The regions of middle and northern latitudes require the use of a seedling method of growing watermelon. And the strength of young shoots directly depends on the quality of the seed. When choosing seeds, you should carefully read the characteristics of the variety, make sure that the watermelon is suitable for growing on your site and has an early ripening period. Seeds come in different sizes, I recommend choosing medium.
Sowing time depends on the timing of the transfer of sprouts to open ground - the seeds are planted a month before the expected date.
First of all, the seeds are well calibrated, removing all damaged and dry ones. The selected seeds are disinfected for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, then washed with running water and laid out on a damp cloth for germination. Within a week, the first roots appear.
I’ll tell you right away about the possible difficulties with growing watermelon seedlings:
- You will need a large amount of seedling land. The risk of damage to the roots should be minimal, and experienced gardeners advise avoiding intermediate transplants. To do this, germinated seeds are planted immediately in large containers that require a large amount of soil mixture.
- Speaking about the risk of damage to the roots, their fragility and sensitivity should be noted. "Wounded" roots wither, get sick and take a long time to recover, which leads to a slowdown in growth, development and ripening of fruits.
Planting of finished seeds occurs according to the following plan:
- soil preparation - universal soil with the addition of peat, compost and ash is well suited;
- soil disinfection in any convenient way: scalding with boiling water, calcining on fire or chemical treatment;
- preparation of containers - deep pots (from 3 liters in volume) are poured over with hot water and filled with a substrate;
- planting seeds - a seed is placed in a hole 5 cm deep, sprinkled with compost, rammed and watered.
Seedling care is quite simple:
- timely and regular watering;
- temperature +25 °С and above;
- plentiful lighting (if necessary, installation of additional lamps);
- high level of air humidity (not lower than 70%);
- periodic spraying of the premises and seedlings;
- 7 days before transplanting into open ground, fertilizing with potassium and phosphorus.
The site for planting sprouts should be flat, protected from drafts and well lit by the sun. There should be enough space for the growth and arrangement of long watermelon lashes.
If you follow all the necessary rules and agricultural techniques, then the output will be strong and strong shoots that can calmly survive the stress of transplantation and subsequently give a good harvest.
Do you want a personal melon on your site?
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