How to plant a watermelon to get large, sweet fruits. Planting watermelon seedlings and caring for them in open ground
For a long time no one is surprised by melons in the middle latitudes. Of course, watermelons and melons do not grow as large and sweet as in Central Asia, but 50 years ago they were considered a curiosity even in the Central Black Earth region, at the latitude of Voronezh.
If you approach the cultivation of watermelons thoughtfully, then simple agricultural techniques will help you bypass the climate and grow quite a decent crop.
To enlist the support of the heavenly powers even in such simple matter, like planting seeds, it is advisable to use the recommendations of astrologers.
Lunar calendar for 2018 for planting gourds: watermelon, melon, as well as pumpkin, zucchini, cucumbers.
If you can’t use the Lunar landing calendar, then it’s worth remembering the proven practice for centuries: annual plants with fruits growing above the surface of the earth, planted on the growing moon.
A simple rule of thumb
If a vertical line is attached to the crescent of the Moon on the left and the letter “P” is read - the growing phase, otherwise, we read “C” - the old (waning) Moon.
It originates from wild plants of tropical Africa. Increased requirement heat is inherent at the genetic level - this is a minus for us, but resistance to droughts is a very big plus.
From a watermelon seed, under favorable conditions, seedlings appear on the 4-5th day. Flowers are formed in 40-50 days, and the ovary develops into a full-fledged fruit in 40-60 days. Total growing season plants is about 100-110 days.
The first night frosts in most regions of the country occur already in early September - you should meet the harvest by this time. Given this specificity, attention should be paid to early varieties and hybrids. For example, choose the traditional variety "Spark" (70-88 days), which ripens even in the Non-Chernozem zone and Siberia.
The variety is very popular, has passed more than 50 years of testing in summer cottages. Dark green small (about 2 kg) fruits with bright red sugary pulp and memorable sweetness have been enjoyed by more than one generation of gardeners.
Since many people use home-assembled seeds (the variety was literally to their taste), it should be remembered that in all melons (watermelon, melon, cucumber ...) fresh seeds are produced by plants with a predominance of “barren flowers” - male-type barren flowers.
To obtain productive seedlings, old seeds are needed, at least 2-3 years old. Moreover, the germination of melons is preserved even in 7-year-old seeds. There is a way that allows you to artificially increase the proportion of female-type flowers.
How to age seeds
Heating the seeds at a temperature of 60 degrees for 2 hours increases the proportion of female-type flowers at least 2 times, and hence the yield.
In practice, it is difficult to imagine how to do this, if not on a central heating radiator.
A similar result can be achieved if you pour several times in a row hot water seeds and wait each time until cool. Alternatively, you can hot (60 degrees) water seeds in a thermos.
Such treatment with hot water, in addition to artificial aging, softens a very strong shell. watermelon seeds and washes away the protective layer that prevents natural germination inside the fruit.
Seeds immediately after such treatment can be planted in the ground for seedlings or in a permanent place in the garden. Prolonged heat treatment eliminates the need for disinfection - most viruses and bacteria cannot withstand temperatures above 45 degrees.
Calculate the timing of direct landing in the ground
To calculate when to plant watermelon seeds, we add 3-4 days for germination to the length of the growing season from emergence to harvest to 88 days, and we get approximately 3 months (90 days). In practice, in the Central region it is quite possible to grow "Spark" by direct sowing into the ground in the 2nd half of May.
If seedlings are protected with the simplest film shelter on arcs, then small possible frosts during May do not pose a danger to seedlings.
How to grow seedlings
But what if the soil warms up to the required 14-15 degrees only at the end of May, and in August night cooling is already possible? Abandon plans to grow your own watermelons?
Everything is very simple: until the heat is established, you can grow a watermelon by planting seedlings, and thereby ensure a gain in time of about 30 days. This is the same month for growing strong seedlings, which, when planted in the garden, will immediately grow.
Soil for seedlings
For seedlings of watermelons, it is not at all necessary to purchase ready-made soil mixture for melon plants. You can prepare your own composition, which is useful to you for cucumbers, melons, pumpkins. As a matter of fact, such a light nutrient soil mixture is well suited to most crops and ornamental plants.
