Melon has gained popularity among vegetable growers and consumers due to its excellent taste and alluring aroma. Like watermelons, domestic melons compete successfully with Asian products. On our lands, many early and medium-early ripening melon hybrids and varieties were bred. Moreover, their taste and aroma are almost the same as those of competitors.
Melon cultivation is most successful in the southern regions. This is due to the fact that special climatic conditions are needed for their ripening.
Site preparation
The peculiarity of melon care is that it begins long before the seeds are planted in the soil. Only in this case can you count on a rich harvest. Due to the fact that the melon is a representative of melons, it needs a lot of heat and light. It is also important to protect it from the winds to improve growth.
Melon seeds
Melon can only grow fragrant and sweet if there are enough nutrients in the soil. The soil should not be heavy; for this, humus is added to it, which should reach up to 30 centimeters in depth - it is to this depth that the melon roots go.
The most suitable soil temperature is considered to be from +15 degrees, and the air should warm up to +25 degrees.
When choosing a place for planting a melon, it is necessary to take into account which plants grew in this area before it.
Growth will greatly improve if onions, cabbage, potatoes were grown prior to planting the melon. It will be nice to plant the plant after crops, clover and perennial grasses.
Melon seed shelf life
It is not necessary to harvest the melon kernels every year, as they perfectly retain their germination for many years. The seeds can be stored, maintaining good germination, for 5-8 years.
The storage duration primarily depends on the conditions. The most favorable storage temperature is within +10 - +13 degrees. Air humidity is also important, 60% is optimal. Seeds can only be sown if these indicators are met.
Seed germination can be checked. To do this, they need to be wrapped in a damp cloth for 2-3 days, and then unfold and inspected for sprouts.
For seeds, the main thing is to properly prepare the soil.
How to germinate melon seeds
Compliance with the terms of preparation and planting of seeds in the ground is the most important condition for a good harvest. Soaking melon seeds before planting is an important step in growing seedlings.
Seeds that have been processed during production are not subject to disinfection and soaking. This information is indicated on the packaging. Dragee and inlaid melon seeds do not require processing.
Melon seeds in the process of planting
But ordinary seeds must be prepared, and there are several processing methods, which makes the task easier. After all, you can choose exactly the method that is more suitable.
Warming up
Produced 2 days before planting seeds. Heating can be carried out both in the sun and in the oven. However, in the oven, the temperature should be no more than 40-50 degrees. Warm up within 3-4 hours.
Growth stimulant
With the help of a growth stimulant, you can achieve rapid pecking of the sprout. The solution can be made independently - usually it is diluted potassium permanganate - or you can buy a ready-made one.The soaking time is indicated in the instructions for use.
Hardening
This process increases the immunity of the seeds. First, the seeds are soaked for one day in warm water and kept at room temperature. Then you need to change the temperature to 0 degrees for 18 hours, taking it out to the balcony or putting it in the refrigerator. This will ensure that the seeds are stratified. How much melon sprout depends on correct germination and hardening of seeds.
Melon seeds soaking
How to Soak Melon Seeds Before Planting
Melon sprouts hatch at this stage. You can germinate melon seeds in a damp cloth, in sawdust, in gauze. After a small sprout appears, they must be planted in a vegetable garden or in special cups to obtain seedlings.
How many days a melon usually emerges after sowing depends on the microclimate and the quality of the seed.
Growing seedlings
For seedling planting, germinated soaked seeds are placed in peat tablets or pots, you can also use paper cups. Peat containers have an advantage: you do not need to extract seedlings from them. It is placed in the soil along with a pot, which then becomes fertilizer.
It is necessary to fill the pots with soil designed specifically for vegetable plants. You can cook it yourself. To do this, sand and peat are mixed in a ratio of 1: 9, then 1 glass of wood ash is added to 10 liters of soil.
In each cup, 2-3 melon seeds are placed 5 cm deep. Until shoots appear, the pots should be kept indoors to maintain the desired temperature.
Melon shoots will appear in about 7 days. In each pot you will need to leave only one sprout, the strongest.
When the fourth leaf appears on the stem, the seedlings need to be pinched, due to which the lateral shoots will begin to develop better, will not stretch out. It is as easy as shelling pears to care for melon seedlings - moderately moisturize the soil and make sure that no water gets on the leaves and stem.
For a good melon harvest, the most important condition is sunny weather and the selection of a suitable variety. Do not forget about timely pinching and diving. In such conditions, a rich harvest is guaranteed.
