Growing watermelon - the secrets of getting a sweet harvest

If we talk about the middle lane, then watermelons here (as well as some other crops - for example, melon) are preferable to grow through seedlings. In reality, there is nothing complicated in this process, the main thing is to know when to plant watermelons for seedlings and how to do it correctly. Today we will consider two methods at once, as well as provide detailed step-by-step instructions. But let's start with the preparatory activities.

When to plant watermelons for seedlings

In the middle lane, watermelons are often grown through seedlings

What will be required in the work?

For the correct sowing of watermelon seeds and the cultivation of high-quality seedlings, be sure to prepare:

• seed material;
• cling film;
• soil mixture;
• plastic containers with a diameter of 10 cm (peat pots will be used in the second method);
• gauze;
• salt;
• potassium permanganate;
• a glass of water.

Note! The seeding techniques described below are great for melon as well as watermelon.

What is required to sow watermelon seeds for seedlings

Potassium permanganate prices

potassium permanganate

The history of the appearance of an unusual shape

Square watermelons first appeared 3 decades ago in Japan. They were grown for ease of transportation, because it is much easier to stack square fruits one on top of the other than round ones. This saves space, and the watermelons do not break. But it turned out that buyers liked the unusual product and they began to grow it due to good demand. However, a large scale is still not observed and square watermelons in Japan are mainly grown to order.

How to choose the right seeds

Due to the fact that watermelon is an atypical crop for the middle lane, it is necessary to choose seeds with extreme caution.

Seeds of watermelon

Remember that only early-ripening varieties are suitable for such conditions, the growing season of which ranges from 70-90 days.

Watermelon varieties

And if we take into account that the seeds are sown for seedlings quite late (in mid or late April, as we have already found out), then it is quite obvious that watermelons should ripen before the cold weather sets in. In addition, you can purchase seeds of hybrids that are more adapted to unfavorable climatic conditions.

Sowing watermelon and melon seeds for seedlings is almost identical

For cultivation under such conditions, only early-maturing varieties with a growing season of about 70-90 days are suitable.

Prices for watermelon seeds

watermelon seeds

How to grow delicious ripe watermelons?

We will talk about growing watermelons without the use of chemical fertilizers (that is, neither saltpeter, nor potash or other fertilizers will be used), only 100% organic.
First, in order to grow a watermelon, you need to find out which variety is zoned in your strip. Of course, choosing the best varieties will only be possible by trial and error. It's no secret that now there are varieties even for cultivation in Siberia.

According to this instruction, the first watermelons are grown from seedlings. At the same time, the first harvest ripens by mid-July in the presence of favorable weather conditions, and you get a constant harvest until autumn. That is, you can plant for a start, let's say 10 bushes, then with an interval of 10-15 days, another 10 bushes and so stretch up to planting in open ground.

Sandy soil works best for watermelons.If you have black soil or clay soil on your site, then you need to remove the soil from the beds, and pour a sufficient layer of sand mixed with humus and a small amount of wood ash, and plant watermelons in this sandy soil.

Of course, in some countries (for example, in Kazakhstan), you can plant watermelons without worrying about adding sand and humus to the soil, right into the open ground. But there are just ideal climatic conditions for growing these berries, in contrast to central Russia, where the spring is cold and the summer is quite hot, and sometimes dry.

Seed preparation for sowing

When choosing seeds, give preference to those that were harvested 2 or 3 years ago. The fact is that crops with male flowers will grow from fresher seeds, while the fruits are formed from female flowers.

Seed preparation for sowing

First, you need to determine which of the seeds are suitable for sowing seedlings. To do this, prepare a solution of sodium chloride (4-5 g for every 100 ml of water) and immerse the seed in it for a few minutes.

Soaking the seeds in a saline solution

Seeds that have settled to the bottom as a result of the procedure, rinse thoroughly with water and dry. It is convenient to use a small gauze bag and a glass of clean water for washing.

