these varieties have different skin colors, so during the harvest we had no doubts which of the varieties turned out to be better.

Table watermelon Spark
	From germination to the first harvest - 73-83 days. The length of the main whip is no more than 180 cm. Fruits are globular, dark green, weighing 2.5-3 kg. The bark is thin and fragile. The pulp is red-orange, tender, sweet, juicy.

Table watermelon Photon
	Medium early variety of Russian selection. The period from germination to harvesting the first crop is 85-90 days. Fruit weight - 4-6 kg. The plant is long-leaved. Fruits are oblong-rounded, green with dark green stripes. The bark is of medium thickness. The pulp is red, very tender, of excellent taste.

Sowing watermelon seeds for seedlings

The most suitable sowing time is April. In more southern regions, it is better to do this in the middle of the month, and in northern regions - at the end.

In order for the seeds to sprout better, we first germinated them. To do this, they put it between two cotton pads moistened with water and placed it on the battery (or you can simply wrap it in a damp cloth and put it in a warm place). A few days later they hatched.

Then we took plastic cups with a volume of 0.5 liters, filled them with ready-made soil with an acidity of 6-6.5 pH, intended for seedling vegetables. The soil was moistened and one seed was planted in each container, deepening it by 1.5-2 cm. The seedlings need enough light for germination, so we put them on the windowsill located on the south side.

Seedlings of watermelons are grown without picking.

During the day, the air temperature in the room was maintained at 20-22 ° C, and at night - 17-18 ° C. All our radiators are equipped with thermostats, so it was not difficult to do this. The seedlings were watered 2 times a week. But if the air in the apartment is too dry, then the soil should be checked regularly and, if necessary, humidified more often.

The seedlings were not long in coming and sprouted together after 2-3 days.

Watermelons grow quickly. In early May, their stems have already begun to branch out and "crawl". It was high time to take them to the dacha.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Watermelons prefer light, sandy soil. Seedlings should be planted in the garden in the second half of May (25-30 days after the emergence of shoots), however, it is necessary to pay attention to the weather, because in the middle lane in May there are often night frosts, and the soil should have time to warm up to 12-15 ° WITH.

The watermelon lashes grow strongly. Therefore, we kept a distance of 70-80 cm between the plants, and about 2 m between the rows.

If the soil on the site is not very fertile, during planting of seedlings, it is recommended to add 17-20 g of potash, 15-17 g of nitrogen, 13-14 g of phosphorus and 5-6 g of magnesium fertilizers to each hole.

Since in our region it is still cold for watermelons in May, we installed metal arches along the beds and covered the plantings with spunbond. The nonwoven material was finally removed only at the end of June.

The watermelons were regularly weeded and watered as the soil dries. In general, they are picky and able to withstand drought. We came to the dacha only once a week, and the plants felt great.

When the long lashes grew, we covered their bases with soil to form additional roots. Thanks to this, plant nutrition improved, and strong gusts of wind could not break the stems. In addition, too long lashes that went beyond the garden and thickened the plantings, we pinched.

Harvesting watermelons

Watermelons are demanding for heat and light, so the ripening period of the fruits largely depends on the weather. We were harvesting in August-September.

The fruits were cut off the lashes when their "tails" began to dry out. It is very important not to miss this moment, as overripe watermelons quickly start to rot.

The fruits varied in weight. On hot days, rather large watermelons (weighing about 2 kg) ripened, but still most of the fruits did not reach 1 kg. Despite the fact that their flesh was light, the taste was excellent.

Watermelon varieties Ogonyok

However, not all varieties made us happy. The striped fruits of the Photon variety turned out to be small (they did not at all reach the 4-6 kg declared by the manufacturer). By external signs, they had time to ripen, but the taste of the pulp left much to be desired: it was quite juicy, but absolutely tasteless.

Foton watermelon

The largest fruit of the Photon variety that we have grown, weighed 3 kg 673 g.

But the own fruits of the Ogonyok variety turned out to be no worse than store-bought watermelons. Moreover, after collection, they were well stored on the balcony until mid-autumn.

Have you tried growing watermelons or melons outdoors under difficult climatic conditions? Share your experience in the comments.

