Watermelon loves sunlight And warm air. To ripen, it needs a lot of light, hot summers with rare but plentiful rains, and sandy soil. Such ideal conditions nature created in the Caucasus, Crimea, in Astrakhan region, Primorsky Krai. But in the Urals and Siberia you can also grow juicy berry with scarlet sugar pulp, if you provide proper care for watermelons. In northern regions with cool summers, watermelons are grown in greenhouses. If you choose the right variety and carefully care for it, you can.
For a greenhouse will do, covered with any material (glass or polycarbonate) with a height of 1.6 to 2 meters. Because they have to curl on special devices, a lower height will not allow the lashes to develop and the fruit to ripen.
Preparation of the greenhouse should begin in mid-March. This is the time when you need to remove snow from it, check the entire structure, eliminate faults, seal cracks and ventilate thoroughly. Before adding watermelons to the greenhouse, it is useful to sow radishes there; watermelons grow well in the soil where cruciferous plants used to be. After harvesting, it's time to plant watermelon seedlings into the ground.
Watermelons grow well on sandy loam soil, so they will like this mixture:
- garden soil - 3 parts;
- humus - 3 parts;
- sand – 4-5 parts.
It is quite nutritious for the beginning of growth, then the watermelons will have to be fed with fertilizers.
Growing seedlings
In greenhouses, the varieties usually grown are “Ogonyok” (fruits no more than 2 kg, ripen in 70-85 days), “Pannonia” (ripen in 70-75 days), hybrid “Crisby F1” (fruit can grow up to 6 kg, ripen in 60-65 days). Very popular early variety"Suga Baby." It ripens in 75-85 days, the fruits, living up to the name, delight with sweet red granular pulp and grow up to 3-5 kg. 
Experts advise not to get carried away with varieties with large fruit, small berries are better suited for greenhouses, they have a better ovary, and are also easier to grow on trellises.
First, it is recommended to warm the watermelon seeds in the sun, and just before sowing they are poured first with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then with warm (25 degrees) water.
Seeds are planted from the end of April. The seedlings will be ready for planting in 25-35 days. It is best to place the seeds in peat cups (with which they are then planted) with a diameter of 10 cm or individual plastic containers, when planting in the ground, the root system should not be damaged. Fertilizers must be added to the soil mixture. These can be fertilizers with phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, or you can add wood ash and potassium sulfate.
When soaking seeds, some gardeners use a growth stimulant or liquidly diluted fertilizers to better germination. And others say that good seeds and without chemicals they sprout perfectly. 
The seed should be deepened no more than 3 cm and placed on its side to make it easier for the leaf to emerge from the shell. Optimal temperature before germination - 22-25 degrees, and for growing seedlings a little lower - 21-23.
Even before planting in the greenhouse, the seedlings need to be fed; this is done 2 weeks after sowing with diluted mineral fertilizer. This cannot be done before, because weak roots may not withstand contact with the fertilizer. Young seedlings should receive full lighting for 10-12 hours, lamps are suitable for this daylight. With a lack of light, plants can become too elongated and weak.
Disembarkation
Planting seedlings in greenhouse beds should occur at a stable temperature of 20-25 degrees in mid-May. If the weather does not want to provide such weather, you will have to arrange heating for the plants. The soil is prepared as follows: remove upper layer soil, the resulting trench is filled with humus and hay, all this is shed generously hot water, and the excavated soil is placed on top.
Seedlings are planted directly in peat cups according to the pattern of 70 cm by 50 cm (70 between rows, and 50 between plants), if it sprouted in plastic cups, they are carefully cut so as not to damage the delicate root system. You can plant 2 sprouts in one hole, but watch carefully and direct the lashes in different directions. Watermelons do not like crowding and crushing; they will not bear fruit if the lashes intertwine and interfere with each other. The subcotyledon should rise a couple of centimeters above the ground, otherwise it may rot.
The temperature should be no higher than 30 degrees, so on a hot day you will have to arrange ventilation. It must be remembered that the lifespan male flower small, if the greenhouse is closed and bees pass it, you need to artificially pollinate the plants. When the fruits grow to the size of an apple, the vines without ovaries are removed. One plant should have no more than 6-7 berries, after the last one you need to count 5 leaves and cut off the growing point. 