Seed rinsing using a gauze bag

To stimulate the appearance of female flowers, it is recommended to warm the seed at a temperature of about + 60 ° C for 2-3 hours. After that, dress the seeds in a 1% potassium permanganate solution for about half an hour.

Seed dressing in a solution of potassium permanganate

Now you can proceed to the last stage of preparation - soak the seed before hatching for a faster emergence of shoots. To do this, wrap the seeds in a wet cloth and place them in a warm place (the air temperature should be within + 25-30 ° С). As a rule, germination takes no more than 5-6 days.

Note! Throughout this time, regularly rinse the seeds with running water, otherwise they may sour. And when pecking begins, you can also quench.

How to harden germinated seeds? Place them in the refrigerator for 12 hours, then - for the same time - in a warm place. The cycle must be repeated 2 or 3 times. After the length of the root reaches 1-1.5 cm, you can proceed directly to sowing in one of the two ways described below.

When to sow marigolds for seedlings

Marigolds, black shaves, lights - this is what the people call tagetes. The culture is distinguished by its rapid growth and unpretentious care, and therefore enjoys considerable popularity. Read about when to sow marigolds for seedlings and how to do it correctly in this article.

Making a square shape with your own hands

The form in which the fruit is placed can be made with your own hands from plexiglass. You will need a sheet of material with a thickness of at least 8 mm, 2 door latches, 4 door hinges, bolts and nuts, self-tapping screws, a screwdriver, a drill, a jigsaw, a drill.

Sequence of work:

1. Cut 6 parts that will be the walls of the future cube measuring 20-25 by 20-25 cm.
2. Connect 4 parts with screws, pre-drilling holes for them.
3. In one of the parts obtained, make a hole with a diameter of 2.5 cm in the center.Then, using a jigsaw, cut out a strip 2.5 cm wide on one side of the square. This slot will be needed to thread the tail of a watermelon into it.
4. Attach 2 hinges to the lid and one of the side walls.
5. Attach the remaining 2 hinges to the bottom, you get another door. It will be needed when the fruit is ripe and needs to be removed from the mold.
6. Place the catches on the doors.
7. Make holes in the corners of the walls for air circulation. The construction is ready.

You can also make a structure in the form of a frame from corners, into which you then insert plexiglass, but in this case, you will need to carry out welding work.

Method one. Traditional cultivation of watermelon seedlings

The process consists of several simple steps, we will consider the features of each of them in more detail.

Step one... First, prepare the soil mixture for sowing. It is important that it is prepared correctly! For melons, which include watermelon, the following recipe is preferable: 1 part of sod soil and 3 parts of humus (the components must be mixed well). Although there is another option for preparing the substrate - 0.5 parts of humus, 1 part of sawdust and 3 parts of low-lying peat.

Step two... Also, don't forget about suitable containers. It is advisable to use separate pots for this - this will not damage the roots of plants during a dive or transplant into the ground. The optimum diameter of the pots is about 10 cm. Each will grow 1-2 plants.

Plastic pots for growing seedlings

Step three... Now you can start sowing pre-prepared seeds. Fill suitable pots with the soil mixture halfway, then place the seeds (1-2 in each) there to a depth of about 4-5 cm. Later, as the seedlings grow, you will add fresh substrate.

The pot is filled with substrate

Note! Do not forget to pre-moisten the soil before sowing (it is convenient to do this with a spray gun). Also, for sowing seeds in a moistened substrate, you need to make holes using a pencil or stick.

Moistening the substrate, sowing seeds

Step four... Full-fledged watermelon seedlings will appear in about 30-40 days. To help the seeds germinate, cover the containers with the crops with cling film and place in a warm place (the air temperature should be about + 23-25 ​​° C).

Seed pots are covered with foil

Video - How to sow watermelons for seedlings

Advantages and disadvantages of a square shape

Of the advantages, it is, of course, convenience for transportation and storage. These fruits are easy to put anywhere, they won't roll, fall or break. It is more convenient to cut them than round ones. You can choose a square watermelon as a gift and surprise a person with it. Despite the original shape, these fruits have the same taste as the regular ones.