Growing watermelon - varieties, care, benefits

Details Category: Melons and gourds

General information

It is reliably known about watermelons that the Egyptians feasted on them 4000 years ago. Fragments of leaves and seeds have been found in tombs of ancient Egypt, and drawings of watermelons have been found on the tombs themselves. To Russia, watermelons "reached" through Central Asia in the Volga region in the VIII-X centuries. Throughout the country, watermelons bred only by the beginning of the 17th century. Until the 18th century, in the vicinity of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Kursk, Voronezh, Vladimir, watermelons were grown in greenhouses. Currently, watermelons are mainly grown in the North Caucasus, the Lower Volga region and in the Krasnodar Territory.

Watermelon berries are distinguished by the presence of a large amount of juice and up to 8% of easily soluble sugars, as well as a fresh and sweet taste. Everything in a watermelon is edible. The pulp is consumed fresh or pickled, molasses is made from it, candied fruits and jam are made from watermelon peels. Oil is extracted from the seeds. The composition of watermelon is rich in all essential amino acids, there is malic, citric, nicotinic and succinic acids, carotene. Fiber - 1.5%, pectins - 1 - 2%, a large amount of vitamin B9, mineral alkaline salts.

Growing and caring

Watermelons "love" light, sandy loam and sandy soils, reliably protected from cold winds. It is better to choose southern, southwestern or southeastern slopes for planting. The roots go into the soil to a depth of one meter, so lands with closely located groundwater are not suitable. The beds are prepared in the fall: 2 to 6 kg of humus (or compost) per 1 sq.m. are introduced to a depth of 25 - 30 cm. dolomite flour or wood ash - 100 - 150 g, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers - 30 - 50 g.

In Russia, the most common varieties are Sugar Baby and Ogonyok. But one must always take into account the climatic features of the area. Experienced melon growers choose seeds with an average ripening period.

Seedling growing

To avoid crop losses from pests, grow watermelons from seedlings. At the same time, the ripening time is reduced.

10 minutes before planting, the seeds are soaked in warm water (no higher than + 50 ° C). The glass is filled with soil by 2/3, only one seed is immersed in it to a depth of 1 cm. To strengthen the root system of the seedling, soil is added during the growth process. Before the emergence of sprouts, it is necessary to ensure that the temperature is not lower than +25 - 30 ° С, after germination it can be reduced to + 16-18 ° С. After 24 - 28 days, the seedlings can be transplanted into the beds. Seedlings must be hardened 10 days before planting. During the day, the greenhouse is opened for 3 - 6 hours (depending on the outside temperature). The greenhouse is left open the day before planting.

At the end of May, when the spring frosts end, they again dig up the soil for the garden bed, making a groove in its center (30 cm deep). Manure is laid in it, and it is covered with earth on top. In order not to burn the roots of the seedlings, it is planted on both sides of the furrow with fertilizer. No more than 3 plants grow well on one square meter. After planting, the seedlings must be watered.

After a week, the soil around the seedlings must be loosened no deeper than 7 - 8 cm. In total, during the growing season, loosening is carried out three times. If watermelons grow in a greenhouse, then for a day it must be opened to evaporate excess moisture.

Too much watering is harmful to the taste of watermelons. The first time you need to water the seedlings, when you count 5 - 7 leaves, the second time, when they bloom, the third - in the interval between flowering and the formation of berries, the fourth - when the watermelons are formed. The volume of water for irrigation per hectare of melon is 250 - 300 cubic meters. Watering is stopped before harvesting.

In Russia, ripening of watermelons occurs in August. You can determine the maturity of a watermelon by a dry stalk, a bright color of the peel, a yellow spot in the place of contact with the ground and a dull sound when you click on the berry. Delicious watermelons ripen not only in melons, but also in garden plots. You just need to take proper care of them.

Disease and pest control

Copperhead or, scientifically, anthracnose affects the root collar and all aerial parts of the plant. In the middle of summer, you can see the first signs of the disease: brown or yellow round spots. On berries, these spots look like sores. The course of the disease is accelerated by high humidity and temperature (+ 22 ° C - + 27 ° C), as well as transportation. Watermelons quickly grow moldy and rot. Fungal spores can live on seeds for a long time, so decontamination is required. During the ejection period of 3 - 4 leaves, the plant is treated with a 1% solution of copper sulfate (Bordeaux liquid). Treatment of colloidal sulfur in greenhouses and greenhouses helps a lot. For 10 liters of water, 40 grams of sulfur are taken.