Watermelon does not like a lot of moisture, so you need to be careful with watering, check the soil and water only after it dries. A separate question that gardeners answer differently concerns fertilizers. To grow good watermelon until ripeness, it needs to be fed. Typically, fertilizing is done 3 times: when the lashes have become stronger and grown to 30 cm, before flowering, when the ovaries have formed. This is no longer possible if we want to eat nutrients and not fertilizers.
But what to feed? Recommended by experts complex fertilizers, ammonium nitrate, superphosphates, ammonium sulfate, potassium salts. Proponents of naturalness prefer chicken droppings (take 1 liter of droppings per 10 liters of water) and wood ash. No matter how you decide, no matter what you choose, you still need to fertilize. This should be done carefully, water the plant at a distance of 20 cm from the stem the first time and 40 cm thereafter. Moisture, even water, should not get on the stems and leaves at all, and you should always water warm water.
Growing in open ground
If you have sandy loam neutral alkaline soil at your dacha and there is an open place heated by the sun, then when proper care early ripening varieties can ripen without a greenhouse. IN southern regions countries in May-June, you can sow seeds directly into the ground to a depth of about 8 cm. 5-6 seeds are sown per meter of plot, since not all of them will sprout, it should not be too crowded. After sowing the seeds, they are watered with warm water. In a week, shoots should appear, and after the appearance of the fifth leaf they are spudded.
IN middle lane seedlings are planted on the plot early ripening varieties. Moreover, before planting on the site, it is hardened - the temperature in the room (if possible) is lowered to 16-17 degrees during the day, and to 13-14 at night. If the temperature is not regulated, then you can simply take it outside.
Planted in holes no smaller than 14 cm in size at a distance of 70 cm from each other and 1 m between rows. The landing should be such that root collar remained 1-2 cm above the ground. 
Sleeps well in open ground variety "Suga Baby", but it is better to grow it not from seeds, but seedling method. Proper care of watermelon in the garden consists of rare abundant watering, mandatory loosening of the soil after watering or rain, applying fertilizing. It is advisable to straighten the lashes so that they do not interfere with each other, tear off the growing point after 6-7 ovaries. Plants need to be fertilized at the same frequency and in the same way as in a greenhouse. If greenhouse fruits are tied up and they ripen in the air, then in the garden a watermelon lies on the ground - you need to make sure that it does not rot, and that the sun warms it from all sides.
Watermelons suffer from pests and diseases. Wireworms, ants, melon aphid, sprout flies, cutworms - everyone wants to profit from watermelon. And there are also diseases: powdery mildew, broomrape. To combat these misfortunes, plants are treated with chemicals (karbofos, phosphamide). Often troubles can be avoided by careful inspection and wood ash with laundry soap. 
If you want to grow seedless watermelon, you will have to do it only in a greenhouse. Varieties "Queen of Hearts", "King of Hearts", "Jack of Hearts" ripen in approximately 85 days, they like well-drained sandy-clay soils and plenty of sun. Their seeds germinate at temperatures not lower than 25 degrees.
Some amateur gardeners grow. In the same way, you can grow a watermelon in an iron barrel. If you put fertilizer in a barrel and create a good drainage layer, and drill the bottom in several places, you can try to plant a watermelon there. Since the soil in an iron barrel warms up well, he may like it. You just need to remember that the soil dries out faster in a barrel, that it is not advisable to water the watermelon greens, and the fruits will have to be tied up, as in a greenhouse.
Video “Caring for melons and watermelons”
Video lecture for gardeners, which talks about growing melons and watermelons. After watching the recording, you will learn how to plant seeds correctly, when to plant them in the ground and what to fertilize with.
Growing watermelons in open ground with seeds and seedlings
You can grow watermelons using seeds and seedlings. Of course, in order for good and tasty fruits to grow in the end, the planting technology must be performed correctly.
In addition, subsequent care of the plant largely affects the quality of ripened fruits. Therefore, it is best to familiarize yourself in advance with all the secrets of growing watermelons using seeds and seedlings.
Landing place
To grow watermelon, choose sandy or sandy loam soil. Its acidity should be 6-7 units.
Because watermelons heat-loving plant, the place for planting should be chosen warm, sunny, so that it constantly warms up. Planted in warm soil up to +12 +15 degrees.