The disadvantages, as noted by the same Japanese vegetable growers who grew square watermelons, are their uneven ripening, possible damage to the berries inside the container and the laboriousness of growing.

Method two. Using peat pots

This method is good because such pots, as well as peat tablets, already contain the nutrients necessary for plants by themselves. As for the timing of sowing and preparation of seed, they in this case are the same as in the previous method.

Peat seedling pots

For the convenience of users, instructions for sowing watermelon seeds are given in the form of a table.

Table. Sowing watermelon seeds for seedlings in peat pots.

Peat pots prices

peat pots

Harvesting the harvest

After planting the seedlings in a pot, an enhanced development of the root system begins. The main stem is able to go a meter deep, and the lateral roots are also developed and branched. As it grows, weak lashes are removed, and the rest are tied to trellises. The flowering rate depends on the selected variety, on average, it occurs in a month and a half. Some time after fertilization of flowers, you can notice a thickening of the stalk on females - these are future watermelons. To improve ripening and taste, no more than 2-3 berries are left on the branches, and pinching is carried out on the shoots themselves, so that all the strength of the plant does not go into growth. To prevent the fruit from breaking off under its own weight, it is placed in a net and tied to a support. It is recommended to put small pieces of plywood under the watermelon, this will prevent contact with the ground and the possibility of rotting. It is very important to observe the watering regime during the fruiting period, as waterlogging can lead to root rot. From the moment of planting to the opportunity to enjoy the fragrant fruits, it takes about 3 months. The weight of a home-grown watermelon rarely exceeds 1 kg, but in terms of taste it is not inferior to its large counterparts. In addition, the skin of the domestic fruit is thinner.

How to check the maturity of a watermelon, and determine the moment of harvesting? In a ripe fruit, the stalk dries out, the hairs fall off. The bark of an unripe watermelon is dull, ripe - shiny and smooth. You can check the watermelon by lightly clicking on it with your fingers, a dull deep sound indicates the readiness of the fruit. Growing watermelons on the balcony is a feasible task, it is only important to approach the matter with love and try to create optimal conditions. Not everyone succeeds in growing a fastidious melons and gourds the first time. But, perhaps, having worked on the mistakes, you will be able to please yourself and your loved ones with the fragrant taste of summer.

Post-seedling care

Due to the fact that sowing is carried out in the middle of spring, additional lighting of the plants is not required in this case. But crops still need to be placed in the brightest place in your home. The ideal option is the southern window sill. It will be even better if you transfer the seedlings to a glazed loggia (but in this case, you need to especially carefully monitor the temperature regime).

Seedling watermelon on the windowsill

What should be the temperature when growing seedlings? At first - even before the formation of the first shoots - the temperature should be within + 25-27 ° С. Later, when shoots have already appeared, it should be somewhere between + 18-20 ° С (at night) and + 20-25 ° С (during the day). As for watering crops, it is recommended to use exclusively warm water for this.

10 days after the first shoots appear, top dressing should be applied in the form of a solution of mineral seedling fertilizer (such as "Sotka", "Solution", others). After the same time, top dressing is repeated.

Fertilizer "Solution"

Note! Watering and fertilizing should be done exclusively at the root! If moisture does get on the leaves, wipe everything off immediately using a paper towel. When at least 4 true leaves appear, the seedlings - if weather conditions allow - can be transplanted to the site.

It should also be noted that when growing seedlings of this culture, the pots should be placed in such a way that the leaves of neighboring plants do not touch each other.

Seedling leaves should not touch

Solution prices

Solution

Which varieties to choose

Watermelon is a plant of the southern regions, for full growth it needs a sufficient amount of heat and light, if the former is easy to provide, then a short daylight hours is a problem.When growing watermelons at home, it is better to give preference to breeding species that are tolerant of low light. The second point worth paying attention to is early maturity. The stone turns into a flowering, well-developed plant in a month, until the fruits are fully ripe, it should take about two more months. The following varieties are well suited for cultivating watermelon at home:

• Gift of the sun;
• Siberian;
• Light;
• Ultra early;
• Sugar baby.

