How to process watermelons growing in open ground. Growing watermelons in open ground - from seed to ripe berry

11.04.2017 18 862

How to grow a watermelon and not be left without a crop - we share tricks!

Probably every gardener thought about how to grow a watermelon in the country. With the desire and a little patience, it is easy to achieve good results in this matter. A fairly simple agricultural technique will allow you to get a crop, including a novice gardener, and even a child.

Choosing seed material

You can also grow watermelon seedlings from the seed of a watermelon purchased in a store, but in this case you can guarantee good result it is definitely impossible, since the fruits of the daughter plant are unlikely to be similar to the mother ones. That is, if you purchased an unusually tasty, sweet, juicy watermelon, then the fruits grown from its seeds will certainly differ in taste. Therefore, in this case, it is better to purchase high-quality seed at specialized points of sale.

As for the choice of variety, experienced gardeners are advised to purchase hybrid varieties, since they are the ones that are more adapted to changeable weather conditions and the climate in which we live, and are also the most resistant to possible diseases. Among the hybrid varieties, the most famous are the following:

• Astrakhan;
• Madeira;
• Sympathy F1;

Video about growing watermelons

However, if you are going to grow a watermelon for the first time, then you can experiment by choosing for planting, but preferably still early, such as Spark, Sugar Baby, etc.

It is necessary to start work already at the end of March-mid-April, then the young plant will have time to gain strength and will well transfer the transplant to a permanent place of growth. As a soil mixture, the composition of the following components is ideal:

• sod land;
• humus or peat;
• sawdust.

It is necessary to start work already at the end of March-mid-April

All components are taken from equal parts and mix well. It also makes sense to purchase ready-made soil and use it. As containers for growing seedlings, it is better to take individual cups or pots with a depth of at least 10-12 cm.

When planting seeds, it should be borne in mind that they are covered with a thick shell, which is why germination takes a long time. To speed up the process, the seeds should be softened a little by heating them in warm water (50-55 0 C) for 10 minutes, and then left in a wet cotton fabric until they “peck”, monitoring the preservation of moisture. Instead of fabric, you can use hydrogel, which has recently been gaining popularity among gardeners.

After the seed has "opened" and the length of the sprout has reached 1-2 mm, it is important to harden planting material. In this case, it is recommended to use one of two options:

1. Collect snow in a deep container or put ice in it, and germinated seeds on top. Leave them like this for 5-6 hours.
2. Take a small piece of cotton fabric, moisten it with water and wring it out thoroughly. Place the hatched seeds in a damp cloth and put them in this form in the refrigerator for 5-7 hours.

When planting seeds, it should be borne in mind that they are covered with a thick shell, which is why germination takes a long time.

Do not worry that the sprouts will freeze and become unviable, on the contrary, such hardening is the best prevention against many diseases. These measures will allow the plant to strengthen, become less susceptible to weather conditions.

After the hardening has been carried out, the germinated material can be planted. The seed is dipped into the prepared soil to a depth of 3-4 cm, and gently sprinkled with earth on top. Plantings are watered thoroughly, without overflow, but the soil should be well moistened.

Further, before germination, it will be necessary to close the containers with plantings with a film, forming a semblance of a greenhouse. In general, it is advised to use simple plastic bags and rubber bands for this. Before the sprouts appear, the containers are left alone, making sure that the earth in them does not dry out. After the sprouts have appeared, the film is removed and the seedlings are placed on permanent place. The following measures are recommended for seedling care:

• timely watering. Watermelon loves moisture, so it is necessary to ensure that the soil is moist all the time, to prevent drying out. However, since the culture is prone to root rot, transfusion should not be allowed, as this leads to the loss of seedlings;
• additional illumination. So that the seedlings do not stretch, it is important to extend the daylight hours to 10-12 hours with a simple table lamp;

Watermelon loves moisture, so you need to make sure that the soil is moist all the time.

• Top dressing. It is allowed to feed seedlings a week after germination. The best way a solution of mullein in a ratio of 1 to 10 is suitable.

Seedlings are considered ready for planting if the plant already has 3-4 leaves, it is quite stocky and has a developed root system.

Of course, it is better suited for growing watermelon greenhouse conditions. However, those gardeners who do not have the opportunity to plant a plant in a greenhouse get an excellent harvest in the open field.

