Planting and caring for watermelons in the open field. Technology of growing watermelons in open ground, soil selection, formation and care

Very often, watermelons in stores and markets have dubious taste, giving customers a lot of disappointment from the dissonance of expectations and reality. And melons do not always meet the requirements environmental safety, especially if they were purchased at the breakups along the highways, from cars in the yards or in other unauthorized places of trade. Your favorite berry can turn out to be either simply tasteless - watery and fresh, or with a rotten middle or stuffed with nitrates with a characteristic “chemical” tinge in taste and a suspiciously smooth cut. Therefore, many summer residents and gardeners are trying to grow this crop on their site.

In modern melon growing, the most different methods cultivation of watermelons. They are cultivated in greenhouses, in-depth bioheated greenhouses, film tunnels and in an open way without the use of protective structures. But it is the berries that have grown "in the wild", and not in shelters, and properly saturated with the energy of the sun, that turn out to be the most delicious, have a sweet, fragrant, melting pulp in your mouth. Find out what you need to know about growing watermelon in open ground to avoid mistakes and vain work, and which varieties are guaranteed to please with a stable harvest of delicious berries.

Features of the process in different regions

For a long time, the cultivation of watermelons remained the privilege of the southern regions with a hot climate, but thanks to the efforts of breeders, the situation has changed. Scientists have improved many valuable forms of table watermelon, brought out early and hybrid varieties adapted to various climatic conditions, among which there are hybrids available for cultivation in any area.

Therefore, the Russian south has ceased to be the only place where it is possible to cultivate watermelons. Geography of cultivation large berry expanded to the Urals, the northwestern regions - Siberia and Altai, the Moscow region and the regions of the Central Federal District, the Central Black Earth and Volga-Vyatka regions.

If you are going to engage in melon growing in the conditions of a short and sometimes changeable summer with a predominance of cloudy days, as in the north of Russia, you should not count on a harvest large watermelons weighing 10-20 kg. The fruits simply do not have enough time for full ripening in a short summer season.

Having managed to form thick, strong lashes with flowering shoots, gourds will stop growing and developing during the autumn drop in temperature indicators. After the transition of the average daily temperature through the mark of 13-15 ° C and the reduction of daylight hours to 12-14 hours, they die.

The success of growing watermelons in conditions very different from those at home, in which heat-loving plants feel comfortable, depends on several factors.

• Knowledge and adherence to the nuances of agricultural technology. Watermelon, like melon, loves warmth. But for seeds to sprout, t 14-16 ° C is enough, while this is not enough for the roots. To activate the growth of the root system, a temperature of at least 23 ° C is needed. And in the phase of bud formation and during flowering, the thermometer should stay at 18-20 ° C even at night.

• The right choice of landing method. Cultivation of gourds in an open way in areas with unstable weather and short summers involves the preparation of warm high beds. Under the protection of greenhouses and tunnels, plants also have time to fully mature, without experiencing stress from exposure to negative temperatures. When using mid-early varieties, it is advisable to resort to the seedling method of growing gourds.
• Competent selection of varieties of watermelon taking into account the climatic features of a particular area and the experience of the farmer.

Choice of variety and location

Today's varietal diversity popular melon culture has over 200 items. When choosing a variety are guided by several criteria.

Origin

To make it easier to navigate in such a variety of forms, they were systematized into 10 groups in accordance with a geographical feature, highlighting:

• Russian;
• Western European;
• small, medium and East Asian;
• Transcaucasian;
• Far East;
• American;
• Indian;
• afghan group.

In our latitudes, amateur growers are usually engaged in the cultivation of varieties united in the Russian, sometimes in the Central Asian or Transcaucasian group. The advantage of these forms of watermelon is high environmental sustainability, characterized by the ability to withstand the influence of environmental stressors, while maintaining yields.

Many experienced melon growers prefer to deal with imported hybrids, which is quite understandable. Indeed, for many foreign breeders, the priority is to improve the external features and taste of fruits. The main advantages of foreign hybrid varieties are high marketability and resistance to infections. Their minus is the increased requirements for the diet, so you have to take care of them much more carefully than domestic ones.

Therefore, for those who have just begun to master the wisdom of melon growing, it is better to abandon such options in favor of our F1 varieties.

Vegetation time

In areas of the non-chernozem zone with a temperate cool climate, the best productivity is shown by the cultivation of early and ultra-ripening varieties with an early ripening period (up to 80 days).

It is important to remember that the meaning of acquiring large-fruited varieties no, because in such conditions they do not have time to ripen.

In regions where summer pleases with a large number of warm sunny days, it is already possible to safely deal with medium or late-ripening varieties or hybrids with a ripening period of 80-95 days.

Cold and drought tolerance

For cultivation in Siberia or the middle zone, it is required that the variety be resistant to negative temperatures and withstand return frosts. Accordingly, when watermelons are cultivated in the Central Chernozem region, especially in its southeastern part, where the climate is drier than in the western one, the ability of the variety to tolerate drought becomes of fundamental importance.

Sugar content

Representatives of early ripening varieties have a higher sugar content compared to varieties of medium and late deadline vegetation.

Popular varieties

The following selection presents the most popular varieties of table watermelon for outdoor cultivation.

Among them there are both classic varieties that have repeatedly proven their viability in practice, as well as several new ones that have already managed to earn the trust of melon growers.

• "Siberian". The interest of summer residents in this ultra-early variety is due to resistance to weather disasters, unpretentiousness, excellent immunity and very high taste. Fruits with intense red tender flesh under a thin peel have an unusually sweet taste and can compete with Astrakhan watermelons.

• "Delicacy F1". One of the new high-yielding hybrids of wide elliptical form with medium greenish, dissected leaf blades, thin skin and pulp of rich scarlet color, medium-dense consistency. Pumpkins with narrow stripes, colored much darker than the light green background. Fruits on average weigh 3.5-4 kg. Productivity - up to 5 kg / m2. With poor transportability, the variety has high drought resistance.

• "Sugar Lightning F1". Ultra-early cold-resistant form, recommended for cultivation in areas middle lane. Taste qualities are beyond praise and fully correspond to the name of the variety. Fruits with fragrant scarlet pulp will delight you with a sugary-sweet honey taste. The color is uniform, dense green without a characteristic striped pattern. Leaf blades are miniature, strongly dissected. The ripening period is 65 days from germination to the first harvest of fruits.

• Charleston Grey. One of the original varieties with oblong elongated cylindrical fruits of light green uniform color without a striped pattern. Ukrainian breeders were engaged in its breeding. Berries are famous for their wonderful taste of sugary red or pink pulp, very delicate in texture. Due to the light color of the smooth crust, they do not heat up in the heat, so they not only relieve thirst, but also have an excellent tonic effect. The presence of a hard peel allows the fruits to easily endure long-distance transportation. Watermelons of this variety can increase their mass in the range of 13-18 kg. Technical ripeness occurs after 70-95 days from the moment of germination.