The most dangerous disease in watermelons is fusarium wilting. It damages plants throughout their entire life cycle. Infected soil causes seedling death and poor germination. In sprouts, the root collar decays, they wither and soon die. In adult plants, growth slows down, then they wither and also die after 4 - 5 days. Heavy soils and low temperatures are additional disease factors.Spores live for a long time on seeds, plant debris, therefore, to protect against disease, watermelons are planted in the same area no earlier than 5-6 years.

The most formidable pest for watermelons is the melon aphid. It brings the greatest harm in June. Later, it becomes less, because natural enemies appear: predatory bugs, ladybugs, lacewing. It is recommended to fight aphids using folk methods: infusions of potato tops, tobacco, tansy with additives from soap or washing powder.

Preparation of the infusion: 1.2 kg of the green part of the potato tops are insisted in 10 liters of warm water for 3-4 hours. You can boil it. Then filter, add 40 g of soap. The tobacco infusion is kept for a day. 400 g of tobacco is placed on 10 liters of water. Once infused, filter, dilute with water 1: 2, add 40 g of soap, and you can spray. You can also prepare infusions of garlic, hot pepper, horseradish, yarrow and other plants with antimicrobial properties.

Popular varieties of watermelons

In 1926, Sergey Nikolaevich Lutokhin, a pioneer in melon breeding, brought two selected watermelons from Melitopol to the Bykovsky melons nursery. They gave birth to two new varieties: "Melitopolsky 142" (which is still very popular in Russia) and "Melitopolsky 143".

The differences among the varieties of watermelons are in the color and size of the seeds, in the color and shape of the fruits. Watermelon seeds are red, black, white, yellow, and gray. The size is from 0.3 - 0.5 cm (small) to 1.5 - 2 cm (large). The color of the bark is dark green, white, striped and even yellow. The berries are round, oval, flat and long in shape.

The most common of the 70 varieties and hybrids included in the state register:

• Early ripe grade Zenith. The ripening period from germination to the first harvest is 73-94 days. The berry is round, light green in color with wide dark green stripes, weighing from 2.4 to 6 kg. The pulp is tender, bright red, with large brown seeds covered with black dots. It tolerates transportation well.

• The early ripening variety Pamyat Kholodova ripens in 89 - 106 days. The berry is round, the bark is smooth, white, monochromatic. Delicate red pulp. The plant is strong, the mass of berries is from 2.8 kg to 5.5 kg. The seeds are brown with black dots and are of medium size. The variety is resistant to diseases. Suitable for the Lower Volga and North Caucasian regions.

• The early ripening variety Dolby ripens in just 65 days. The berries are large, weighing up to 10 kg or more. Round shape, light green color with dark green stripes. Thick bark, bark 1.5 - 2 cm thick. The flesh is red or light red. Seeds are brown, speckled, small. The variety is resistant to fusarium and anthracnose, transportable.

• Early ripe variety Nice: ripens in 78 - 90 days. The berries are in the shape of a wide ellipse, the bark is smooth, light green with dark green wide stripes. Gains weight from 4 to 6 kg. The pulp has a red granular structure. Seeds are brown with a dotted pattern, small. The variety is transportable.

• The early ripe variety Siberian Lights gives the first harvest in 78 - 95 days. The berries are in the shape of a wide ellipse. The bark is smooth, dark green, on it there is a pattern of dull, black-green, narrow stripes. Berry weight 1 - 2.4 kg. Has a tender, dark red flesh. Suitable for growing in the East Siberian and West Siberian regions. Not transportable.

• The early ripe variety Foton gives the first harvest in 82 - 109 days. The stems have climbing properties. The berries are in the shape of a wide ellipse, with faint segments on the surface. The color of the bark is green with dark green stripes. Has a tender, red flesh. Berry weight - from 3 to 6 kg. Seeds are medium, oval, black in color. Suitable for growing in the Lower Volga region. Transportable.

• The early ripening variety Superearly Dyutina-2 (SRD-2) gives the first harvest in 58 - 60 days. It has short-climbing stems, with a slight development of lateral processes. The berry is round in shape, with small segments.Gains weight from 4 to 6 kg. The color of the bark is light green with dark green narrow stripes. The berry has red flesh with large, white-gray seeds. Suitable for growing in small farms both in greenhouses and greenhouses, and in the open field.