Watermelons will grow well after the following crops:
- potato;
- cabbage;
- carrot;
- legumes.
Under no circumstances should you plant the plant in places where nightshade or melon crops previously grew, since these plants have common pests.
It is important to know: It is recommended to prepare a site for watermelons in the fall; it needs to be dug and loosened. Then the berries will grow well on the dug up soil and give an excellent harvest.
Digging up the soil should be done together with rotted manure or humus. On 1 square meter apply the following amount of fertilizer - 5-6 kg of humus or rotted manure, superphosphate 50 grams, potassium salt 35 grams and ammonium sulfate 40 grams.
Sand is poured into the weighted soil - 2 buckets per 1 m2. It is not advisable to use it for fertilizer fresh manure. When digging, all weeds and roots are removed, because watermelon does not like these unpleasant “neighbors”.
If further landing will be produced under film, you should also purchase required material and cover the soil with them.
Planting a watermelon
There are two ways to plant watermelons:
1. Without seedlings.
To plant watermelons in open ground, you should choose cold-resistant seeds with a ripening period of 90 days. The varieties “Ogonyok”, “Gift to the North”, “Kholodok” are perfect.
Before planting, seeds should be soaked in water. The water temperature must be at least 50 degrees. It is necessary to soak until the seeds sprout.
Then they are planted in the soil. The soil should be warmed to +12 +15 degrees. They are usually planted in early May; by the time the seeds germinate, it will become warmer and the soil will be warmed by the sun.
After 8-10 days, the first shoots should appear. If the soil is cold, germination will take a long time. a long period, and as a result, the seeds may die.
It is worth noting: before boarding, be sure to pay attention to weather. If it is cool at the beginning of May, then planting should be postponed to the end of the month.
In order to grow a good harvest, the following planting technology should be followed:
- each hole is filled with a mixture of ash, earth, humus and nitroammophos (1 teaspoon). Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture onto the hole. This will help increase productivity in the future;
- then we plant the seeds in the soil to a depth of 6-9 cm;
- Sprinkle with humus to prevent a crust from forming on top. This crust can harm the sprouts when they reach the surface, and they will die.
Below, we invite you to watch a video on how to transplant watermelon seedlings into open ground:
2. Growing seedlings.
Seeds are planted for seedlings in late April - early May. It is advisable that the room be maintained temperature regime+25 +30 degrees.
Seed germination begins at a temperature of + 17 degrees, but in order for them to grow and develop fruitfully, it is recommended to maintain at least 25 degrees during the daytime, and at night from +18 degrees. There is no need to pick seedlings.
Fertilizers should be added to the soil in which the seedlings grow. This will ensure fast growth sprouts Over the entire period, the soil needs to be fertilized twice; mineral fertilizers are used as top dressing.
Important to remember: When planting, seedlings cannot be completely covered with soil. Sprouts should be left 3-4 cm on the surface.
The sprouts should not touch each other, otherwise they can be seriously damaged when planting. Therefore, you should watch the sprouts, and as they grow, the cups should be moved away. Sprouts ready for planting must have at least 3 leaves.
Seedlings are planted in the soil at the end of May or early June. Be sure to follow the planting technology. Germinated seedlings are planted in prepared beds to a depth of 9-11 cm.
One or two shoots are planted in the hole. If 2 shoots are planted in a hole, then they are separated on different sides so that their lashes do not intertwine.
Before planting, up to two kilograms of compost or humus are poured into the hole and filled with water. It should be planted in a mixture of soil and fertilizer, sprinkled with dry soil.
Care
In addition to planting, you need to follow the rules of care. The future harvest depends on proper care.
Care consists of the following actions:
1. Shelter. In order to accelerate the growth of the plant, you can use covering materials. Preserved under film elevated temperature and due to this, the plant begins to grow faster.
In addition, the fruits will appear 2-3 weeks earlier. The covering material will also provide protection from various pests. To cover with film, you can make low racks on the sides and put covering material on them. It should be removed in early June and preferably on a cloudy day, otherwise the plants may burn under the scorching sun.
2. Irrigation procedures. Since watermelon has a very powerful root system, which can go to a depth of more than 1 meter, it should not be watered very often. Once a week is enough. He gets the missing moisture from the ground himself.