• "Delight". Vegetation terms - 85-95 days. Plants of this variety are characterized by the formation of long lashes with strongly dissected leaves and large spherical fruits. Commodity pumpkins weigh an average of 7-9 kg. They are painted a deep green and covered with a pattern of spiked stripes that is even darker than the background. The red fine-grained juicy pulp contains a large amount of solids (11-13%) and natural sugar (9-10.5%). "Vostorg" attracts buyers with its high taste, beautiful shade of crust and versatility of use. The fruits are consumed fresh, salted, canned, squeezed out of them for juice and prepare a delicious nardek. The variety is distinguished by high transportability and complex disease resistance.

• "Striped torpedo F1". A popular hybrid variety with a "talking" name. The duration of the growing season is 84-92 days. When grown in open ground, the fruits on average increase their weight by 6 kg, the record figures are 11 kg. Plants form many branched shoots with a long main stem. Berries have a high sugar content - about 7-9%. The variety is characterized by a long return of the crop, the resistance of the bushes to the defeat of Fusarium wilt and anthracnose. The root system of the hybrid withstands high temperatures and low humidity. On rainfed crops, the yield is 17-22 kg/10 m2.

• Melania F1. Dutch hybrid variety with high commercial qualities, excellent taste, resistant to heat and cold. Suitable for growing in areas with any climatic conditions. The fruits are elliptical in shape, with a smooth surface and a pattern of dark green blurred wide stripes. The crust has an average thickness, the pulp of a medium-dense consistency is colored in rich red. Technical ripeness occurs in 80-105 days. The berries tolerate transportation over long distances well and have good keeping quality.

• "Bykovsky 22". The variety is characterized by good transportability, drought resistance, high marketability of fruits with excellent taste. Watermelons are intended for fresh consumption. Spherical fruits with a smooth surface have a whitish or greenish color and a pattern of green narrow spiny stripes. pulp Pink colour, with a grainy texture and juicy taste. Ripening terms - 91-104 days. The average weight of marketable fruits is 4.5 kg.

• "Bush 334". A distinctive feature of representatives of a common large-fruited variety is the limited growth of lashes. Compared to watermelons that produce long shoots, bush plants tend to form 4-5 lashes, reaching a length of only 70-80 cm. Such a compact melon plantation saves space in the beds, which is especially appreciated by owners of modest plots. On each lash, only one berry is formed with a strong crust and pink granular flesh of a dense consistency. Commercial fruits weigh 6-8 kg, tolerate long-term transportation well, have high keeping quality (up to 3 months) and resistance to most diseases.

How to choose a place for melon?

The cultivated watermelon inherited from its small wild relatives and the common ancestor of the African melon a love for the bright sun during the daytime and warmth at night. Therefore, it is necessary that the place where it is planned to break the beds is well lit by the sun and protected from strong winds.

It is optimal when the landing site is oriented to the south or southeast.

Scattered shrubs or trees with a lush crown should not grow nearby, limiting the access of the sun to plantings. In cloudy weather and lack of sun, the rate of photosynthesis slows down, the fruits accumulate less natural sugar and dry matter.

This melon culture tends to form a powerful root system, consisting of the main root and lateral roots, which, in turn, form numerous roots of higher orders. Ideally, the location of groundwater in the planting area should be as far as possible from the soil surface, which avoids waterlogging of the beds and rotting of the roots.

It is equally important to observe the rules of crop rotation when cultivating watermelon. The best predecessors for it include representatives of the legume, umbrella and cabbage (cruciferous) families. The worst former "owner" of the beds is the closest relative of the pumpkin, which has common pests with watermelon.

It is desirable to allocate a large landing area for melons, so as not to limit the freedom of growth of thin creeping lashes.

Training

Although watermelon is a crop insensitive to the level of soil acidity, however, its best productivity is shown by its cultivation in fertile soils with a high content of easily digestible nutrients. The pH values ​​should vary within 6.5-7 units. It grows well in light, loose sandy soil with high air permeability and rapid warming up or sandy loamy soil containing up to 90% sand.

How to prepare the soil?

The earth needs to be enriched with organic matter. To this end, it will be necessary to autumn processing soil by digging, followed by leveling the earth with a rake, after removing the remains of the green mass of the predecessor plant. With the advent of spring, beds are broken up and semi-rotted manure or compost is applied as an organic fertilizer.

Mineral fertilizers are applied on the basis of:

• ammonium sulfate 20-30 g/m2;
• superphosphate - 34-40 g / m2;
• potassium salt - 10-20 g / m2.

When growing under a film cover, the prepared beds are covered with polyethylene or non-woven material.

seed

Compared to other melon crops, watermelon seeds are the most difficult to germinate. Pre-sowing preparation increases the chances of getting friendly and strong seedlings.

It is carried out through several techniques.

• Mechanical calibration of seed according to size. The separation of large seeds from smaller ones and their sowing in separate containers according to the caliber ensures the production of friendly seedlings with equally developed seedlings.

• Sorting seeds according to density. Immersion of the seed material in an aqueous saline solution helps to identify light specimens unsuitable for sowing. Floating seeds are discarded, and seedlings are grown from heavier, sunken seeds.
• Disinfection. For disinfection, the seeds are kept in a weak 0.5% solution of potassium permanganate for 15-20 minutes, and then dried naturally. For the same purpose, the seed is heated in the sun for a week or using thermostats or dryers for 3-4 hours, at t up to 60 ° C.
• Soaking and germination. The presence of a thick leathery protective shell in seeds significantly slows down the emergence of sprouts. Therefore, they are wrapped in a piece of dense matter and soaked in a container of water at t 22-25 ° C for 24 hours. After that, the seeds are laid out on a damp cloth, leaving to swell until the roots appear.

• Heat treatment. The seed is heated in a vessel with water t 45-50°C for half an hour. Exposure to elevated temperature accelerates all biochemical processes in the seeds, as a result of which they will germinate much more actively.
• Scarification. This procedure is advisable to carry out when growing melons in the areas of the middle zone. Its essence boils down to damage to the protective shells of seeds on sandpaper for accelerated germination.

How to prepare seedlings?

In the open field, watermelons are cultivated through seedlings or seedless method. At dachas in the Central Black Earth Region, the Krasnodar Territory, the lower reaches of the Volga, seeds can be sown directly into the soil. For non-chernozem regions, an exclusively seedling method of growing gourds is suitable.

• A favorable time for sowing seeds is April-May. It is advisable to prepare potted seedlings 3-4 weeks before planting.
• To prepare a nutritious soil mixture, soddy soil, peat and humus are taken in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. Sandy soil is mixed with 10% mullein.
• The optimal size of seedling pots is 10-12 cm in diameter, which allows the roots to develop freely. Watermelon is contraindicated in damage to the root system. The containers are filled with soil mixture and the seeds are deepened by 3-4 cm.
• Until the sprouts appear, it is important to maintain in the place where the seedlings stand, t 22-25 ° C during the daytime, and make sure that at night the thermometer does not fall below 17 ° C. Otherwise, the seeds may stretch out the hypocotyl knee.