For planting, large, even, undamaged seeds are selected, potentially capable of giving strong shoots.

Features of transplanting into open soil

First you need to decide on the timing of planting seedlings in the ground. For watermelons, this is the second decade of June, that is, the time when the threat of frost has already passed completely. By the way, if you want to plant seedlings earlier, after about 3 weeks after germination, you can use shelters.

First of all, check if the ground has warmed up enough. For transplanting watermelon seedlings, the optimum temperature is considered to be between + 15-18 ° C. If you need to warm up the bed faster, you can cover it with black plastic wrap.

Note! The watermelon is characterized by a fairly deep root system, and therefore the site chosen for planting seedlings must be dug into the bayonet of a shovel. Also add compost or humus (10 l), wood ash (200 g) and complex mineral fertilizer (about 40-50 g) for each square meter of the area. Then re-dig.

Digging the earth

Transplanting seedlings in peat pots

Step one... Prepare holes - about 2 for each square meter. Carefully remove the top of the peat pot, then place the plant in the hole.

The upper part of the peat pot is removed

Step two... Fill the hole with water, then backfill with soil.

Transplanted seedlings are watered

Step three... Try not to deepen the root collar. Ideally, the earthen lump with which the seedlings are transplanted should be somewhere 1 cm above the soil surface. Until the real warmth and flowering of watermelons come, it is advisable to cover the plantings with some covering material (for example, spunbond).

Seedlings in a greenhouse made of arches with a covering material

Watermelon feeding scheme

Growing stages

How to grow a watermelon on the balcony of an ordinary high-rise building and enjoy its fruits at any time? It is necessary to create conditions for the plant that are as close to natural as possible, it depends on light, heat, the presence of minerals in the soil, watering, pollination. Basic rules for a good harvest:

Sowing

Before planting a watermelon at home, it is recommended to dip the seeds in a 5% saline solution, while empty seeds float and are removed, the rest are used for planting. In the selected buckets or tub, 3-4 seeds are sown at once, after germination, weak shoots are removed.

Lighting and warmth

Ideally, it is better to place watermelon sprouts on the southern windows, the scorching rays of the sun will not harm it. But it is possible to grow a culture on both the western and eastern sides, but the northern one does not fit categorically. A watermelon needs 12-hour access to light, so on cloudy days, additional lighting is turned on: phytolamps, fluorescent or LED lighting. Watermelon is a thermophilic culture, it does not tolerate drafts and cold weather. A place on the windowsill above the radiator is well suited for him, but is it possible to grow a watermelon on the balcony? It is possible, if you create additional heating, hypothermia is especially dangerous during the period of ovary formation. The ideal temperature for a watermelon, which should be checked regularly, is 25-30 ° C during the day, 18 ° C at night.

Soil and nutrition

It is necessary to plant a watermelon in loose soil, prepared in advance. For its composition, it is used in equal proportions: turf, humus, sand, you can add a little wood ash. Before planting, the soil is disinfected by spilling it with boiling water.Homemade watermelon grows quickly, the first feeding may be needed already in the phase of three true leaves. It is better to use liquid complex fertilizers that are used to water the plant after regular watering. The next feeding is needed at the stage of development of the ovary, here it is better to give preference to potassium and phosphorus preparations. The third time fertilization is applied after harvest.

Watering

Watering when growing watermelons should be moderate. This culture does not like waterlogging of the soil and air, which leads to a decrease in taste. Many growers recommend strongly reducing watering during fruit ripening, believing that this increases the sugar content.

Pollination

It is not enough to know how to plant a watermelon correctly; for the formation of an ovary, the plant must be pollinated. Under natural conditions, bees are engaged in this, but what about a plant that is grown in "captivity"? Watermelon flowers are divided into male and female, both developing on the same lashes. But female flowers have a more rounded stalk, which, after pollination, forms a fruit. At home, a soft-bristled watercolor brush is used to cross-carry pollen, and the entire process is done by hand.

