Watermelon seeds - how to prepare for sowing

There are watermelon lovers all over the world. However, in the middle lane, watermelons usually do not grow, so you have to wait for the "season" - the end of summer, when they are massively brought to the central regions and sold for next to nothing.

Some fans prefer not to wait, but to purchase watermelon seeds and grow a couple of these berries on their own. Surprisingly, this is easy enough.

How to test watermelon seeds for germination before planting

Melons and gourds are quite demanding on climatic conditions. In the central part of Russia, where the sowing season starts from late April - early May, watermelons should have time to ripen before the autumn cold comes. Therefore, you should carefully research the packaging of seeds before buying them.

On a bag of seeds, it is necessary to indicate after how many days watermelons emerge. If it is about 80 days, a little more or a little less, then these varieties will grow as it should, without unexpected surprises.

It is imperative to check the expiration date of the seeds, as this affects germination. Their shelf life is quite long - up to 8 years. However, it is better to choose relatively fresh seeds harvested no later than 3 years ago.

Watermelon seeds

Home seed preparation methods

Before starting to soak, it is worth distributing the seeds according to their size. This will help avoid a situation where large sprouts do not provide space for smaller seedlings to live.

First you need to find out how to properly soak watermelon and melon seeds for seedlings (for these melons, the scheme of actions is the same). This is done to stimulate the growth of female flowers in the future watermelon, from which delicious fruits ripen. And also in order to determine the suitability of seeds.

Preparing watermelon seeds

1. You need to prepare a saline solution at the rate of 3-5 g of salt per 100 ml. water. Within a few minutes, the seeds should be completely immersed in it;
   Seeds that float to the surface are not suitable for planting, so they should be immediately separated and discarded.

1. Then the remaining grains should be removed, washed with clean fresh water and dried. In order not to lose the seeds, it is recommended to use a gauze bandage for convenience.

1. Next, the seeds should be heated for 2-3 hours at a temperature of about 60 degrees. This can be done in a regular pot of hot water.
2. In a 1% solution of potassium permanganate, future seedlings should be left for 20 minutes. Some gardeners use humic acids instead of manganese solution.
3. The final step is to remove and wipe the seeds dry. They are now ready to be planted in pots.

This preparation also reduces the germination time of the shoots.

One of the most important points is preparing watermelon seeds for sowing seedlings. You need to stock up on spacious pots. Each of them holds 2 grains to a depth of about 5 centimeters. The pots should not be full, but half full. In the process of growth, the earth must be added.

The seeds should be dipped into a hole in slightly damp soil.It can be done with a stick or pencil.

On average, a watermelon sprout sprouts in 40 days. Melon germinates 10 days earlier.

watermelon sprout

Seeds need the maximum amount of sunlight, so it is recommended to place the pots either on the south side or on a glazed loggia.

When and how to plant sprouted seeds

Planting time depends on the climatic conditions of the region. In the south (starting from the Chernozem region), sowing can begin in April. For complete confidence in success, it is better to place the seedlings in a greenhouse so that unexpected frosts do not destroy the plantings.

In Siberia, you need to wait until the soil is completely dry and warm. This happens around early to mid June. You can't do without a film or a greenhouse, because the weather in this region can throw surprises in the form of frosts even in summer.

And in the Moscow region, you can start sowing in May. If there is a greenhouse, then even earlier. However, it is worth remembering that the main criterion for starting sowing is dry and warm soil.

The beds should be in a sunny location and well protected from the wind. Before planting, the soil should be generously fertilized with humus.

When placing seedlings, make sure that there is sufficient distance between the seedlings. If you do not do this, most likely, the watermelon fruit will not reach the size declared by the manufacturer.

Watermelon seedlings

What to do if the seeds do not germinate for a long time

The seeds may not germinate for various reasons. There is a possibility that something is wrong with the planting material. Or the seed preparation conditions were not followed correctly. As a last resort, the following methods can help:

• Pour boiling water over the seeds. It is important not to leave them there for long!
• Cut off the top layer of the seed coat;
• Place the seeds in a warm place and keep them there until the first shoots appear.

When the seeds germinate, you should monitor the temperature. During the day, the temperature should not exceed 23 degrees, in the evening it cannot be less than 17 degrees. The film can be removed from already stretched plants.

Already planted seedlings should be watered carefully, although watermelon sprouts love water. Watering is done 3 times a week, only in the evening and very abundantly (more than 60 cm deep). It is highly undesirable for the leaves to get water.

Seedlings can wither for several reasons:

• too low soil temperature;
• too much water or lack of it;
• a variety of infections affecting the root.

This is corrected by changing the irrigation schedule, heating the soil and treating the plants for infections.