• The early ripe variety Shuga Baby has medium-climbing stems, round, smooth berries. The color of the bark is dark green with darker stripes of medium width. The variety is thin, the flesh has an excellent taste and a dark red color. Seeds are brown with a spotted pattern, small. It tolerates a drop in temperature in spring. It is very similar to the Russian variety Ogonyok.

• The early maturing variety Helen F1 ripens in 60 days. The berries are in the shape of a wide ellipse, the bark is smooth, green with dark green wide stripes. It gains weight on average 7 kg, but it happens even more. Dark red flesh with medium-sized brown seeds. Disease resistant. Suitable for growing under film.

• The mid-ripening variety Bykovsky 22 yields a crop at any sowing time, in any climatic conditions - just a melon grower's dream. The berries are spherical, light green in color with narrow dark green stripes. Resistant to diseases such as fusarium.

• The mid-ripening variety Astrakhansky has an external resemblance to Melitopolsky 142, is relatively resistant to diseases, consistently gives a high yield.

• Late-ripening variety Holodok, has berries of an elongated spherical shape, with small segments, weight reaches 5 - 6 kg. The color is similar to Melitopol 142. Shelf life is up to 5 months.

To these varieties you can add popular mid-season varieties, transportable, disease-resistant: F1 Chrisby, F1 Lady (hybrids), Crimson suite and others. Melon growers should bear in mind that domestic varieties are superior to imported ones in terms of drought-resistant properties.

Useful properties of watermelons

The pulp and juice of watermelon contains a large amount of antioxidants, including vitamins: thiamine, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, niacin, carotene. As well as folic acid (vitamin B9), which is especially important for the immune system and hematopoiesis. Thanks to so many substances necessary for a person, berries help the normal functioning and development of the body.

Due to its strong diuretic properties, watermelons are beneficial for people with kidney and heart problems. Not only does the berry remove excess fluid from the body, it also cleans it of toxins, and also prevents the formation of kidney stones and salts in the joints.

After removing excess fluid from the body, the pressure decreases gently, which means that the use of watermelon as a therapeutic agent can be recommended for hypertensive patients. Doctors advise including watermelons in the diet for those diagnosed with atherosclerosis and liver disease. The use of watermelon pulp is justified to enhance intestinal motility due to fiber, and to normalize metabolism. The properties of watermelons to remove all kinds of toxins from the body will be useful to those who work in hazardous industries or abuse alcohol-containing beverages.

The richness of watermelon in magnesium is a great advantage, because 200 grams of pulp contains the entire daily dose of this metal. Magnesium is an essential metabolic element. It helps the absorption of vitamins and minerals, is vital for the cardiovascular, nervous and gastrointestinal system. Its action normalizes blood pressure, sleep, reduces general fatigue.

Its properties will be very useful for combating excess weight: with practically no calories, the pulp satisfies hunger well, while removing excess fluid.

Even watermelon seeds can be beneficial. They contain an oil similar in properties to almond oil. The seeds of watermelons are endowed with an antihelminthic and hemostatic effect.

In home cosmetology, watermelon juice is used for express toning of the skin.

But there is no doubt that, first of all, watermelon is an unsurpassed opportunity to quench your thirst with natural and tasty juice.

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In sunny and well-sheltered areas, watermelons can be grown without insulated soil.

Watermelon - This is the main melon crop in the European part of our country, under the crops of which more than 500 thousand hectares are occupied. The word "melon" is of Tatar origin, translated into Russian it means "garden".

The Persians called this annual plant with a liana stem structure and a well-developed root system watermelon. This word has taken root everywhere, it is used by all peoples of the world. The culture of watermelon originated in Russia in the Lower Volga region already in the 7th century, but only a millennium later people began to show interest in watermelon in the central regions of the country. The fruit of the watermelon (false berry) is the largest in the plant kingdom. Its mass often reaches 20-25 kg, there are giant watermelons (more than 50 kg).

Growing watermelon

Watermelons are thermophilic plants. Watermelons are grown in the southern and southeastern regions... When planting seedlings and using film shelters, watermelons can be grown even in the central regions of the non-black earth strip.

The best varieties for this are Lyubimets khutor, Pyatigorskaya 286, Stokes 647/649, Skorospelka Kharkovskaya, Skvirsky Skorospely 10.

Growing watermelon outdoors

Outdoors, watermelon grows well in sunny and well-sheltered areas. Watermelons can be grown without insulated soil, but on cold nights, young plants need to be covered with paper, film, baskets, lined with paper from the inside.