Little tricks of planting watermelons

Not always weather conditions are helpers in such a painstaking business as growing melons and gourds. Cold and short summers in some regions mean that the harvest rarely pleases even the diligent grower. Watermelons simply do not have time to gain sufficient weight and reach a state of absolute maturity. And even in this case, do not despair. There are little tricks with the help of which the fruits will become real pride even on 5-6 acres of personal land.

Choosing the right landing site

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

Watermelons prefer a sunny spot

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

Shelter in two stages

For successful ripening, 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 climatic zone, tender sprouts risk dying from frost. This is where a little trick comes in handy - double cover. In a liter plastic bottle, the bottom is cut off and installed on the plant.

1.5 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 the large bottle and place on top of the liter

In such a matryoshka, the delicate stalk has enough air and warmth, and is also well protected from the cold and winds. Secure the transparent mini-greenhouse securely 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 the ripening conditions, pour 3-4 handfuls of sand on the root part of the main stem, and place protective boards made of wood or plastic under the fruits. Thus, your green plovers will not come into contact with wet soil, and the percentage of crop spoilage from rot will significantly decrease.

A wooden plank will protect the watermelon from rot

Thoughtful watering

In arid regions, the root system of watermelons tends to a depth to saturate the plant with moisture.However, in the northern regions, groundwater often runs 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. Water 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.

Choosing watermelon seeds

Watermelons are sorted into three types, depending on the time of their ripening.

• Early ripe varieties like Atlant, Au - producer, Borchansky, Borisfen, Gloria F1, Darunok, Krimson, Knyazhich, Ogonyok, Sugar baby, Royal, Tulip, Orby f1 (usually in the form of seedlings).
• Mid-season varieties: Astrakhan, Melitopolsky 60, New Year, Ryasny, Snowball, Sichelav, Tavriysky, Whole-leaved.
• Medium late grade - Chill.

Variety of varieties of watermelons
It is strongly recommended to warm up the seeds well before planting. This can be done under artificial conditions: watermelon seeds are poured onto dry gauze and placed on a warm heating battery, in 4 hours the temperature should gradually rise from plus 15 to 50 degrees. Celsius. It is very important to stir the seeds constantly so that they warm up evenly.

Under natural conditions, you can warm up the seeds by laying them out in the open sun for 7-10 days.

Sprouting and preparing watermelon seeds

Next, you should soak watermelon seeds in a slightly warm solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes and rinse 3-4 times with running water. Then the seeds are placed in cheesecloth and left in a warm place, where the temperature reaches plus 20-30 degrees. Celsius. We are waiting for the first seeds to hatch.

Grafting a watermelon on a pumpkin or lagenaria

Advice! For a guaranteed harvest of melons or melons in the Central lane (Moscow region), their seedlings should be grafted onto pumpkinand also better for lagenaria.

The fact is that the watermelon stops developing at a soil temperature below +15. Its root system, so to speak, "falls asleep", while the roots of the pumpkin (especially the lagenaria), even at a temperature of +10, will regularly feed the growing fruit. In addition, they are more tenacious, powerful and almost not susceptible to disease.

Only in the future, do not forget to cut (or pinch off) the emerging leaves of the lagenaria, because if you do not do this in time, then you can get the harvest of the lagenaria, and not the watermelons.

For more information on how to properly plant watermelons on a pumpkin or lagenaria, see the next video.

Video: grafting a watermelon on a pumpkin (lagenaria)

Neighbors and predecessors

In order to guarantee a good harvest of melons and gourds, you need not only to follow the planting rules, but also to know about the compatibility of plants with each other:

• watermelon does not tolerate gusty winds. To create shelter, corn, peas or beans are planted around the site;
• all members of the pumpkin family, including watermelon, are compatible with plantings of black radish. This plant secretes phytoncides that prevent the appearance of spider mites;
• melon is an excellent neighbor of watermelon;
• it is well compatible with potatoes and oat root;
• corn and peas improve the growth and taste of watermelons;
• sow thistle and marsh contribute to the growth of melons and gourds;
• watermelon grows well next to plantings of greenery (with the exception of parsley);
• tomato phytoncides drive away aphids, sawflies and fireflies.