3. Fertilizing the soil. The first feeding is done 7 days after planting seedlings or seeds. The next two are done at intervals of 2-3 weeks. For the first fertilizing, you can use the following fertilizers: a solution of ammonium nitrate, 20 grams per 10 liters of water. For subsequent fertilizing, it is best to use mineral fertilizers.
4. Work on the formation of bushes. The fruits are formed on the main stem. In order for them to ripen quickly, it is best to leave no more than 6 ovaries on the plant stem; it is recommended to remove the rest.
Also, do not forget about loosening the soil. Beds with watermelons should be loosened periodically. It is advisable to do this after rain or watering.
Overgrown lashes can be tied to special stands or lightly sprinkled with earth. This will protect them from the wind and speed up the growth of the fruit.
Harvesting
Around August, fruit harvesting begins. Before cutting a watermelon, check it for ripeness. Typically, a ripe fruit has a glossy skin and a dried tail.
There are no hairs on the stalks. Usually, when you knock on the fruit, a dull sound is heard. All these signs are conditional, so it is recommended to use them together.
Growing watermelons is a rather labor-intensive process, so it should be approached responsibly. Be sure to properly prepare the place for planting, first dig the soil and fertilize it with fertilizer.
Don't forget about further care behind the plant. Exactly from all the right technology cultivation depends on the future harvest.
We invite you to watch a video on how to properly plant watermelon seeds for seedlings:
First of all, it is worth noting that for successful cultivation This heat-loving crop requires appropriate temperature conditions, good sunlight and sufficient humidity. Therefore, you will have to prepare greenhouses, although in the central and southern regions it is quite possible to grow watermelon in open ground seedling method. This method allows you to pick the first fruits 14-20 days earlier.
Do not make beds or place greenhouses under a tree, next to bushes, otherwise it will be ripe, large berries you won't wait. Prepare the soil in the fall by filling it generously with rotted manure (2 buckets per square meter). Now about the seeds: best to sow early ripening varieties or hybrids, which are characterized by resistance to various diseases, unfavorable weather. Even in cold summers, hybrids form fruits and are able to accumulate sufficient amounts of sugars.
How to grow big and sweet watermelons?
The watermelon planting site needs to be changed every year. After it, corn or wheat is planted, and best predecessors Potatoes, cabbage, onions, and legumes are considered.
The most popular hybrids and varieties: Ogonyok, Boy F1, Sugar Baby, Crimson-sweet F1, Gift to the North, very early Ataman. You can grow a truly high-quality product only through seedlings. Even in Central Asia they do this when they want to get an early harvest.
The optimal time for planting will be April 10-15, in northern latitudes it is April 21-25. Each gardener can determine more precise sowing dates independently, based on the fact that no more than 30 days should pass before the seedlings are planted. Overgrown plants take a long time to take root, and the harvest may be delayed by a week or even 10 days.
So, how to plant watermelon seedlings:
- pickle watermelon seeds for about twenty minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate (1%), rinse clean water. Wrap them in a damp cotton napkin and leave for 2 days in a warm place. In order for the seedlings to sprout together, the temperature must be +30 o C;
- While the seeds are swelling, prepare a container with a capacity of 0.8 liters - these can be pots, tetrapacks. Now you need to take care of loose, permeable soil: mix country soil, rotted manure, peat, and coarse sand in equal proportions. For 10 liters of mixture, add 3 liters. superphosphate, a tablespoon of urea, potassium. Fill the container soil mixture, without filling 3 cm to the edges.
- Make a hole 3 cm deep and lower the hatched seed into it, cover it with earth and spill with water +25 o C. Cover the pots on top plastic film;
- When shoots appear, lower the temperature to +18 o C, remove the film. After 4 days, you can return to a daytime temperature of +25 o C, and at night maintain +18 o C. Keep the seedlings on a light windowsill, but if conditions do not allow or it is cloudy outside, use additional lighting for 12 hours a day. Periodically water young plants with warm water and also loosen them;
- after 12 days, feed the seedlings with manure solution (1:10);
- a week before planting, begin hardening, gradually lowering the temperature by 3-4 degrees. You can also take the pots to indoor balcony, in a greenhouse or greenhouse. Plant in the ground from mid-May to June 10. Fully formed watermelon seedlings have 5 leaves.