For growing melons in open ground, choose the brightest and warmest place, preferably with sandy or sandy soil (ideal acidity 6-7). Solanaceous or melon plants should not be allowed to be the predecessors of watermelons, due to common pests.

For growing melons in the open field, choose the brightest and warmest place.

A bed for watermelons has been prepared since autumn. The earth is carefully dug up with half-rotted manure or humus. When digging, it is necessary to carefully consider the removal of weed roots, since watermelon strongly dislikes such “neighbors”.

In the spring, as soon as the snow melts and the threat of day and night frosts has passed, the earth is carefully loosened and covered with a black non-woven fabric or transparent film. Both options are possible, but many gardeners choose a transparent film, as it has several advantages:

• reduces evaporation from the soil hot weather;
• prevents waterlogging of the earth during the rainy period;
• keeps the fruits dry and clean during their growth;
• the ground under the film is warm and moist.

After letting the earth warm up, small cross-shaped holes are made in the covering material for planting seedlings at an interval of approximately 140x70 cm.

A small hole is made under each hole, into which fertilizers (humus, ash) are applied and watered thoroughly. Seedlings, after soaking the ground with abundant watering, are very carefully removed from the cups and planted, deepening the plant to the level of the root collar.

It is necessary to ensure that the soil is important, but not waterlogged

When deciding how to grow a watermelon in the country, do not forget that a plant growing in open ground needs appropriate care:

1. Timely watering. It is necessary to ensure that the soil is important, but not waterlogged. Watering is best done in the evening. Be careful, water should not fall on the leaves of the plant.
2. Weeding. Watermelon strongly dislikes unwanted neighbors, so weed removal should be regular.
3. Tracking the growth of lashes. They must be directed in one direction, making sure that they do not intertwine with each other during growth.
4. Top dressing. The first top dressing is carried out a week after planting the seedlings in the ground. Follow the instructions for the fertilizer used. However, top dressing should be stopped after fruit set in order to minimize the accumulation of nitrates in watermelon fruits.
5. Regular inspection of plants for pests and diseases.
6. Pollination. If you do not rely on insects, then you need to pollinate manually using a special brush, which can be purchased at the store.

Growing watermelons in a greenhouse

Before planting seedlings, the land in the greenhouse must be prepared by carefully digging it with humus. It is worth planting plants in a greenhouse only when the threat of frost has passed, it is optimal if the daytime air temperature reaches 20-25 0 С, and at night it does not fall below 5 0 С.

Video about growing watermelons in a greenhouse

Planting seedlings is carried out in the same way as in the case of open ground, considering only that the distance between plants should be 70 cm, and the row spacing should be 50 cm. Otherwise, you can not change anything.

Growing watermelons in a greenhouse implies appropriate plant care. In addition to everything described above, it is necessary to pay more careful attention to pollination, since it can be difficult for insects to get inside. In addition, when growing watermelons in a greenhouse, in addition to the main list, it is necessary to carry out ventilation. On hot summer days, at temperatures above 30 0, be sure to open the windows or the door in the greenhouse.

Watermelon is a melon culture. For proper growth and development at the initial stage, he needs light and warmth. Nevertheless, it is not so difficult to grow a good crop of watermelons in the open field in the cool Russian climate. This requires right sort and agricultural technology, knowing where and how watermelons grow, and following simple rules.

For the first time thinking, in the suburbs or another cool region, the first thing to do is to decide on the seed.
Special varieties of watermelons are suitable for growing even in January - hardy and early ripening, for example, Olginsky, Ogonyok, Sugar Baby, Skorik, Crimson Sweet, Siberian Lights, etc. Hybrid species grow well. The answer to the question, how long is the average fruit ripening period for the middle band, will be 70-80 days. Varieties in non-hot regions are mostly medium-sized - from 2 kg. The average weight is 4-6, rarely 5-8 kg.

When choosing which varieties of watermelons are grown in the Moscow region or other areas with a cool climate, preference should be given to names specially designed for central Russia. Their diversity allows you to get different fruits. The characteristics of the varieties are varied - the weight of the fruit can be from 2 to 5-6 kg for various items, the peel can be both thin and thick. The latter is convenient for long hauls. But the fruits of all varieties are juicy, with sweet pulp.

Soil for planting watermelons

In many regions of Russia, heavy, clayey soils predominate. It is difficult for a watermelon to grow in such soil - its roots are not able to develop in dense soil. And the fruits of watermelon gain juiciness precisely from penetrating deep into the ground and widely growing roots. Deep loosening is not able to significantly improve the situation, so in most cases the soil has to be “diluted” with sand applied along with fertilizer.