• As soon as sprouts appear, t should be reduced by 4-6 ° C and the seedlings should be left for a couple of days to get used to such conditions. After a week and a half, they must be fed with a solution of mullein or chicken manure in a ratio of 1: 10, mixed with superphosphate diluted in water at the rate of 2-3 g of fat per liter.
• When watering seedlings, avoid getting water on the leaves. It is not necessary to pinch the seedlings. Watering is carried out as needed, avoiding excessive waterlogging of the earth.
• Before planting in the soil, seedlings are taught to stay outdoors. To harden young plants, seedling containers are placed in a sufficiently lit, warmed up and reliably protected from the wind place on the site.

The readiness of sprouts for planting in open ground is evidenced by the formation of at least three true leaves.

How to plant?

Seedlings are transplanted into open ground, starting from last numbers May until the end of the first decade of June. In the holes, it is permissible to plant both one by one and a pair of seedlings. When planting in pairs, the processes are turned in different directions in order to prevent the chaotic interweaving of side shoots in the future. This culture is characterized by the continuous growth of lashes that can stretch 5-7 meters.

The order of transplant work

• Dig two rows of holes, adhering to a checkerboard pattern. Minimum distance between rows - 50 cm, between seats - 1-1.4 m.
• Compost is poured into the pits of 1.5-2 kg each and spilled with water. Consumption rate - 2 liters per seat.
• Sprouts are removed with preservation earthy coma from a seedling container and placed in holes, deepening them to the cotyledons.
• It remains to sprinkle the earth around the plants with a thin layer of sand in order to prevent the development of a black leg - a dangerous fungal disease causing planting rot.

With a seedless method of growing gourds, seeds are sown in the ground warmed up to t 13-14 ° C. Sowing material of large-fruited varieties is deepened by 7-9 cm, and small-fruited varieties - by 5-6 cm.

There are several ways of sowing - in rows, squares, rectangular and square-nested, tape, which explains the variety of planting patterns. Most often, gourds in the garden are sown in rows. In this case, the width between the rows can vary between 1.5-2.7 m, and the distance between the holes in the rows can be from 50 cm to 2 meters, depending on the size of the fruit of a particular variety.

Work order

• Dig the required number of holes and moisten with water.
• The holes are filled with soil mixture: ash + humus + earth in equal parts + nitroammofoska 5 g. The consumption rate of the soil mixture is 15 g for each seat. They level it with a hoe and water it.
• Seeds are laid, deepening them by 5-8 cm. At least five seeds are placed in one hole, and after a while, when they sprout, one largest seedling is left.
• Crops are sprinkled with a thin layer of humus to avoid the formation of a crust that can damage the delicate sprouts that make their way out of the ground.
• Lightly tamp the soil to protect the seeds from wind and bird dispersal.

How to properly care?

In order to grow strong and healthy watermelons outdoors, you need to provide them with appropriate care at all stages of development from germination to fruit formation.

Unforeseen spring frosts are quite common in areas with temperate climate, giving summer residents a lot of problems. Therefore, it is better not to take risks and for the first time build a shelter made of arcs and polyethylene or non-woven material in a garden with young seedlings. When the first peduncles appear, the protection is removed to avoid damage to the plants in the phase of active formation of lashes.

Another option for effective double protection of crops in open ground during frosts in cold climatic zones is the use of multilayer plastic caps. To do this, cut off the lower part of liter PET bottles, and then cover each sprout with them. After that, the caps are closed with PET canisters with a volume of 5-6 liters, having previously cut off their bottom. Under the protection of plastic "matryoshkas", delicate stems are not afraid of cold, wind and aggressive sun, while inside it is light, warm and air circulates freely.

Watermelons are picky about soil moisture. They, like other melons, require watering throughout the entire period of growth and development. The lower threshold of soil moisture for them is 75-80%. To obtain fruits with high palatability at the ripening stage, the frequency of irrigation is reduced to reduce soil moisture by 5-10%.

In areas with sandy or sandy loam soils that have poor water holding capacity, the frequency of watering should be higher at lower water rates. In dachas and gardens with clay or loamy soils, plantings should be watered, on the contrary, less often, but plentifully.

Transplanted sprouts will need to be shaded and used for irrigation with warm water t 21-25 ° C for several days. If the weather is dry and hot, then seedling irrigation should be rare and plentiful. The daily rate of water consumption for young seedlings is 0.2 liters.

Optimal Mode watering adult plants - every week one or two approaches, depending on weather conditions. Until flowering begins, watering should be moderate, while at the fruiting stage, irrigation is carried out with already increased rates. To increase the sugar content of fruits, plantings stop watering at the end of the growing season.

The water temperature must be at least 19-20°C. The use of cold water is unacceptable, as it inhibits the development of plants and makes them vulnerable to black leg. Irrigation is desirable to do in the morning. So the soil has time to warm up before night. In hot weather, plantings are watered in the evening.

For the first time, the beds are loosened at the end of the transplantation of plants into open ground. At the same time, the depth of loosening should not exceed 4-6 cm. Then the ground is loosened after rains and each irrigation until the plants begin to close with each other. As necessary, loosening is combined with weeding the ridges. Weeds are immediately disposed of as they are one of the main sources of infection.

During the season, watermelons will need to be fed three times. A week after planting the seedlings, a nutrient solution is used to fertilize the plants.

To prepare it, dilute in 20 liters of water:

• ammonium sulphate 64-70 g;
• double superphosphate 80-100 g;
• potassium salt 30-36 g.

When lashes begin to actively form on the melon, a second top dressing is performed. During this period, it is good to fertilize the plants with organic matter in combination with mineral fertilizers. For this purpose, infusion is used cow dung, for which the rotted mullein is diluted with water in proportions of 1: 10. Superphosphate and potassium salt are added to it at the rate of 2 g and 1 g of fertilizer per liter of infusion. Plants are watered between rows.

The appearance of the first ovaries is a signal for the third feeding.

This time, the dosage of fertilizer per 20 liters of water should be as follows:

• ammonium sulphate 48 g;
• superphosphate 20 g;
• potassium salt 70 g.

Application rate - 2 liters per bush. Instead of watering the holes, you can shed the furrows with a solution, which are carried out in advance, stepping back from the bushes 20-25 cm.

Growing side shoots should be periodically distributed over the garden. To avoid damage to too long branched lashes by the wind, they are tied to supports or sprinkled with moist soil.

When three or four pumpkins the size of an apricot are formed on the central lashes, they get rid of all the other ovaries by cutting them out. sharp knife. For the treatment of slices, charcoal powder is used. After that, the tops of the lashes are pinched, followed by the removal of female flowers.

The latter method is the most popular, as it guarantees almost 100% survival, so it is the best suited for beginner melon growers.

