Not all summer residents grow watermelons on their plots, because this plant requires special care. However, experts give useful advice on how to grow melons in the garden in the middle lane.
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Breeding seedlings
During the cultivation of watermelons in the middle lane, summer residents constantly encounter problems of excess moisture and lack of heat. To all this, due to the short summer period, the fruits simply do not have time to ripen.
To obtain the optimal amount of heat and light, experienced gardeners are advised to grow early ripening varieties or hybrids. The cultivation of seedlings at home will also help in solving this problem. It is sown in the last decade of April or early May. Seeds can be planted in containers with an approximate volume of 0.3-0.5 liters and a height of no more than 10 cm. Thus, the risk of damage to the root system during transplanting, which watermelons do not do well, will be reduced.
Prepare planting soil using peat, sand or turf and sawdust. Take the ingredients in equal parts. For 10 liters of such soil, add dolomite flour (50 g), double superphosphate (100 g), and also potassium sulfate and ammonium nitrate 55 g each.
The best seeds are watermelon seeds at the age of 2-3 years. Hybrid seeds can be planted fresh. Before sowing, they must be kept for 25 minutes in liquid (always hot), and then germinated in sandy soil at a temperature of at least +24 ° C. Two to three days after the formation of the sprout, the seeds must be transferred to a prepared container, mulched with humus or sand, and then placed in a warm place. After about 7-10 days, set the night temperature to +20 ° C. If spring does not indulge in sunlight, it is necessary to use phytolamps for additional illumination.
As soon as 2-3 leaves appear on the seedlings, it should be fed with an infusion of ash powder and mullein or a mineral complex.
On the site, watermelon seedlings are planted closer to mid-June. The site should be illuminated with no groundwater. Watermelons do not tolerate acidic soil. To avoid liquid stagnation, the planting bed must be slightly raised, slightly tilting to the south. The area should not be exposed to northerly or northeasterly winds.
A compost heap is considered an excellent place for melons and gourds. When cultivating, you can use trellises, so the culture can receive a sufficient amount of sunlight and be well ventilated.
Before planting seedlings, the soil must be mixed with fertilizers that contain potassium and phosphorus, such as "Azofoska" and "Kalyphos". It is not recommended to use manure, since this fertilizer greatly expands the green mass, and watermelon ovaries are poorly formed.
Watermelon care
The planted seedlings need to be watered abundantly. But water only once every seven days. For the watermelon bed, processing is necessary. The soil must be loosened to a depth of 10 cm 3-4 times per season, in between weeding.
As soon as female flowers form on the culture, watering is reduced by about half. When fruit appears, it is completely stopped. The protective cover can be removed after June 20th. In the period of prolonged rains, the film is reused. It is also used at the end of summer during the period of significant changes in night and day temperatures. The beds need to be ventilated periodically.
In the middle lane, there are many pollinators, but in the absence of the sun, the setting of watermelons must be controlled manually. To do this, you need to connect the stamens and pistils of flowers located next to each other. The ovaries will appear 30-40 days after these actions.
For plants, pinching is carried out: after the formation of 5-6 leaves, the top of the stem is cut off. This process must be repeated after the appearance of 3-4 fruits, while leaving three leaves after the ovary. Places of cuts need to be processed, the soil should be mulched.
Plants are often attacked by pests and diseases. When dealing with them, you can use biological products. However, use insecticides for large numbers of insects. From bird invasions, the fruits will be protected by nets stretched over the plantings.
In case of damage by powdery mildew, the planting is treated with the help of "Ordan" or colloidal sulfur.
Wooden boards can be placed under the watermelons so that the formed ovaries do not deteriorate from excess moisture in the soil.
Have you tried growing a watermelon in your country house?
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