Modern breeders have developed a large number of varieties of watermelon that can be grown outdoors, not only in the south, but also in more severe conditions. To cultivate this plant in your summer cottage, you must have certain knowledge and skills. Knowing how to plant watermelons in open ground with seedlings, you will be able to get a bountiful and high-quality harvest.

Site preparation

This crop does not make high demands on soil quality. She feels great in black soil, and in sparse sandstone, and in rocky ground. But it is better to allocate fertile areas for it, then it will be possible to grow a rich harvest.

The landing site is prepared in the fall and the following dressings are applied:

  • wood ash (1 l per sq.m.);
  • azofoska, superphosphate (according to the instructions);
  • humus (5 liters per sq.m.).

Preparing the soil for planting

This approach avoids regular fertilization during the active growth of the watermelon.

Step-by-step instructions for planting a watermelon

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To properly prepare and plant seeds, you must follow a specific procedure.

Presowing seed preparation

Before starting sowing work, the seeds must be prepared. This is one of the main stages in the cultivation of garden plants, especially when growing them in a personal plot.

Warming up and soaking

To increase the percentage of germination of seeds, they should be warmed up and soaked. The same procedure ensures the tying of predominantly female flowers, the rapid development and growth of lashes.

Algorithm of actions:

  • The seeds are placed in a tissue bag and immersed in water heated to 50-60 ° C for 2-3 hours.
  • Then they are sent to a slightly warm manganese solution for 30 minutes. This procedure is needed to disinfect the seed.
  • The pouch is removed and left for some time to drain excess liquid.
  • The seeds are placed on pre-moistened sand, cotton wool or paper and kept in a warm room. They should lie like this for about 48 hours until the sprouts hatch.

Note! On the market you can find seed that has already been processed. It is not soaked, but planted directly into the ground.

Hardening

To make the watermelon more resistant to temperature extremes, start bearing fruit earlier and more abundantly, the seeds should be hardened. This procedure can be done in 2 ways:

  • Continuous low temperature action. For this, the germinated seed is placed for 24-48 hours in a refrigerator at a temperature of 0 ± 1 ° C, stirring regularly. A similar effect can be obtained by burying seeds in the snow. But they need to be put in a compact box.
  • The action of temperature changes. When the seeds are swollen, they are sent to the refrigerator and kept in it for about 12 hours at a temperature of at least 6 ° C. Then for the same period of time they are left in a warm place at 18–20 ° C. Such fluctuations are repeated 3 times. Before planting in the ground, the seed is slightly dried.

Watermelon seeds

Selection of containers and soil

In order not to transplant and dive plants in the future, the seeds are planted in separate containers (pots or trays), the volume of which is more than 300 ml.The smallest permissible height is 12 cm, diameter is 10 cm.The soil is prepared from equal shares:

  • sand;
  • peat;
  • turf land.

For 5 liters of prepared mass you will need:

  • ammonium nitrate (50 g);
  • double superphosphate (100 g);
  • dolomite flour and potassium sulfate (50 g).

So much soil is placed in the pots so that it does not reach the edge of the container by about 3 cm.Over time, when the seedlings develop, you can add a little mixture.

Planting watermelon seedlings

Watermelon can be grown for seedlings or sown outdoors. It all depends on the weather conditions in a particular region. Growing watermelons in seedlings is the easiest planting option that gardeners love.

Planting watermelon seedlings

The best period for planting is spring, from mid to late April. When the seeds form a root 1-1.5 cm long, they are placed at a depth of 3 cm, several pieces (4-5) in each pot, buried and covered with plastic wrap, cut plastic bottles or glass.

Advice! The containers should be placed in a well-lit place, preferably on the south side.

Planting seeds in open ground

Watermelon seeds are planted only in the southern regions, where a warm climate reigns. In this case, the air should warm up to 12-14 ° C, and the soil should be 10 cm deep. The best period is the end of May. At this time, the risk of frost is reduced to zero. In cold soil, seeds hatch much longer, so there is a high probability of the death of young shoots or their infection with diseases.

To plant this culture, a hole is dug, the diameter of which is approximately 1 m, and the depth is 30 cm.Additional dressing must be added to it:

  • nitroammophosphate (1 tsp);
  • humus or compost (1 kg);
  • ash (1 tbsp. l.).

Planting seeds in open ground

If the soil is heavy, add some additional sand and mix everything thoroughly.

Important! You should not use manure, it provokes the appearance of various diseases and negatively affects the taste of watermelon.

Processed seeds are placed in the finished wells. First you need to water the soil abundantly - about 2 liters per planting site. After absorbing the liquid, several seeds (4-5 pieces) are placed to a depth of 3 to 6 cm. After that, they are covered with earth and squeezed. Do not water the plants anymore To prevent the formation of a crust that impedes the germination of shoots, mulching is carried out with humus.

After planting, the seeds need to be watered as needed, when the topsoil is dry, but not more often than 1 time per week. The optimum depth of soil moistening is 30 cm.

After the emergence of shoots, you need to remove weak shoots. When 4-5 leaves are formed on the plants, thinning is carried out again. As a result, there should be 1-2 shoots in each hole.

Plants that are planted directly in the ground are less prone to stress - drought and temperature fluctuations. But the fruits ripen a little later, that of watermelons grown in seedlings.

Seedling care

To accelerate the growth and development of seedlings, it is necessary to create favorable conditions:

  • The temperature regime during the day is about 25 ° C, at night - 20 ° C. Then the shoots will sprout in 7-10 days.
  • The minimum daylight hours are 12 hours. A lack of light leads to the elongation of the shoots and provokes their death. In cloudy weather, it is recommended to install a phytolamp over the seedlings.
  • After the emergence of shoots, you need to leave a single strong shoot, removing all the others.
  • Seedlings are watered at the root, in several approaches.
  • When 2 full-fledged leaves appear, top dressing is applied - fermented cow manure, diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 10. It is permissible to use a liquid complex fertilizer.

Drip irrigation of watermelons

If you follow these recommendations, the seedlings will grow strong and healthy, and will tolerate the transplant well.

When you need to plant watermelon seedlings in open ground

Planting watermelons in open ground with seedlings is done on day 30-35. At least 4 leaves should form on the shoots. 10 days before this, hardening is carried out - the seedlings are taken out into the street, gradually increasing the time.3-4 days before the procedure, the seedlings are constantly kept outdoors. The day before, add a sufficient amount of water.

Important! As a result of hardening, plants become less susceptible to temperature extremes.

In mid-July, they are planted in a designated area. The shoots are transplanted in the morning - taken out of the pot along with a lump of earth, placed in a hole, watering is carried out and covered with plastic wrap. They don't need to be planted too deep.

How to distinguish melon seedlings from watermelon: The watermelon forms female petals both on the side and on the main stems. And in a melon, they are formed on the side earlier than on the main stems.

How to properly plant watermelon and melon seedlings in different regions

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In the southern territories, for example, in the Krasnodar Territory and the republics of the Caucasus, melons are usually cultivated in the ground, by direct planting in the soil. In these regions, it is warm and sunny enough for the development of culture and the ripening of fruits.

In areas located to the north - the Moscow region, the Far East, Siberia, the Urals - the plant will bear fruit moderately.

It usually takes 70-80 days to ripen a culture in the middle lane, the fruits grow small - from 2 to 6 kg.

If you work hard and take into account all the nuances, watermelons will certainly grow juicy and tasty.