For planting watermelons, areas after planting winter wheat, alfalfa, cabbage, onions or potatoes are well suited. A place to spend in the open field in the garden, you need a sunny one. Hole preparation begins in the fall. The diameter of the future hole is about 1 m in diameter. The distance between them is a meter and a half. In heavy clay soil contribute, in addition to peat or humus, sand: per 1 m2 - 1-2 buckets of fertilizer and 1-2 buckets of sand.

In the spring, before planting, the technology for growing watermelons in open ground involves digging up a plot prepared for melons with a cultivator or pitchfork. Soil acidity for watermelons should not exceed 7.0.

Sowing

For a crop such as watermelons, outdoor cultivation is possible using seeds or seedlings. Sometimes both methods are combined, planting seeds between seedlings. Some gardeners recommend not saving on seeds and carrying out dense sowing so that the strongest shoots can subsequently be selected.

The disembarkation begins approximately in the middle of May, focusing on the weather (approximately 10-20th). Landing is acceptable from mid-April to mid-June. They are guided by the temperature of the soil (16 C).

seeds

Before growing watermelons in open ground, seed preparation is carried out. For about 10 days before sowing, they are heated in the sun (up to 55C dry, and up to 30C wet). If it is impossible to warm up in the sun since February, the seeds are stored near the battery.

Heated seeds are soaked in water for half an hour. Those that emerge are discarded because they will not ascend. After that, the remaining material is poured hot water(50-60C). After cooling, the water is drained and poured so that the seeds hatch. Before sowing, some gardeners recommend treating the seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate or a solution of ash (the latter is sometimes left overnight).

Landing is carried out to a depth of 4-8 cm. running meter up to 10 seeds are planted (sometimes more, with the expectation that not everyone can sprout). Subsequently, they leave the most strong plants. Immediately after sowing, the soil is shed with warm water.

If watermelons are grown in Siberia in the ground, experienced gardeners advise repeating the sowing in a week in case the first seeds die or become sick due to cold weather.

Seedling

Peat pots are convenient for seedlings. It will not be necessary to transplant sprouted plants from them, which means that there will be no risk of injuring the fragile root system. If you take plastic cups, seedlings should be transplanted with a clod of earth very carefully. How many days do you need to keep the seedlings at home? Plants are planted at the age of 30-35 days. So when preparing, you need to focus on climatic conditions and a long-term weather forecast.

When preparing, experienced gardeners recommend planting two seeds in a peat pot. Sometimes it happens that one is not the same. When both emerge, one sprout is cut off (it should not be pulled out so as not to damage the roots of the remaining plant).

Each pot or plastic cup is 2/3 filled with a mixture of turf, peat and humus in a ratio of 1:2:1. Seeds are soaked in warm water for 10 minutes and buried in the resulting mixture by 1 cm.

The ideal temperature for germination is 25-30 C.

When the first true leaf sprouts, add mineral fertilizer and again 2 weeks later. When germinating, make sure that the overgrown leaves in pots do not touch.

Before planting, especially if watermelons are grown in Siberia in open ground, 7-10 days before planting on melons, they begin to “harden off” the seedlings. During the day, the temperature is lowered to 17 C, and at night - to 12-15 C. The soil of the prepared melon is fertilized before transplanting (about 2 kg of compost) and watered abundantly. The sprouts are buried by 8-10 cm, but the root collar must be left above the soil surface. When planting 2 plants in the hole, you need to check that they do not touch. So that a crust does not form on the surface, the pits are covered with dry soil.

watermelon care

When shoots appear, they are gradually thinned out. 1, rarely 2 plants remain in the hole. If night frosts occur in early June - this happens when watermelons are grown in Siberia - melons are covered with a film or non-woven fabric for the night. Weeding is necessary - weeds near watermelons are unacceptable. Loosening and weeding the holes should be done very carefully, because the roots of watermelons grow widely, and if stepped on, they can be damaged.

Plants are fed in June, when leaves appear on sprouts. The second time fertilizers are applied in a month, in case they grow poorly. The lashes are pinched once - they pinch the side lashes to leave one main one. You can pinch the crown of the main lash after the appearance of 3-6 ovaries. That is how many fruits will have time to ripen before the end of summer. How to carry out the formation of watermelon in the open field - the scheme depends on the preferences of the farmer and weather conditions. The number of ovaries is left such that all the fruits have time to ripen.