For a nutrient soil mixture you will need:
- 1 part peat;
- 1 part compost or humus;
- 1/2 part of sand;
- 1/2 liter of ash per bucket of mixture.
This mixture must be mixed well. To avoid possible intermediate transplants (even 20-day-old seedlings already require up to 1 liter of soil for the normal development of the root system), prepared watermelon seeds are immediately planted in a container of 1-1.5 liters.
For gourds, there is a rule:
- seedlings of 20-25 days of age are planted in open ground (on a garden bed);
- in a protected (greenhouse) - 30-35 days.
When growing watermelon seedling way should be taken into account important point. Like all gourds, a watermelon seedling painfully endures a transplant - it gets sick for a long time in a new place. The correct solution to this problem would be to immediately plant watermelon seeds for seedlings in peat pots, which themselves will later serve as additional nutrition for the bush. (photo-5)
Peat pots of this size are a rarity. They can be successfully replaced by conventional plastic bags nested in plastic or other flower pots. During the growth of seedlings, an earthen clod is formed, which does not collapse when planting on a garden bed, and the package itself is removed very easily.
Planting watermelon seeds
Seeds heated to increase yields can be immediately planted in the ground or additionally germinated before pecking. To do this, in a damp cloth, they should be placed in a closed tray and placed in a warm place + 25-27 degrees.
Check the seeds regularly - as soon as the beginnings of the roots appear, it is advisable to harden the watermelon sprouts. To do this, in the same tray and cloth, the seeds must be placed in the refrigerator near the freezer (temperature 0-2 degrees) for 10-12 hours. This will increase the resistance of the plant to the unpredictable weather conditions of our climate.
How to plant watermelon seeds for seedlings correctly.
- Fill the prepared container (1-1.5 l) halfway with the nutrient mixture and carefully place the pecked hardened seeds, if the quantity allows - 2-3 each, so that then the strongest sprout is left.
- Add about 1.5-2 cm of the mixture on top of the seeds.
- Watering warm water.
- Cover with foil to retain moisture longer.
- Put before germination in a warm place - the temperature should be about 25 degrees.
In paragraph 1 it says that first the pot is half filled with soil. This is due to the fact that the seedlings will inevitably stretch. In the process of growth, add a little nutrient soil and the seedlings will form additional roots, which will increase the endurance of the plant in the garden.
When seedlings appear, the seedlings should be moved to the brightest place, where the temperature during the day will not be lower than 20-22 degrees, and at night - about 18. Considering that the end of April is the month of May outside the window, there is no need to illuminate the seedlings, a light window sill or a greenhouse is quite enough for her .
For seedlings of watermelons (as well as all melons) it is very important to withstand correct mode watering:
- water not often, but plentifully;
- water should be warm (approximately + 22-25 degrees);
- pour water strictly under the root.
When the seedlings form real leaves (age 7-10 days), it is advisable to feed the watermelons with organic matter. Optimally - a solution of mullein (1:10).
In the conditions of an apartment for organic dressings any seedling and indoor plants you can use fertilizer from improvised means.
- In a sealed container, pour banana peel, bread crusts, fermented jam with water.
- During fermentation, cover loosely - the airtight lid will be torn off.
- When it stops fermenting, the top dressing is ready.
- Use in a diluted form (1:10) for feeding any plants, in terms of the content of trace elements and nitrogen, this fertilizer is in no way inferior to traditional compost and humus.
After feeding, the seedlings must be well watered.
It's time for seedlings in the garden
Seedlings can be planted on the bed when the soil warms up to 14-15 degrees. In the Middle lane, this usually corresponds to the end of May. If you use the simplest film shelter, you can shift this period by 2 weeks.
Seedlings should be planted in the ground, deepening by 3-4 cm (to the cotyledon leaves) and without damaging the roots, which is why it is so convenient to use peat pots.
Remember when planting that each plant will need at least 1m2 of area to get enough sun. Watermelon seedlings planted at the end of May can bring a harvest in July. The foregoing applies to the Middle lane and the Central region.
There are a lot of modern hybrids that ripen even on the 65th day.
“Antey”, “Attica” (USA). Domestic breeders have proposed a very promising early variety"Borchansky" (agricultural firm "Sibsad"), gives a harvest already on the 63-66th day.