Watermelon - planting and care
Eat different ways planting this crop, but usually do this: on beds filled with organic matter (width - 1 m, height - 20 cm), build ridges that are 45-50 cm wide and 18 cm high. In each row on the ridge, after 80 cm, make holes 10 cm deep and plant seedlings in them with a clod of earth up to the cotyledon leaves. Then pour warm water - 1 liter per seedling.
While there is a threat of frost, better landing cover overnight with lutrasil or film. To do this, install arcs at the ends of the beds, which can then be removed as unnecessary. The culture is quite moisture-loving, so water the plants generously, but only before flowering. Then stop watering, otherwise the fruits will grow soft and unsweetened. The optimal temperature for ripening is from 25 o C to 28 o C.
Well, how about without fertilizing: do the first one a week after planting - add 30 grams of mullein solution to a bucket of mullein solution (as usual 1:10), or chicken droppings (0.5:10). superphosphate, at least 15 g. potassium (1 tbsp. ash); spend the second in the phase of lash formation, spending 6 grams per bush. superphosphate, 4 g. potassium and ammonium nitrate. Before fertilizing, water the plantings generously so that the fertilizers do not burn the root system and are well absorbed.
Good care also includes loosening, removing weeds, and fighting diseases. Watermelons bloom 40-50 days after sowing: first the male flowers bloom, then the female ones. Spraying with a sugar solution in the morning (a teaspoon per liter of water) will help improve the pollination process and attract bees. As soon as you notice a fruit that has set, count five leaves from it and pinch it so that all your efforts are directed towards obtaining a harvest.
Watermelon is delicious and healthy berry, which pleases children and adults with its juicy pulp. You can grow watermelon in central Russia. This melon crop is very heat-loving, but in order to grow large and sweet fruits, you need to observe many nuances. So, let's talk about everything in order.
Where to grow watermelons
The place for growing watermelons must be selected very carefully. This should be a sunny area without trees or shade. Watermelons grow best in sandy and sandy loam soils because the roots of the watermelon penetrate deep into the soil to become saturated with moisture and full of sweetness. That is why the soil for growing watermelons should not be clayey or dense. To make the soil more porous, it is first dug (in the fall). The acidity of the soil in the selected area should not exceed 6.5-7 units.
It is best to choose soil for planting in which crops such as onions, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beans, and wheat grew. You should not grow melons and melons for two years in a row in the same area. The soil is first cleared of weeds; watermelon does not like foreign vegetation.
When to grow watermelons
If the summer turns out to be cold, no amount of tricks will help you grow juicy and sweet fruit. But if there are many sunny and hot days a year, be prepared for a good harvest. It is best to start planting watermelons at the end of May, when the soil is already sufficiently warmed by the sun. If you decide to plant seedlings, then the seeds can be planted in cups already in early May. However, the weather still has the last word. If there is still no warmth in the first ten days of May, there is no need to rush into planting.
How to prepare seeds for planting watermelons
Let's consider two main methods of planting watermelons - seedlings and non-seedlings.
Watermelon has very dense and hard seeds that must be pre-soaked. To do this, pour warm water over the seeds and leave for half an hour. Those seeds that float after the specified time are not suitable for planting - we remove them immediately. After this you need to cover the container plastic bag and leave in a warm place (under direct sun rays). It turns out to be an imitation of a greenhouse. It is best if the temperature in the mini-greenhouse does not drop below 25-30 degrees during the day, and below 20 degrees at night.
When the seeds hatch, they can be planted in a glass. This is usually done at the end of April or beginning of May. The cups need to be large enough to provide room for the root system. Watermelon does not tolerate root damage. The soil for planting must be mixed with humus and mineral fertilizers. During the process of seedling growth, you need to feed the sprouts several more times with fertilizers. Two seeds are usually planted in one glass with the expectation that one of them will not germinate. If both sprouts grow, they are then separated.
The seedlings are ready for planting when the sprout has at least three healthy leaves. Planting of seedlings occurs in loosened soil fertilized with compost. Watermelon seedlings should be planted at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. If two sprouts are planted in one hole, you need to turn them so that they grow in different directions. Seedlings should not be planted too deep into the ground - the depressions should not exceed 10 cm. The leaves of the sprouts must remain on the surface. After planting, the sprouts need to be watered generously with warm water to help them develop better.