For watermelon culture: cultivation and care in the open field is supposed to be sparsely watered - only in extreme heat and dry weather. However, some gardeners recommend continuing watering throughout the season, stopping them only 3-5 days before harvesting ripe berries - because in order for a watermelon to become juicy and sweet, it needs not only solar heat, but also enough water.
After each watering, the soil is loosened.

In August, during ripening, it is recommended to turn watermelons once a week so that they ripen evenly and there is no rotting. Sometimes, in wet weather, foil or small boards are placed under them so that moisture does not spoil the fruit. In windy weather, the lashes are sprinkled with wet earth.

Gardeners practicing the cultivation of watermelons in the Moscow region in the open field offer two methods: in spreading (whips spread along the ground) and on a trellis (the berries are hung in nets so that they do not break off the stalk and do not damage the lash). In a hot dry summer, the fruits left in spread are more likely to ripen. In wet, rainy weather - fruits ripen better on trellises.

Harvesting

How long does a gardener have to wait for a harvest? Berry ripening occurs by August. Readiness for collection is determined by a number of signs. The sound when tapping on the surface of the watermelon is heard deaf. The surface of the fruit is glossy, the peel is dense. There are no hairs on the stalk, and the tip dries. Interesting fact: In Israel, watermelons are grown on a tree!

Only the ripest fruits are cut during the warm season. Mass harvesting is carried out only when there is a threat of frost. If the watermelons are going to be stored or transported for sale, they are harvested a little underripe, without waiting a few days - this does not harm either taste or usefulness. Only fully ripened berries are suitable for obtaining seeds.

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 of environmental safety, especially if they were purchased at the ruins 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, a variety of methods for breeding watermelons are used. They are cultivated in greenhouses, bioheated deep greenhouses, film tunnels and 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. Let's find out what you need to know about growing watermelon in the open field in order to avoid mistakes and vain work, and which varieties are guaranteed to please you 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. The geography of growing the largest berry has 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 crop of 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 the open way in areas with unstable weather and short summer 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 used medium early maturing varieties advisable to resort to seedling method cultivation of 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 of popular gourds includes 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, improvement is a priority external signs 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, you can already safely deal with mid- or late-ripening varieties or hybrids with a ripening period of 80-95 days.

Cold and drought tolerance

For cultivation in Siberia or middle lane 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 the middle zone. 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 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 in dense green color and covered with a pattern of prickly stripes even more dark shade than background. The red fine-grained juicy pulp contains a large number 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 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 consumption in fresh. Spherical fruits with a smooth surface have a whitish or greenish color and a pattern of green narrow spiny stripes. pulp color pink, 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 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, 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.

• auspicious time for sowing seeds - April-May. It is advisable to prepare potted seedlings 3-4 weeks before planting.
• For the preparation of nutrient soil mixtures take sod land, peat and humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. sandy soil 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 the last days of May and 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. The minimum distance between rows is 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.
• The sprouts are removed from the seedling container while preserving the earthen clod 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 up right amount wells 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 to build a shelter made of arcs and polyethylene in the garden with young seedlings or nonwoven fabric. 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– use of multilayer plastic caps. To do this, cut off from liter PET bottles lower part, 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 others gourds, watering is required 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. Daily rate 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. Usage cold water unacceptable, because it inhibits the development of plants and makes them vulnerable to the 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, an infusion of cow manure is used, 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.

sprawling side shoots need to 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 apricot-sized pumpkins are formed on the central lashes, all other ovaries are disposed of by cutting them out with a sharp knife. For processing sections, powder from charcoal. 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 deep from 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 dark-colored “ulcers” will appear on the lashes, 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. soil in without fail weeded. For preventive spraying of bushes, 80% of wettable powder is used. contact fungicide"Zineb".

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 the fruit. 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.

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 allow the soil to enrich 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 during the 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.

most famous early variety favorite berry is. He has small size 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. It has a good level of transportability and a long shelf life - when created 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 to plastic bag and place it next to the battery. Open a couple of times a day so that the sprouts receive oxygen. Sprouts that appear a week later are placed in peat pots or containers with special soil. 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 crops of your favorite berry can be harvested happy 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, covered and left 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 loosen 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 seedlings 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.