All representatives of melons grow very strongly, so it is better to plant crops next to them that give an early harvest.

Planting some plants next to a watermelon negatively affects its growth and yield, therefore, the choice of neighbors must be approached responsibly:

• melons grow well in open, sunny areas, so they are not planted next to trees and shrubs that shade the site;
• watermelon does not like the neighborhood of strawberries and representatives of nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers);
• it extracts a large amount of minerals from the soil, so it is not recommended to grow watermelon next to beets, carrots, garlic and radishes;
• watermelons should not be planted together with related plants - pumpkins or zucchini, as well as cucumbers.

An important agricultural technique is crop rotation of plants. With the alternation of melons and gourds with a periodicity of 3-4 years on the field, the number of pests and diseases, as well as weeds, is significantly reduced. It is not recommended to grow watermelon on the same field for more than 2 years in a row, the optimal predecessors for it are:

• winter wheat,
• perennial herbs,
• corn for green fodder,
• radish,
• dill,
• basil,
• tomatoes,
• celery,
• roots,
• onion,
• cabbage.

It is strongly not recommended to plant melons, melons, squash or vegetable marrow in the area where melons, squash or squash previously grew. After collecting the fruits of the watermelon, it is better to plant this area with legumes (green beans, peas) or garlic.

Features of growing watermelon in central Russia

In order to get a positive result, growing melons and gourds, you need:

• Choose mid-season and early varieties of watermelons that are resistant to temperature changes and cold snaps.
• Before planting, the beds are pre-heated with boiling water and covered with foil.
• After planting the culture (seeds or seedlings), a greenhouse is installed over the garden bed to a stable plus (+ 15- ...) temperatures.
• The best varieties: Crimson Sweet - from 5 to 12 kg., Sugar baby - 1–4 kg., Spark - 1.5–2.5 kg., Pink champagne F1 from 4 to 7 kg., Gift to the North - up to 10 kg ., Krimstar F1 from 6 to 10 kg.

But there is another way, without a greenhouse, in more detail in the video:

Not only planting is important, but also to monitor the development of the plant, for example, sprinkle the shoots with earth when they lengthen. This will allow the culture to form additional roots, and hence nutrition.

Landing scheme

Planting peas in open ground in the suburbs

When planting watermelons in rows, the scheme will be as follows: the average distance between the holes is 0.8-1.4 m, between the rows - 1.4-1.6 m.When planting this culture in a square-nested way, the holes should be at a distance of 0.9 -2.0 m apart.

Important! You should not thicken the planting of this melon crop - all the bushes should have enough space for the growth of lashes and the ripening of fruits. These plants are especially sensitive to watering and sunlight, so they shouldn't interfere with each other's development.

The cups with seedlings should be planted in open ground in dug holes so that the cotyledon leaves are above the ground level. The distance between the planted seedlings is at least 1.3-1.4 m.

Landing scheme

The first 7-9 days, while the plants are acclimatized in a new place, they need to be watered with filtered heated water.

Features of storing square berries

For long-term storage, late-ripening square watermelons are grown. After collecting, they are laid out in a well-ventilated place on a layer of dry straw. The styling form is a pyramid of 7-8 rows. Fence the area with fragile goods with boards. Breeders around the world undoubtedly continue to work on the creation of new bizarre plant forms. Experiments concern many cultures - melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, apples. Conical watermelons and cucumbers, which have a cut not round, but in the form of an asterisk, amaze the imagination of consumers.

In August, it is time for ripe and juicy watermelons. The pulp of the fruit contains a large amount of nutritional vitamins and minerals. Regular consumption of fruits in food will cleanse the body and, at the same time, lose weight. Traditionally, everyone is accustomed to the fact that the berry has a round or oval shape. But more and more often in the markets you can see a square watermelon.