To do this, choose a stock and a scion that have a couple of real leaves. On the axial part of the shoots of pumpkin and watermelon, oblique cuts are made ¾ of the thickness of the stems and 0.5-0.6 cm long. The stems are cut so that the watermelon axial part enters from above into the axial part of the pumpkin. To increase the contact area, the stems are notched at an angle of 30°.

Carefully connect the plants with incisions like a "castle". To fix the grafting site, a grafting clip or food foil is used. Seedlings connected to each other are planted in one large container of 0.5-0.7 liters and placed in a well-lit place.

After 4-5 days, the watermelon stem is pinched below the place where the vaccination was made, so that the watermelon begins to receive nutrients from the roots of lagenaria. After another 4-5 days, the watermelon stem and the top of the pumpkin are removed.

You can transplant seedlings into open ground after a week, subject to good weather. When there is no film shelter on the beds, they are transplanted in May.

When do they ripen?

If you grow watermelons in open ground using a seedless method, then the seeds germinate after sowing for 8-10 days. And if you germinate the seeds and grow potted seedlings from them, then the appearance of sprouts can be expected a couple of days earlier. Rapid germination is facilitated by compliance with the temperature, light and humidity conditions in the room where the seedlings are standing.

How long a gourd culture grows in open ground from the formation of flowers and ovaries to the onset of technical ripeness directly depends on which variety of seed was used. In early forms, the duration of the growing season can vary between 65-70 days, in later forms it takes at least three months to fully mature.

August is the time for harvesting early ripening varieties. But watermelons are not harvested en masse during this period. An exception is cases of forced collection of melons due to early frosts.

During the warm season, only the ripest pumpkins are harvested, identifying them according to the following features:

• shiny (not matte) surface of the bark, dense to the touch;
• a dull sound if you knock on the bark and a characteristic crackle when the fruit is squeezed with hands;
• the presence of a dry stem of a brownish color;
• a clearly visible pattern of clear stripes and the presence of a yellow spot in the place where the fruit was in contact with the ground.

Since each of these signs is rather conditional, it is necessary to be guided by their combination. Otherwise, there is a high probability of cutting unripe berries.

Diseases and their treatment

When growing watermelons, most often you have to deal with several diseases.

Anthracnose

The first sign of the disease is the formation of brown or yellow spots on the leaves. If at this stage the fight against anthracnose is not started, then “ulcers” will appear on the lashes dark color, after which the plants will begin to die en masse. Bushes are treated with cuprosan or they are surgically treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture as an effective cell poison that destroys harmful fungi. The soil must be weeded. For preventive spraying of bushes, 80% of the wettable powdered contact fungicide "Cineb" is used.

powdery mildew

Infection is indicated by the appearance of whitish spots on the bushes. If measures are not taken in time, then the gradual withering and death of the green parts of plants will begin. Treatment involves the destruction of the affected lashes with fruits and soil treatment with a systemic contact fungicide "Dinocap" ("Karatan LC"). For prevention, the bushes are sprayed with a solution of colloidal sulfur. The frequency of treatments is once a week.

white rot

Predisposing factors for its occurrence - high humidity combined with sudden changes in temperature. Infection by the fungus of the green parts of plants leads to stops in development and a significant deterioration in the taste of fruits. The onset of the disease can be diagnosed by the presence of white coating on lashes and leaf blades. After the destruction of the rotten parts of the plantations, they are treated with copper sulfate. A therapeutic and prophylactic solution for spraying bushes is prepared at the rate of 100-200 g of copper-containing microfertilizer per 20 liters of water.

The formation of watermelons in the open field is shown in the following video.

For gardeners it became business as usual grow watermelon. The process is simple, but it has certain difficulties that must be taken into account when growing (the plant may die before flowering, the fruits do not always grow tasty, and so on). Read more about how to grow a watermelon with your own hands, and will be discussed in this article.

The issue of choosing a variety should be approached with special responsibility. For the central zone of the Russian Federation, it is advisable to choose only early-ripening varieties, and there is no need to chase huge fruits in this matter - such watermelons realize their potential by 100% only when grown in the south of the country. Be sure to read the description of the variety on the package - it contains information about the duration of ripening (plant ovaries should ripen as quickly as possible).

On a note! You can neglect some qualities when choosing a variety. First of all, it is large-fruitedness and transportability. Do not pay attention also to the color and shape of the fruit - this is only necessary in cases where you grow watermelons not for yourself, but for sale.

The most common varieties of watermelon:

• "Kai";
• "Sugar Baby";
• "Ataman F1";
• "Ultraearly";
• "Stokes";
• "Spark";
• "Moscow Region Charleston F1";
• "Yarilo";
• Crimstar F1;
• "Leader";
• "Pink Champagne F1";
• "Gift to the North F1".

This is only a small part of the varieties that can be grown not only in the south of the country, but most often people choose them. Having decided on the variety of watermelon, you can start growing.

How to grow watermelon outdoors

Not everyone knows, but watermelons can be grown without seedlings, and seeds, already on permanent place. Often, seedlings are used only for further transplanting into greenhouses so that the watermelon ripens. But if you are growing watermelon in a garden plot, then you can safely skip the stage with seedlings and sow seeds.

The landing process is divided into several preparatory stages to get a good harvest. Let's consider each of them separately.

Seed preparation

By choosing suitable variety, wrap the seeds in a cloth bandage and put on a shallow plate, pouring a pre-prepared solution of potassium permanganate. The solution should be light pink and warm. After that, the saucer with the seeds should be placed in a plastic bag and tied with a little air. Move the plate with the seed to a warm room (at least +20°C). Change the solution daily and ventilate the bag. After 2-3 days, the seeds should hatch, after which they will be ready for planting in the ground.

Soil preparation

It is very important to prepare land plot before planting watermelon. This is an integral part of growing, without which you can hardly get a good harvest. Prepared soil should provide plants nutrients throughout the growth period, it should be protected from strong winds, as well as well lit.

For watermelon, as well as for other gourds, loose, fertile and light soil is needed. Great if your suburban area sandy or sandy soil, which you enriched with rotted humus in the autumn. If we talk about suitable predecessors of watermelons, then these are, of course, cruciferous vegetables, as well as legumes.

For best results, it is advisable to prepare the beds in advance and fertilize the soil. For this, 1 sq. m plot you need to make 20 g of potash fertilizers, 40 g and 30 g of ammonium sulfate. This combination mineral fertilizers will significantly accelerate the growth of watermelon, as a result of which you can enjoy juicy and sweet fruits a little earlier.

Sowing watermelon seeds

The process of planting watermelon seeds is simple and practically does not differ from planting any other crop.

Table. Step-by-step instruction for sowing watermelon seeds.