To get a high yield, it is necessary to prepare the soil well for sowing. To do this, in the fall, deep autumn plowing is carried out at 25-27 cm. At the same time, manure is applied, the necessary doses of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are applied.

In the spring, before sowing, the field is harrowed and cultivated 1-2 times, and nitrogen fertilizers are applied. Sowing is carried out in a square-nested way. Seedlings are grown for 25-30 days and planted on 15-20 May under film shelters. Good results are obtained when planting seedlings in wooden boxes 40 × 40 cm or in deep holes, so that after planting they can be covered with glass. At the end of the frost, the boxes are carefully removed, and if the seedlings were planted in the holes, they are destroyed using the soil for hilling the plants. It is better to sow seeds and plant plants in steam pits, four plants per pit.

In summer, crops are thinned out, weeds are destroyed. During the period of caring for watermelons, particular importance is attached to feeding, loosening the soil, pinching, watering. During the regrowth of the main stem and leaves of the plant, it is necessary to water vigorously. During the period of fruit ripening, watering is reduced. With a little drying of the soil, the fruits ripen quickly and become sugary.

The first feeding is carried out 7-10 days after planting the seedlings, the second and third - at intervals of 12-15 days. When feeding, the same doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are applied as when growing pumpkin.

Watermelons have creeping stems. To make them better fixed on the soil surface, they are attached in two or three places with wooden pins (hooks) and sprinkled with soil. This is where adventitious roots are formed, which improves plant nutrition.

After the formation of three to four fruits, the remaining ovaries are removed, and the tops of the shoots are pinched. When a large number of lateral shoots are formed, non-bearing ones are cut out.

Watermelon needs protection from pests and diseases. Melon aphids, spider mites, melon fly, meadow moth cause great harm. The most common diseases are fusarium, powdery mildew, root rot.

Growing a watermelon in a greenhouse

Growing a watermelon in a greenhouse

In central Russia in greenhouses on solar heating you can grow watermelons early-ripening varieties - Rose of the Yugo-Vostoka, Stokes 647/649, Skorospelka Kharkovskaya, Ogoisk, Lyubimets Khutor Pyatigorsk 286. Seedlings are planted at the age of 25-35 days. IN winter greenhouse in winter-spring in turn, a high yield gives the medium early variety Spring.

Seedlings are planted in mid-May on the ridges 60-80 cm wide, 20-25 cm high and ridges 40-50 cm wide, 18-20 cm high according to a one-line pattern with a distance between plants in a row of 40-50 cm to a depth of 8-10 cm. The technique of planting seedlings is the same as by the cucumber. In the greenhouse, over the beds of plants, the trellis is pulled horizontally to a height of 2 m every 30-40 cm on both sides of the greenhouse. When the stems reach a length of 35-40 cm, they are tied to a trellis. To this height, all emerging shoots, flowers and ovaries are plucked out on the stem. Two to six ovaries are left on the main stem, the rest are removed.

Caring for a watermelon is similar to caring for a cucumber. Watermelon is watered in moderation, the air humidity is maintained at 60-70%. When the diameter of the fruits reaches 8-10 cm, they are placed in a net and tied to a trellis.

Growing watermelon in greenhouses and film shelters

Growing watermelon in greenhouses and film shelters

Into greenhouses with bio-heating 35-day seedlings are planted in late April - early May, in film shelters and solar-heated greenhouses - in mid-May. One or two plants are planted under one greenhouse frame; in 160 cm wide film gable greenhouses, seedlings are planted in one or two rows. With a one-line planting method, the row is placed along the western parubium, retreating from it by 20 cm, the plants in the row are placed after 50 cm.

With a two-line planting, one row is placed along the western one, the other along the eastern lad, retreating by 20 cm.Seedlings are planted in the holes in a checkerboard pattern after 80 cm.For uniform use of the area, the stems with a single-line planting are directed towards the eastern lad, with a two-line planting - the stems of the eastern row towards the western lad, the western row towards the eastern lad.

In film shelters, seedlings are planted on ridges or ridges to a depth of 12-16 cm with a distance in a row of 30-40 cm. Preliminarily, up to 2 kg of nutrient mixture or humus is introduced into the hole.

The air temperature in the daytime is maintained at 22-30 ° C, at night 18-22 ° C, and the relative humidity at 60-70%. In small-fruited varieties, five to six fruits are left on each plant, in large-fruited - two to three, pinching the remaining ovaries. Care is the same as for a cucumber under a film.