Everyone is used to the fact that watermelon is a round berry or, in extreme cases, oval.But in the past few years, cubic watermelons have been seen on the market. According to its characteristics, it is the same berry, only of a different shape. There are no differences between cubic and round berries, except for the shape.

Square watermelons have been around for several years. For the first time, the Japanese managed to give the fruit a square shape. The advantages of such berries are that in this form the fruits are easier to transport. They take up less space during transport. This is the only advantage of square watermelons over round ones.

MINI MELONS - SMALL, YES REMOTE

All over the world, urban and school gardens are now in vogue. Beautifully decorated beds are gradually replacing traditional flower beds. Kitchen gardens are even placed on the roofs of buildings. You won't surprise anyone with salad, aromatic herbs, tomatoes and peppers grown in containers. Moreover, the usual assortment of container vegetable plants has been supplemented by varieties of miniature melons and watermelons. I was lucky to meet some of them this season.

Very impressed with the super early variety Ogurdynia 007

, which begins to bear fruit already on the 60th day after germination. The lashes are not long (up to 1.2 m), completely covered with cylindrical fruits weighing 250-350 g. The peel of the fruit is very thin and tender, like that of a cucumber, bright lemon, with lighter stripes. The pulp is white, crispy, juicy, sweet and very aromatic. Several plants of this variety bore fruit until September.

RARE PLANT SEEDS FOR YOUR GARDEN - FREE SHIPPING. PRICES ARE VERY LOW. THERE ARE REVIEWS

Pepino generously endowed a variety of early (growing season 70-80 days) melon with fruits weighing 80-100 g, which look like bright Christmas tree decorations. Their skin is thin, the color of milk chocolate, with bright yellow stripes. But, despite the miniature size, the flesh of the fruit, like a real melon, is fragrant, juicy and sweet. Shoots can reach more than 2 m and bear fruit before cold weather. The plant on the trellis looks very decorative and can easily replace the curly flowers familiar to many, both on the balcony and on arches and pergolas.

Seed selection

The main rule of growing watermelons is the choice of seeds. The germination conditions of the seed should correspond to the climatic characteristics of the region.

From various varieties of melons and gourds, it is recommended to choose early and mid-season. If it is supposed to grow watermelon in regions with relatively cool air temperatures in summer, then early ripening varieties are best suited. For growing watermelons in the south, you can opt for late or mid-season varieties.

Popular varieties

Recommendation for novice gardeners: if watermelons are planted for the first time, it is recommended to give preference to such an unpretentious variety as "Ogonyok". The variety belongs to early ripening, the fruits grow small (about 1.5 kg). "Ogonyok" does not need special care.

How to plant watermelons: choose a place and prepare the soil

The place for planting a watermelon should be on the south side, away from shrubs, trees and countryside - this culture will not bear fruit, growing in the shade.

Sandy loam soil is the most suitable option. It is very good if tomatoes, crops, corn or potatoes grew on this place in the previous year.

As for the soil, it should be remembered here that the root system of the watermelon goes quite deep into the ground, so you need to apply a large amount of organic fertilizers to the soil before planting the watermelon, namely:

• Humus (about 2-3 kg per plant),
• Neutral peat (about 7 kg per 1 square meter).

Liquid humus for preparing the soil for growing watermelons
Mineral fertilizers can also be used, the most commonly used are the following:

• Urea (30-40 grams per 1m2);
• Superphosphate (30 g per 1 m2);
• Potash fertilizers (20 g per 1 m2).

Exceeding the dosage of these substances will provoke abundant growth of greens to the detriment of fetal growth, therefore, the recommended amount should be strictly adhered to.

Harvesting and storage

If the agricultural technology for growing watermelons has been fully followed, the ripe crop can be harvested 35-50 days after planting. However, sometimes watermelon berries ripen ahead of time. To make sure that the fruits are ripe, examine the color of their pulp and seeds. The seeds should be dark brown and the flesh should be pink with a reddish tint. The skin of ripe watermelons should be firm and rough.