Steps, photo	Description of actions
	Start sowing watermelon seeds in early May as it is a very thermophilic plant. Otherwise, if you do this earlier, the plant will greatly slow down in development. Take out the pre-prepared seed material that has already germinated.
	You should also have a planting mix at the ready, consisting of rotted humus, ash, mineral fertilizers and peat (the composition may vary, since there are many different recipes for preparing the mixture).
	Dig a large watermelon hole and fill it with some water.
	Pour the prepared mixture of fertilizers and humus into the hole. Carefully level with a hoe and water.
	Place at least 5 seeds in the hole (to a depth of 5 cm) and sprinkle it all with earth. The soil layer should be about 4 cm thick. Gently tamp the ground so that the seeds are not blown away by the wind or they are not injured. Repeat the procedure for each well.

Important! At first, 5-6 seeds should be sown in each hole, but over time, when they begin to develop, leave one plant in the hole.

Aftercare

Without providing full-fledged care, including top dressing and watering, it is impossible to grow a watermelon in the garden. The juiciness of the fruits directly depends on the level of humidity, but you should not overdo it with this matter, because you will not be able to later enjoy the sugary pulp of sweet berries, which everyone loves so much. Conventionally, subsequent care can be divided into 4 stages: watering, top dressing, trimming lashes and pest control. Let's consider each of them separately.

Watering

When growing watermelons in a summer cottage, it is advisable to use. This will allow for regular feeding of crops.

The best option is drip irrigation.

Watermelons need abundant but rare watering, especially during the hot period with a lack of natural moisture - remember this! For comfortable growth of watermelons, the soil moisture level should be at least 80%. If the site is located on sandy soil, then the beds need to be watered more often due to poor moisture retention. Clay soil and water the black soil less often. After the berries begin to ripen and they become poured, reduce the amount of watering, and after a few weeks stop them altogether.

top dressing

Feeding watermelons grown in a summer cottage consists of three procedures, each of which must be performed subject to certain conditions: at least 2 liters liquid fertilizer should be per plant. After 7 days from the moment of planting the seeds, it is necessary to regularly water the plants with a special solution prepared by oneself (all ingredients and their proportions were described above).

After the lashes on the plants begin to grow actively, you need to make a second top dressing of watermelons, but this time the amount of potash and phosphorus fertilizers should be half as much. When the formation of the ovaries begins, you need to carry out another top dressing, only with a different composition. Mix 10 liters of water, 35 g of potassium salts, 10 g of superphosphate and 20 g of ammonium sulfate.

Introduce the prepared nutrient mixture into the previously prepared furrows, which should be at a distance of 15 cm from the plant bushes. The amount of nitrogen fertilizers should be reduced due to the likelihood of their accumulation in the pulp of watermelons. In addition, such measures can provoke the maturation of the plant, and not a set of green mass.

Whip trimming

During a short and insufficiently warm summer, some watermelon fruits do not have time to ripen, although the bush still spends energy on them, which could be distributed to other berries that really ripen. Therefore, each plant should have no more than 5 watermelons. Delete everything superfluous.

Important! When growing watermelons, you need to remember that on main whip plants form female flowers - you can’t touch them, but remove the side lashes. Compliance with all recommendations will allow you to get a harvest in the second half of August.

Pest control

The melon aphid that appears in June can create many problems for watermelons. Dwelling on the underside of the leaves, it sucks all the vital juices from the plant, causing the leaves to shrivel and dry. During the summer, aphids can give 2-3 generations. At first, pests live only on weeds, but with the onset of June, the females move to watermelons, remaining there until the beginning of autumn. The melon aphid lays its eggs on the weeds, which overwinter there.

To protect watermelons from aphids, it is advisable to regularly weed the beds from various weeds, as well as mow the areas located next to the grown watermelons. If you notice pests, immediately treat the plants with a special decoction or infusion prepared from celandine, garlic or onion peel. If these remedies do not help and the deciduous system of plants is badly damaged, then strong chemicals- for example, INTA-VIR, Karbofos, Iskra.

In addition to aphids, watermelons can be subject to various diseases such as sclerotinia, bacteriosis, verdigris, different kinds rot and so on. For treatment, you need to prepare a decoction of horsetail. To do this, pour 1 liter of water 1 tbsp. l. plants and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can use another remedy - milk mixed with iodine. If the plants were severely affected, use Kuprosat or Oxychloride. The development of Fusarium wilt can cause the plant to die within a few days. The spread of the infection occurs through the remains of plants, seeds or soil.

As a prevention of watermelon from the occurrence of diseases, it is advisable to treat the seeds with a solution of "Bactofit" for 3 hours before planting. If some plants were nevertheless damaged by the disease, then they need to be destroyed in order to protect healthy ones from infection, which, in turn, need to be fed with potassium- phosphate fertilizers.

Harvesting

Fruit picking is the final stage in the process of growing watermelons. It is not recommended to rush with this matter, because many fruits that have reached large sizes are still immature. ripe tomatoes can be determined by a change in the color of the fruit; when growing zucchini and cucumbers, it is important not to be late with the collection, otherwise the vegetables may lose their beneficial properties. But when should watermelons be harvested? When planting early-ripening varieties, you can get a harvest no earlier than mid-August. Mass collection during this period is not carried out, it is necessary to determine the ripeness of the berry by outward signs. First of all, look at the bract and tendrils - if they are dry, then the watermelon can be harvested. Also, with a light tapping of the fingers on the berry, dull sounds should be heard. The combination of these signs indicates the ripeness of the fruit.

If you are growing watermelons for further transportation and storage, then it is better to pick the berries a couple of days before ripening. They will then ripen, being in a warm and dry room. At the same time, watermelons will not lose their qualities.

Video - Growing watermelon seedlings

Juicy and sweet berry every year pleases us with its exquisite taste and aroma. Today, not only residents of the southern regions of Russia can enjoy their own watermelons. In the article we will tell you how to grow watermelons in the open field of some regions of the country, how to prepare the land, choose the right variety, plant this crop and take care of it.

Do you plan to plant, in the Urals, in Siberia, you should prepare the land. Watermelon is a thermophilic crop. For its normal cultivation, you need to choose the appropriate place on the plot. It should grow where the sun shines the most. Sandy loamy neutrally alkaline soils are called ideal for this crop.

They should be light, since the berry gets its juiciness from the root system, which should be located deep in the ground. Watermelon does not like weeds, you will have to carry out a merciless fight against them. It is not recommended to plant these berries on lands that are distinguished by the proximity of groundwater. Soil with a lot of moisture is not suitable either. Experts and experienced gardeners advise changing the planting site annually. This will enable the soil to be enriched with the necessary elements. The best predecessors for juicy berries are winter wheat and alfalfa.

The bad ones are gourds and nightshade crops. In autumn, the soil must be fertilized with rotted manure at the rate of 5 kg per 1 square meter. Fresh can not be used - it makes the culture vulnerable to various fungal infections. The soil must still be fertilized with organic matter. The introduction of phosphorus-potassium supplements into the soil will help speed up the ripening process of your favorite red berry.