A non-seedling method of planting watermelons
If the days are already warm enough, you can plant watermelons without seedlings. To do this, just as in the previous planting method, they must be soaked in warm water and leave seeds hatch. When small sprouts appear, you can skip the stage of planting the sprouts in cups and sow the seeds directly into the soil. I would like to note once again - seedless method Planting watermelons is feasible only when the long-term weather forecast does not predict cold weather.
Seeds should be planted in holes at a distance of 20-25 cm, 2 seeds per hole. For getting good harvest you can prepare the following mixture. Mix soil, ash and humus in a one to one ratio. Add a few spoons to the mixture mineral fertilizer nitroamophoska. Before planting the sprouts, place one tablespoon of the prepared mixture in each hole. Place watermelon seeds on top of the mixture and then sprinkle with humus. This is done so that the top layer of soil does not become crusty. As was said, watermelon loves loose soil, and the sprout simply cannot break through the thick crust.
Although watermelon is considered enough unpretentious culture, to get a good harvest, you need to follow some aspects in caring for watermelon.
- Imitation of a greenhouse. While the sprouts are not yet strong, you need to cover them with a covering material. This will allow them to gain strength and bear fruit for several weeks. ahead of schedule. To create such a small greenhouse, stick small sticks on the sides of the bed and cover with thick plastic film. Keep the greenhouse until the end of June. It is better to shoot film on a gloomy day when there is no sun. This will allow the plants to adapt better. If you remove the film on a sunny day, the sprouts may simply burn.
- Watering. Watermelon does not like excessive watering because it feeds on inland waters. It has a powerful root system that takes water from the lower layers of the soil when necessary. But you should not overdry the plant, otherwise the fruits will not be juicy. The optimal frequency of watering is once or twice a week.
- Fertilizers. A week after planting the seeds, they need to be fed with ammonium nitrate. To prepare the solution, you need to dilute 20 grams of the substance in ten liters of water. After the first feeding, watermelons should be fertilized once every three weeks using regular mineral complex. Along with fertilizers, you need to constantly hill up the soil. Watermelon vitally needs loose soil. In general, gardeners advise walking less around the holes and not compacting the soil. Especially in the intervals between planted sprouts. Root system Watermelon is quite spreading, but also quite fragile. Stepping on loose soil near the hole, you can damage the root of the plant.
- Molding. This is an important part of caring for a watermelon planting. If the lashes are very long, they can be tied to posts or nailed with earth so that they are not damaged by the wind. In a month, ovaries will begin to form. When they become the size of a large plum, you need to leave only the largest ones - a few pieces. This is called pinching. This procedure carried out for the following purpose. When a plant has many fruits, it spends its energy on each fruit. Thus, we will get a lot of unripe and small fruits. To get good and tasty fruits, you need to remove several ovaries at the very beginning of their growth. Usually, no more than 5-6 watermelon fruits are left from one bush. Moreover, there should not be more than two ovaries on one lash.
In the second half of summer, when watermelons begin to ripen, they can be carefully turned from one side to the other every 10 days. This will allow them to quickly gain flavor and juice. If the soil under the watermelons is rotting, you need to place small planks under the fruits to reduce the area of contact between the watermelon and the ground.
When to Harvest
The harvest is harvested in August. To understand that a watermelon is ripe, you need to carefully examine it. Ripe fruits are distinguished by shiny skin and a dry tail. Pedicel ripe watermelon not hairy. If you knock on a watermelon, the ripe fruit produces a characteristic dull sound, which experienced gardeners understand – it’s time to harvest!
In years rich in watermelons, approximately 10 plants can be grown from six holes. About 40 fruits of various sizes and weights grow and ripen from them. With proper care and sufficient light and moisture, 90% of them ripen fully.
What could be tastier and more enjoyable than enjoying watermelon grown yourself? Follow all the rules of planting, care and feeding to grow a rich harvest of watermelons in your summer cottage!
Video: how to grow watermelon in open ground
Despite the existence of zoned varieties, not everyone can grow them on their own plot. large watermelons. Often the fruits are small, their flesh is light and unflavoured. What is the secret of growing watermelons? There is no special secret, you just need to follow the recommendations regarding watering and fertilizing. As a result of this, any novice gardener will be able to grow large and fragrant watermelons, planting and caring for them in the open ground is not difficult, as it seems at first glance.