Grade. Medium early. Spring... A bee-pollinated variety grown in winter-spring circulation in winter greenhouses. The main lash is long, the reach is medium. The fruit is elongated spherical, weighing 2 kg. The surface is smooth, without mesh; background olive green. The pulp is bright red, grainy, tender, sweet, juicy. Seeds are oval, medium-sized, dark brown, smooth. The taste is 4.4 points. From germination to the first harvest, 103 days pass. The yield is 9.1-9.3 kt / m2. Spider mites damage the variety below average.

Early ripening varieties of Stokes 647/649, Rosa Yugo-Vostoka, Lyubimets Khutor Pyatigorsk 286, early-ripening Ogonyok, etc. are also cultivated.

In future publications, we will try to release a more detailed review of watermelon varieties.

Harvesting watermelon

The harvest is harvested as the fruit ripens. This is determined by the sound when the finger is tapped on the fruit. A dull sound indicates that the watermelon is ripe... This is evidenced by the drying of the antennae at the stalk, lightening of the pattern and color of the fruit.

Watermelons do not ripen at the same time, within 1 - 2 months... So that they do not overripe, they are harvested in several stages, that is, selectively, when fully ripe. To better preserve the watermelons, leave a part of the stalk.

Nutritional value, chemical composition of watermelon

The juicy pulp of watermelon contains a lot of easily digestible sugars., vitamins B1, B2, B3, PP, C, folic acid, carotene, which increase the body's resistance to infectious diseases. The mineral composition of the fruits is dominated by salts of iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium and phosphorus, which has a beneficial effect on the activity of the hematopoietic organs, digestion, cardiovascular system, endocrine glands.

Watermelon is a great medicine... Of all types of plant foods, it is the best diuretic that doctors prescribe for various diseases. Watermelon seed oil contains linoleic, linolenic and palmitic acids and can successfully replace the medicinal almond oil, it also has excellent taste. Even the green rind of watermelon is used in medicine. Raw or dried, it improves bowel function, helps with colitis.

Drinking watermelon

Since ancient times, honey-merdek, jam, refined molasses, wine, marshmallows and candied fruits have been prepared from watermelons. In winter, unripe salted watermelons were considered one of the most exquisite delicacies on the festive table.

Content:

• Optimal growing conditions
• Basic rules for growing
• Outdoor cultivation in unusual conditions
• Growing in a greenhouse

Growing watermelons and melons is troublesome and simple at the same time. These are melons and gourds, and melons from time immemorial have been smashed in the southern arid areas. Therefore, for the middle zone and other (not southern) regions of Russia, melons and gourds remain a kind of exotic. However, the ability to grow garden or garden plants unconventional for a particular zone has always been considered an indicator of special skill. So gardeners are trying to hone this skill by planting all kinds of exotic plants on their plots.

Melons and watermelons are perfect for such experiments. These are annual crops that are not afraid of harsh winters, and, in general, it is quite easy to grow them. Let's look at the basic rules for growing watermelons and melons, and also find out the features of the agricultural technology of these crops in atypical conditions for them.

Optimal growing conditions

Why do these crops grow without problems in the southern regions? The fact is, melons and gourds are warm and light-loving crops. For germination of their seeds, a temperature of at least seventeen degrees is required, and the most suitable temperature is considered to be from twenty-five to thirty-five degrees. The optimum temperature for growth is from twenty-seven to thirty degrees during the day and not lower than eighteen degrees at night.

In addition, melons and gourds are drought-resistant and react poorly to high humidity, which provokes the development of fungal diseases. The optimum moisture content for the successful growth of these crops should not be higher than seventy percent. The climate of the Lower Volga and Don regions (Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov oblasts), where melons and watermelons are grown without any particular problems, corresponds perfectly to these conditions. However, simply sowing seeds in the ground and safely forgetting about them is also not an agricultural technique. These crops require care.

Basic rules for growing

Two to three year old seeds are sown outdoors as soon as the weather is right. For a better harvest, the seeds can be pre-germinated by soaking for a day and discarding the "dummies". The area intended for growing watermelons and melons must be dug up, and the plowing must be deep. These crops are sown in a nesting way: five to six seeds in holes located at a distance of one and a half to two meters for watermelons and from one to one and a half meters for melons. Watermelon seeds are buried in the soil by five to six centimeters, the depth of planting melon seeds is three to four centimeters.