Choose a variety

Everyone is used to the fact that watermelon is a southern guest. The birthplace of this beautiful berry is South Africa, from where the fruit was brought in times crusades to the territory Western Europe. It appeared on the territory of Russia in the 16th century. If you choose the right variety, then you can successfully grow watermelon in the Moscow region, and in the Urals, and in Siberia. Varieties and hybrids of Honey Giant, Shuga Baby, Skorik, Sugar Baby, Gift of the Sun, Prince Albert F1, Prince Arthur F1, Rafinad, Rosario F1, Williams F1 are well suited for different regions of Russia. The term of their full maturation is from 75 to 80 days.

The most famous early variety of your favorite berry is. It has small fruits - up to 5 kg, with a thin peel, painted in a characteristic dark green color. The middle of the berry has a granular structure and a sweet pleasant taste. The variety can be grown in open ground and greenhouse. Normally resists a decrease in temperature indicators.

Varieties Astrakhansky, Volzhanin, Melitopolsky 142, Bykovsky, Ataman F1, Muravlevsky, Yubileiny have an average ripening time. Variety Volzhanin is a smooth and pleasant to the touch fruit, which has an elongated rounded shape. Its average weight is 5 - 6 kg. The pulp of the berry has a beautiful red-raspberry color and excellent taste characteristics. The middle has a small degree of graininess. The variety has increased drought resistance, responds well to weather vagaries.
Of the late and mid-late varieties, one can name Rapture, Spring Bush 334, Anniversary, Kholodov's Gift, Chill, Black Prince.

Such crops will take about 100 days to fully mature. Variety Kholodok is the most popular medium-late species. It matures in 85 to 95 days. The fruits are not large in size, have a weight of up to 5 kg. The Kholodok variety is characterized by the presence of a strong peel, juicy and sweet pulp. Has a good level of transportability and long term storage - when creating optimal conditions keeping quality is up to 3 months.

Video “We grow watermelons in the country”

Landing

If you plan to grow watermelons in the open ground of the Moscow region, then you must take into account the peculiarities of the climate of the region. This area cannot boast of a particularly warm climate. But if you correctly approach the selection of varieties and take into account some features of planting and caring for the crop, you can get a rich harvest of your favorite berries in various parts of the Moscow region. In the region in the summer there are strong and frequent night frosts, so the cultivation of berries here must begin with planting seedlings. Watermelon seeds have a thick skin, they are advised to germinate. Place to warm in a thermos for several hours at a temperature of about 45 degrees.

Wrap in a wet piece of material. Place in a solution of potassium permanganate. Transfer the fabric with seeds into a plastic bag and place next to the battery. Open a couple of times a day so that the sprouts receive oxygen. Sprouts that appear after a week are placed in peat pots or containers with special earth. Water and leave in a warm dark place. After two weeks, your seedlings will be ready for planting in open ground. We plant them in the regions of the Moscow region after the appearance of the third leaf. This period usually falls on the second half of May. Seedlings are placed under the film. They are placed on special arcs.

Planting seedlings is done in loosened soil. It is not necessary to deepen the root system of seedlings so as not to provoke their decay. Shelter is removed when the seedlings have produced viable lashes and the temperature outside has stabilized. Seedlings are placed where there is no wind. The distance between seedlings should be 50 - 70 cm. Do not forget to install a garden scarecrow, as the crows of the Moscow Region can harm your developing crops.

Residents of the Urals have been successfully growing watermelons in open ground for many years. It is not easy, but real, to get a good harvest of your favorite berry in the conditions of the Urals. It is necessary to purchase seeds in proven places and carefully select them. Seed elements that have even the slightest defect are not subject to planting. A dense layer of earth must be loosened. Seeds are pre-germinated - placed in water with a temperature of 50 - 60 degrees, drained, soaked again and waiting for sprouts. In the Urals, good harvests of your favorite berry can be harvested in a successful summer. Seeds are stored in a warm place where they are placed in the last summer month. It is advised to treat them with potassium permanganate for about 15 minutes and rinse in water.

At night, a solution of ash is used. The degree of productivity of watermelons in open ground is several times lower than those that develop in a greenhouse. Seeds are germinated in separate cups with fertile soil, cover and leave in a warm place. Before disembarking, they are hardened - they are taken out into the street. Make warm high beds. When the snow melts, rotted manure is placed on them with a layer of 0.5 m. The width of the beds is more than 80 cm, the length is at least 4 meters. The soil mixture for each seedling bush is prepared from sand, peat, fertile soil or leaf humus, taken in equal parts. Places for holes are formed at a distance of 80 cm between them. Planting seedlings in open ground in the regions of the Urals is carried out in early June by the felling method. The root neck sits at the same level at which it was in the cup. At night, at first, the seedlings are covered with a protective film.

It is realistic to grow watermelons in Siberia, despite the fact that the summer is short here, frosts at night occur until the beginning of June, and in August it is not so hot. Watermelon is a wayward berry. He will need a lot of light and moisture, and the beds will have to be heated.

Seeds are soaked in hot water before planting, planted on seedlings when it cools down. Swollen seeds are recommended to be placed in plastic cups on the growing moon. Seedlings in Siberia are considered ready after a month. To heat the holes, sand, ash, humus or compost are placed in the hole, then covered with a film or glass. Shallowly grown seedlings are transplanted into a heated hole.

About 2 liters of hot water should first be poured into the hole. So the soil in any of the regions of Siberia will be able to warm up to a temperature of 40 degrees. In those regions of Siberia, where the soil will be warmed up by 6 - 8 cm deep to 10 - 12 degrees, it is possible to plant without growing seedlings. Do this in late April - early May. Seeds can be planted a couple of centimeters deeper if the soil is dry or the spring is not rainy. Seedlings are moved to open ground under the film. Sprouts can be covered with cut bottles. Holes when planting crops in the regions of Siberia are watered with warm water. Subject to simple rules, a watermelon can grow and develop normally in any corner of Siberia.

Our compatriots, who prefer to grow watermelons on their own backyard, are inspired by the experience of neighboring countries. For example, in Belarus, good harvests of this sweet and juicy berry have been successfully obtained for a long time. This is achieved by adhering to technologies, landing schemes and the use of covering materials. Since the climate of Belarus is not conducive to the growth of such a heat-loving culture. But Belarusian gardeners manage to get ripe watermelons not only in the southern and central, but also in the northern regions of the country. The key point for the normal development of this crop in Belarus is the preparation of the soil in the fall.

Peeling is carried out, after 2 weeks - plowing. In early spring Belarusian gardeners are loosening the soil. In autumn, the soil is fertilized with potash and phosphorus fertilizers. Early ripe hybrids Romanza F1, Evrika F1 and other varieties are popular in Belarus. 30-day-old seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June. A nutritious earth mixture is used, like ours. Seeds are germinated, seedlings are hardened. On their plot, Belarusian gardeners plant crops on the plot at intervals of 140 by 60 - 70 cm. Gardeners from Ukraine and many other countries have been successful for many years. Since in many regions of Ukraine the climate is well suited for the normal growth of this crop.