It is better to store the harvested crop on high shelves with shelves, which are located at a distance of 55-65 centimeters from each other. Each shelf should be covered with a thin layer of peat or straw. Such a coating will increase the shelf life of the crop. During storage, watermelons are carefully examined every month. All rotten fruits are thrown away so that rot does not spread to neighboring berries. To protect the crop from rotting, monthly processing of the fruits with a lime solution will help.

We feed seedlings in pots

For 10 liters of water you will need:

• Ammonium nitrate - 20 gr,
• Superphosphate - 35 g,
• Potassium sulfate or chloride - 30 gr.

Top dressing is done 3-4 days before planting watermelons in the ground, for each pot we spend 1 glass of fertilizer (250 ml).

When the average daily air temperature has reached 11-12 degrees, we transplant the watermelons into a greenhouse or open ground.

• Thoroughly loosen the soil before planting.
• Distance between seedlings in rows - 30-40cm, between rows - 60-70cm.
• It is advisable to plant watermelons in the evening so that they do not dry out.
• Wells are pre-watered with water.
• After planting, it is recommended to tightly close the greenhouse, thereby increasing the chance of good survival of the seedlings.
• If you planted watermelons in open ground, you can create a greenhouse effect with the help of improvised means - cut a plastic bottle in half and cover 1 seedling with each of the parts.
• During the first week, you will water the seedlings every other day, pouring 0.5 liters of water under each plant. If it's very hot outside, try to water the melons daily.
• After 7-10 days, watermelons begin to grow rapidly, it's time to feed and reduce the amount of watering - 1-2 times a week is enough.
• Try to get rid of yellowed parts of the plant in a timely manner.

Diseases and pests of watermelon

Watermelons are susceptible to various diseases. Also, pests can attack the leaves and fruits, which must be dealt with. Similar problems arise from improper fit or inadequate care.

Among the most common diseases:

• anthracnose. Also this disease is called copperhead. The fungus occurs on leaf plates, actively spreads, has a white or yellow color. If the humidity is high, a pink plaque forms on the surface of the fungus;
• bacteriosis.White oily spots form on the roots of the plant, which subsequently attack the aerial part of the melon culture. Over time, the spots become holes of large diameter, foliage begins to fall off, the watermelon dies;
• white and black rot. Fungus. The spread of rot leads to the destruction of stems, leaves, fruits;
• root rot. It affects the roots of the plant, after which it moves to its aboveground part;
• powdery mildew. Fungus that looks like a light gray bloom. Formed on leaf plates that die off and fall off. Watermelon fruits infected with dew lose their taste and rot;
• cucumber mosaic. A virus that causes a slowdown in crop growth, as well as the formation of bumps on berries.

In addition to popular diseases, pernosporosis is also referred to. You can fight fungi with Fundazole or Bordeaux liquid. If a virus has penetrated into the bush, then it will not be possible to eliminate it. It is recommended to dig up and destroy the infected bushes, and disinfect the soil.

Among the pests are:

• melon aphids. You can find an insect on the aboveground part of the bush. Aphids are a carrier of the mosaic virus;
• gnawing scoop. The damage is caused by insect larvae, which begin to gnaw the roots of the plant;
• wireworm. It looks like a piece of wire. The main food of the wireworm is seeds, seedlings.

Insecticides will help get rid of insects.

When to sow watermelon for seedlings and in the ground in 2019 according to the lunar calendar

For planting fruit-bearing crops, they usually choose the period of the growing moon, while watermelons, on the contrary, prefer the time of completion of its growth. The best time for landing operations is the full moon or the second half of the lunar cycle.

In the watermelon sowing calendar, it is worth noting not just the growing moon, but a short period when the moon is closer to the full moon.

• In April it is 9-14, 22, 28;
• In May - from 3 to 9;
• In June - from 2 to 6.

Planting crops these days, you can count on generous harvests and sweet fruits.