The seeds sprout after about eight days, after which they are thinned out, leaving one or two strong shoots.As soon as the second pair of true leaves appears on the seedlings, the first loosening of the row spacings and hilling of the plants is carried out. The second loosening and hilling must be done before the stems begin to creep. At the same time, it is necessary to weed the crops.

• Important! Weeding, loosening and hilling should be carried out only after the dew has dried.

Watering watermelons and melons can be carried out only before the start of fruit ripening and only when urgently needed. These plants are watered not at the root or along the leaf, but in the furrows dug in the aisles. Waterlogging of the soil is categorically contraindicated for these crops. Firstly, the plants themselves react poorly to it, and secondly, this contributes to the development of anthracnose (fungal disease).

Outdoor cultivation in unusual conditions

In central Russia, watermelons and melons can also be grown outdoors. True, in this case it is necessary to choose early or mid-season varieties. Recommended varieties (F1) of watermelons: Moscow Region Charleston, Gift of the North, Krimstar, Pink Champagne. Of all the melon varieties, it is better to opt for the Cinderella variety, which gives rather sweet fruits, but at the same time is less capricious.

In atypical conditions, melons and gourds are grown by seedlings and under a temporary film cover. Seeds (two each) are sown in pots with a diameter of at least ten centimeters. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked, and for friendly seedlings they provide them with a temperature of at least twenty-seven degrees. Seedlings are planted around mid-April, so it does not need additional lighting. During the seedling period, watermelons and melons are fed twice with mineral fertilizers and make sure that the sprouts in neighboring pots do not touch the leaves.

Plants are planted in open ground no earlier than mid-May, when the shoots will give three to five true leaves. And a week before planting, the seedlings are hardened, gradually lowering the temperature and airing. And one more important point: the melon seedlings must be pinched over the third or fifth leaf.

After planting, the plants are covered with a film tent and the shelter is not removed until about mid-June. The film can be removed only for airing purposes and only in the daytime. After the film is completely removed, the crops are weeded and loosened, and the lashes are evenly distributed over the garden bed. After the appearance of the first three (but not more) fruits, all other ovaries are removed, and the tops of the lashes are pinched. In a humid climate, planks are placed under the set fruits, and the plants themselves are covered during the rain, protecting them from excess moisture.

Growing in a greenhouse

For greenhouse cultivation of watermelons and melons, any sufficiently spacious greenhouses are suitable. Seedlings are grown in the same way as for open ground, and they are planted in greenhouses, placing the holes at a distance of half a meter, and making rows of holes after seventy centimeters. When planting seedlings, about one and a half kilograms of humus are introduced into each hole, watered with warm water, and plants are planted in the resulting thick gruel. After that, each hole is covered (from the sides) with dry earth so that a crust does not appear.

• Important! When planting, in no case should the seedlings be buried. A lump of earth on the roots must necessarily protrude one or two centimeters above the soil surface.

In the first week after planting seedlings in the greenhouse, the plants do not need any care. It is only necessary to ventilate the greenhouse in warm sunny weather by opening the vents or tucking the film. After a week, the plants are watered with warm water and fed with nitrogen fertilizers. Together with this, the plants are tied up (like cucumbers).

Watermelons are grown in one stem, removing all shoots without ovaries, and pinching the lashes with fruits three leaves after the ovary. When the lashes grow to the end of the support, they are also pinched. The main stem and one or two lateral shoots are tied up in the melon.For melon cultivation, only the strongest "sides" are left, the rest of the whips are removed without regret.

Before the start of fruit ripening in greenhouse conditions, the plants are watered no more than once a week in the furrows next to the holes and one or two more complex fertilizing is also carried out. For the ovary of fruits, melons and gourds need pollination. And if insects do not fly into the greenhouse, then it is necessary to carry out artificial pollination, transferring pollen from male flowers to female ones. When growing watermelons and melons in a greenhouse, it is imperative to tie up not only the whips, but also the fruits themselves. When they reach the size of a large apple, they are placed in a net (possibly with a frame), and the net itself is tied to a support.

These are the simple rules for growing melons and gourds. So the unsuitable climate is not a hindrance to gardeners. Watermelons and melons can easily be grown on your own plot, only armed with the necessary knowledge and following certain rules. Have a nice harvest!