Watering and care

Watering watermelons that grow and develop in your garden should be stopped only with the beginning of fruit set. Further, crop care involves breaking through fragile shoots, loosening the soil, weeding it, destroying unwanted weeds, and applying recommended top dressing. Melons grow normally in the presence of a sufficient amount of light. To obtain a large and juicy fruit in open ground conditions, it is important not to thicken the plantings, ideally there should be one plant in the hole.

On the square meter should fit no more than 3 landings. To accelerate the growth of your favorite berry, it is advised to use shelters with proper care. These include the usual individual and group film. Even protecting the beds with ordinary film can increase the temperature and bring the ripening time closer by 2 to 3 weeks. The film will also become a reliable protection against harmful beetles, which can cause a lot of trouble to melon crops. Specialists and experienced gardeners, while caring for plants, suggest equipping tunnel shelters with frames made of vines or wire rod on the beds.

So that the plants do not suffer from the sun, shelters are removed in early June on a cloudy day. If you open the beds under the scorching sun, the development of infection is not excluded. To attract bees near watermelons, it is recommended to plant plants that are honey plants. They have proven themselves in the care of crops by spraying them with solutions of sugar or honey.

Video “All about growing watermelons”

From the video you will learn how to grow watermelons in the open field, and at the same time get the maximum yield.

Bahce in the summer cottage is given an honorable warm place. Sunny melons and round-faced watermelons bring indescribable pleasure to adult eaters and gourmet kids. Children are ready from morning to evening to enjoy the juicy pulp of watermelons to the envy of intrusive wasps and hardworking bees. If earlier it was believed that watermelon is an exclusively southern berry, now more than 200 varieties and hybrids are adapted for cultivation in various climatic regions of our country. A fruit grown in a spacious open field is more likely to gain the right weight and the right taste than its country relative. The plant is held by the tendrils for stable stems of weeds, which, in turn, protects the watermelon lashes from tangling. When planting watermelons in the backyard, consider the availability of the necessary free space and do not overdo it with weeding.

Sowing watermelon seeds in open ground

Much to the chagrin of amateur melon growers, growing a wonderful crop of ripe watermelons is quite difficult. Especially when it comes to areas with unsuitable climatic conditions. Even the most caring care will not be able to provide the berries with juicy ripe pulp if the summer is not hot and long enough. Of course, a good owner will not let such a crop go to waste - salted watermelons are still a delicacy. But a well-ripened, fragrant fruit plucked from its garden can be endlessly crushed on both cheeks from morning to evening.

Watermelons are ripe - the family is delighted

Preparation of seeds for sowing in open ground

It is advisable to choose a place for sowing watermelon seeds in the fall. Excellent predecessors for them are onions and potatoes. It’s not bad if cabbage or legumes flaunted in the garden before. Young sprouts do not like fresh organic fertilizers, therefore, beds with half-rotted manure or compost are prepared in the fall. minerals (ash, dolomite flour) are also contributed at this time of the year.

Watermelon seeds are hard to grow, especially if the germination energy is low. I bubbling mine with an aquarium compressor, you can scarify it to break the seed coat, that is, file the end of the seed with a file or nail file. And t should be 23o - 27 °C.

Fech Eugene

Choose seeds for sowing hardy and early. Two different varieties should not be placed side by side so that there is no cross-pollination.

Before planting, you need to properly prepare the seed:

Sowing seeds in the ground

Immediately before sowing watermelon seeds, the land prepared for melons is cultivated by a cultivator. Wells of a meter diameter are formed, the distance between the holes is from 1 to 2 meters. From 5 to 10 seeds are introduced into each well to a depth of 4–5 cm. The soil should be warmed up to 13–15 ° C by the time of sowing. Each well is watered with warm settled water and mulched with peat.

Watermelons do not tolerate crowding

After the seeds sprout and get a little stronger, 2 plants are left in the hole. The rest are removed or transplanted to free place suitable for ripening watermelons.

After germination, two plants are left in the hole.

Do not be too lazy to re-sow the seeds in a week. If for some reason the first seedlings die, the second run will certainly be more successful.

Watermelon seeds are sown in the farmer's fields different ways: tape, square, rectangular or square-nested.

Video: how to sow watermelon seeds in open ground

Photo gallery: watermelon varieties for cold regions

The variety is characterized by unpretentiousness and disease resistance. Watermelons of the Ogonyok variety ripen in 60–70 days. The Kholodok variety is well resistant to low temperatures, suitable for Siberia

The scheme of planting seedlings of watermelons in open ground

Seeds for seedlings are prepared in the same way as for planting in the ground. They can be sown in plastic trays or cups, but it is best to use peat pots. Land for seedlings is mixed in equal proportions with sand and peat. 2 seeds are placed in a pot (glass or tray) on moistened soil and sprinkled with dry earth. In this state, the pots are placed in a well-lit warm place. It takes 40–45 days from sowing seeds to planting seedlings.

Before planting in the ground, seedlings need to be hardened in the open air.

Seedlings are planted in the ground at the end of May or the first decade of June, depending on climatic conditions and the geographical location of the region. Some recommendations for planting watermelon seedlings in open ground:

After planting, the seedlings are watered for a week with settled warm water daily and slightly covered from direct sunlight. Fortified seedlings are watered abundantly, but not too often. During the ripening period of the berries, watering is stopped completely, so that the fruits gain sugar content and do not have a watery taste.

It is necessary to water infrequently, but in large quantities (10 liters per root). The most important thing is to ensure complete dryness at least 2 weeks before pick-up. Only then will watermelons be sweet. No watering of either the watermelons themselves or nearby growing plants.

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A rich harvest of sugar watermelons will delight summer residents and their kids

Video: planting watermelons in open ground

Little tricks for planting watermelons

Weather conditions are not always helpful in such a painstaking task as growing gourds. The cold and short summer in some regions leads to the fact that the harvest rarely pleases even the diligent vegetable grower. Watermelons simply do not have time to gain enough weight and reach a state of absolute maturity. And even in this case, do not despair. There are little tricks with which the fruits will become a real pride even on 5-6 acres of homestead land.

The right choice of landing site

Light sandy soils are an ideal springboard for growing a heavy watermelon. But the main thing in a cool summer is the choice of a sunny place.

Watermelons prefer a sunny location

The selection of such a site initially provides for the complete absence of spreading shrubs and shade-forming trees. But with excess solar radiation at the time of ripening, take care of the shelter of the fat belly in order to avoid significant overheating. For this purpose, old newspapers or large leaves burdock.

Shelter in two stages

For successful ripening, the seeds are sown in open ground a little earlier than the due date - not at the end of May, but in its first decade. But in a cold climate zone, tender sprouts are at risk of dying from frost. This is where a little trick comes in handy - double shelter. At liter plastic bottle cut the bottom and install on the plant.

One and a half liter bottle can be cut in half

A 5-liter container with a cut bottom is placed on top of a liter bottle in the same way.