The process of preparing the site and seeds
The place chosen for planting watermelon must be protected from the prevailing winds. It is recommended that the soil be sandy loam or sandy. In the fall you need to dig it up - with a spade. And for digging you should add 3-5 kg of manure per 1 m². Seed preparation consists of the following procedures:
Awakenings. You need to immerse the seeds in water at a temperature of 50 °C for 10 minutes. At room temperature, you need to keep them in damp gauze for 12-24 hours so that they swell;
Hardening. During the day, the seeds should be placed directly in damp gauze in the refrigerator, and kept at room temperature at night; this should be done for 3 days. If the seeds begin to peck, hardening should be stopped;
Germination. This process is carried out at room temperature. You need to make sure that the gauze does not dry out and check the seeds for pecking every day. When more than half have pecked, it is possible to begin sowing into the ground.
Seedlings intended for open ground
Seedlings can be grown both in a greenhouse and at home, only if at home you can provide the new shoots with both warmth and sunlight. It is recommended to grow seedlings in pots with a diameter of at least 10 cm. Let's look at the step-by-step instructions:
1. The pots need to be filled with a nutrient mixture, not reaching 4 cm to the top. For the soil mixture, garden soil should be steamed with boiling water, then add peat and humus to equal amount. If the garden soil is clayey, then a small amount of sand (5–10%) should be added to the mixture.
2. Place one sprouted seed in each pot, add 3-3.5 cm of soil mixture on top.
3. In the place where the pots are located, maintain the temperature within 20-25 °C. At night, allow the temperature to drop only to 18 °C.
4. The emerging seedlings need to be hardened for good adaptation to open ground. For this purpose, the temperature in the greenhouse should be reduced to 18 °C, and it should be kept at this level for 3 days.
5. Water the seedlings with warm water every other day.
6. Fertilize after 7 days with an infusion of mullein or bird droppings.
7. A week before planting, carry out another hardening.
The process of transplanting seedlings into open ground
Seedlings need to be planted in the chosen location within 25–30 days. It is better to replant watermelons in open ground only when the soil warms up to 15 °C.
The distance between watermelon plants should be at least 100 cm, and for some varieties – up to 140 cm. If there is not enough space on the site, you can use a two-line planting scheme. In this case, the gap between plants inside the row should be 50 cm, and between the inner lines - 50 cm, while the row spacing is 100 cm. In a two-line planting, the holes are placed diagonally, not opposite each other.
Before planting, be sure to pour 1.5–2 liters of water with fertilizer into each hole: 30 grams of ammonium sulfate, as well as 40 grams of superphosphate, 20 grams of potassium salt. If you do not want to use chemicals, you can use organic fertilizers:
Dig a hole to a depth of 30-40 cm (with loose soil, up to 50 cm);
pour 0.5 kg of humus or mullein into it (you can up to one liter of chicken manure fermented over the course of a week);
sprinkle with a 5–10 cm layer of soil (clay soil is mixed with sand 5:1);
add a handful of ash to each hole;
again sprinkle with a layer of soil 5–10 cm;
Now pour in a liter of warm water.
Then deepen the seedlings with a clod of earth to the cotyledon leaves. Then the surface needs to be mulched with sand.
Proper care of watermelons in open ground
Caring for watermelons in open ground is not difficult if you compare this process with growing seedlings. Need to:
1. Water watermelons planted in the ground every day with warm water. When setting the first fruits, you need to switch to watering - once every 2 days. After watering the next day, light loosening and hilling should be carried out.
2. Fertilizing should be applied every 10–15 days. It is advisable to alternately apply minerals as fertilizers, as well as organic fertilizers(in the same quantity as when planting). Organic matter for watermelon must only be fermented for 10 days or more, otherwise nitrates will accumulate in the fruit.
3. You need to make sure that the watermelon stems do not intertwine with each other. You need to move them carefully so that they do not shade the bush that is nearby.
4. When watermelons are the size of quail egg you need to stop watering, remove all the ovaries (except 4-5 large ones), pinch them off female flowers, young whips.
Sometimes there are rainy and cold summers. Watermelon does not like this kind of weather, as a result, in order not to lose the harvest, it is necessary to cover tender plants for a while with arc greenhouses. As for ripeness, it can be determined by the drying of the stalk, as well as ringing sound at the moment of clicking on the fruit.