Cut off the bottom of a large bottle and place a liter on top

In such a matryoshka, a delicate stalk has enough air and heat, and is also well protected from cold and winds. Securely fix the transparent mini-greenhouse with earth or sand.

magic tablet

Watermelon is a picky berry, does not like excessive dampness. In cool climates, dampness leads to rotting of fruits and even stems. To improve ripening conditions, pour 3-4 handfuls of sand on the root part of the main stem, and place wooden or plastic safety boards under the fruits. Thus, your green couch potatoes will not come into contact with wet soil, and the percentage of crop damage from rot will be significantly reduced.

A wooden plank will protect the watermelon from rot

Thoughtful watering

In arid areas, the root system of watermelons tends to depth to saturate the plant with moisture. However, in the northern regions, groundwater often passes close to ground level and causes a lot of trouble for the roots: as soon as the roots reach an excess amount of moisture, they rot, and the plant may die entirely. In this case, force the root system to develop not in breadth, but in depth. To do this, water the plant not at the root, but in the aisles. Watering is carried out only when necessary and do not forget about the timely loosening and mulching of the soil.

Try not to water the watermelons at the root

Trimming the side lashes

The carrier of female flowers in watermelons is the main central lash. In order for the plant not to waste energy on side lashes, it is preferable to remove them. At the same time, leave no more than 5 fruit ovaries on each central branch.

Remove the lateral lashes of the plant, and the forces will be transferred to the ripening of the fruit.

By listening to these simple tips, you can surprise your neighbors in the country and your loved ones even in conditions that are not very favorable for growing melons.

We can talk endlessly about the benefits of ripened watermelon: thiamine and riboflavin, niacin and other elements of B-group vitamins, ascorbic acid and carotene protect the body from age-related metamorphoses and resist cancer. But the presence of folic acid is invaluable - a fighter of the invisible front and a tireless builder of DNA cells and ribonucleic acid. Dietary fiber and trace elements normalize metabolism, cleanse the kidneys, liver, blood vessels, and normalize cholesterol in the blood. At the same time, do not forget about the ability to accumulate nitrates and cause allergic reactions. However, a self-grown watermelon will allow you to avoid such troubles and bring a lot of positive emotions from enjoying the magical taste of a juicy fruit.

Growing watermelons in the open field begins with the most important and crucial stage - the selection and preparation of material for sowing. Initially, growers must select the correct variety.

The right technology for growing watermelons in the open field begins with the selection of seeds suitable for the climate. For example, Skorik watermelon is an early ripe variety that requires a warm climate, so it is preferred to be grown outdoors in Ukraine, namely in the south. In the Kuban, such hybrids are suitable for sowing: Orange King, Volcano, Bomba, Champagne Splashes. Caring for watermelons in the open field of these varieties is not difficult, and the fruits reach large sizes. At right choice watermelon seeds in open ground can be grown even in Bashkiria, where cultivation even without the use of chemicals will give a good harvest. They even grow watermelons for business. Based on this, it is clear that the secrets of growing watermelons lie in the proper preparation of seeds.

Varietal plants must be prepared before planting as follows:

1. Initially, hold the seeds in salt water. This way you can identify bad seeds (they will float to the top).
2. Then, a couple of hours before planting, warm the seeds - the temperature should be 55 degrees. Or just leave them in the sun a week before sowing.

Prepare in another way:

1. Seeds for sowing are placed in a gauze bag and immersed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
2. Then all this is left in plastic bag or under a film (covering material) and put on the windowsill for 3 days, changing the water every day. After the first sprouts have appeared, the film is no longer needed. Thus, the seeds will germinate quickly.

Planting seeds

The technology of growing watermelons with seeds in open ground is not complicated, it is similar to growing other crops in open ground. Therefore, the question "how to grow watermelons, which are grown in a seedless way", is very easy to answer. How to grow watermelon in this way? It is necessary to start sowing the prepared material in May, when the temperature of the earth at a depth of 10 cm warms up to 12–14 degrees.

Fertilizer is added to the wells for better development: ash, peat and humus are mixed in a bucket. How much to take top dressing depends on the area of ​​​​your site. Level and water the soil. Then place 5 seeds in each hole, so that later one of the strongest seedlings is selected. Firm the soil gently and water the plants generously.

seedling method

Agricultural technology for growing watermelons in the open field includes planting not only seeds, but also seedlings. This method of cultivation is actively used in areas with short and cold summers. How to grow berries in this way? 25–30 days we grow sprouts in peat pots or plastic containers. They are filled in equal proportions with ash, a mixture of peat soil and humus. Among the huge selection of land in specialized stores, you can choose a ready-made mixture for growing watermelons through seedlings.

Plant the seeds in moist soil a few centimeters. Then put all the pots under the film. The temperature there should be at least 20 degrees Celsius. When the first leaves begin to appear, the seedlings should move to a cooler place.

Seedlings need regular watering with warm water. Once you can feed everything with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. A couple of days before planting watermelons in open ground, take the seedlings to Fresh air. Seedlings thus acclimatize and easily take root in open ground.

Soil selection

An important question for this topic is what should be the soil for watermelons in the garden or at their summer cottage? After all, planting and caring for watermelons will be meaningless if you place them in the wrong place. Watermelons grow well on sandy or sandy soil. But in any case, sowing will be successful if the soil is light. The place should be well lit and warm. Growing watermelons is not possible in areas where there is groundwater nearby. Also acidic and highly moist soil is not suitable.

In the previous year, onions, alfalfa or legumes should grow in the garden.

Watering and feeding

How to care for watermelons after planting them in open ground? Outdoor care primarily includes watering and fertilizing. Grown seedlings need to be watered regularly. In the country, you can even install drip irrigation.

It is also not necessary to overdo it in this matter, because the watermelon crop may lose sugar content. Berries do not like frequent, but plentiful watering. The average humidity level should be 85 percent. When the ovary appears, care intensifies, and when berries are imposed, it is better to reduce the amount of water.

Caring for these berries in the open field necessarily includes top dressing. A week after planting in the ground, the berries need to be fed with a solution of superphosphate, ammonium sulfate and potassium salts in proportions of 40:30:15 g, respectively. The second feeding occurs at the stage active growth whips. Here it is worth taking ammonium sulfate, superphosphate, potassium salts, but already in proportions of 20:10:35. If you do not reduce the dose of superphosphate during the second feeding, the fruits grow nitrate. How to make the plant even more resistant? On one plant, no more than 2-3 fruits should be left.

Pest control

Growing and caring for watermelons becomes difficult during the pest control phase. You can grow healthy watermelons if you carry out prevention in time. It consists in weeding the site.

The main harmful insect for melons is melon aphid. What does a watermelon affected by aphids look like? The first sign of her activity is the drying and curling of the leaves. If you don't keep an eye on the plant, the female may lay her eggs on the plant.

If you notice these pests, immediately treat the grown watermelon with an onion peel solution. Another unpleasant guest is spider mite. To combat it, you can take an infusion of dope.

Video "Growing watermelons in the open field"

In this video you will hear useful tips for growing watermelons.

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