The full cycle of growing watermelons from seedlings in cold regions in the Urals and Siberia can be found in the video, which tells how to choose the right variety, place for growing and agricultural techniques in order to get 2-3 kg of watermelon fruits by September near Novosibirsk.
Consider when to sow watermelons for seedlings in detail. In the South federal district planting watermelons in open ground is practiced, however, for areas with temperate climate this option is not suitable, but it is still possible to grow melons. The seedling method solves the problem.
To answer the question of when to plant watermelons for seedlings in a field, for example, in the Moscow region, as an example, consider the agricultural technology of growing crops in the climate of the Moscow region. Here, sowing in pots should be carried out in early April. Gardeners living north or south should take into account that planting watermelons for seedlings in each climatic zone shifts in one direction or another. It is better to coordinate the exact sowing dates with the lunar calendar. For each year and climate zone there are painted auspicious days when to plant melons and watermelons for seedlings is best. As for the choice of variety, it is better to use early-ripening varieties, for example, Ultra-early, or mid-season, for example, Astrakhan.
Many people are worried about the technology and the scheme of how to plant watermelons for seedlings, they are afraid of the upcoming difficulties. But below it will be seen that watermelon seedlings at home are quite real. In the specialized literature there is a lot of information on the topic “how to plant watermelons”, consider the most important aspects. You can check out the article:
Soil preparation
Preparing seedlings at home is quite simple. First you need to mix the earth with personal plot with peat and humus, add a little sand. Then add to the mixture mineral fertilizers: potassium sulfate and urea. To do this, it is enough to pour them into the soil in a dry form: 1 g of fertilizer per 1 kg of soil and mix. Then prepare a solution of superphosphate: dissolve 6-7 tablespoons of dry fertilizer in 1 boiling water, the next day, dilute 1 cup of the resulting concentrate in a bucket of cool water and pour the soil prepared for seedlings with this solution.
Seed selection
In order for watermelon seedlings to turn out to be of high quality, seeds must be purchased at an agronomic store or from familiar summer residents who have successful experience in growing gourds. Seeds are 1 to 5 years old. To check the quality of seeds, they should be immersed in water, while living seeds will sink, and dead ones will float to the surface.
Seed preparation
Proper preparation of melon seeds plays a huge role, since without it the germination rate will be very low.
This applies even to high-quality seeds.
Sowing and caring for seedlings
Usually, sowing watermelons and melons for seedlings is carried out in pots with a volume of about 1 liter. It is better to use peat pots, but you can also use regular ones. First, prepared soil is poured into each pot, leaving 3-4 cm on top, and then seeds are sown in the amount of 3.4.5 pieces to a depth of about 4 cm. 
The pots are under a film that protects the soil from fast drying, and placed in a cool (with a temperature of about 17-20 degrees) place, periodically watered with warm, settled water.
How long does it take from planting to germination of watermelon seeds at home? At proper care- within 1 week. If the seeds are not soaked or planted too deep, their germination time is increased. After the emergence of seedlings, the pots should be placed in a place well-lit by the sun, while continuing to monitor the air temperature, the permissible range of which is from 16 to 24 degrees. To accustom seedlings to low temperatures sometimes it is advisable to take it out into the yard for a while.
At the age of 10-12 days spend root dressing seedlings with a solution of mullein or any ready-made organic fertilizer, according to his instructions.
Agricultural technology for planting in open ground
There is nothing complicated here either. It is worth showing a little diligence, and you can get an excellent harvest.
Preparation. Consider the topic "watermelon: planting and care in open field, melon preparation. So that planting watermelons does not disappoint, you need to choose a sunny place with a slope towards the south with light, sandy loamy soil and prepare it. To do this, at the beginning of spring, a small amount of ash should be added to the soil, as well as humus or compost in the amount of 1 bucket per square meter area. Experienced gardeners usually do not forget to make compost in the fall. Then water the bed, cover with covering material, which can be used as polyethylene film, But the best option will use a special agrofibre. Thus, simultaneously with the cultivation of seedlings, the future melon is heated. Before planting, dig holes, put humus and a little mineral fertilizer in each.- Landing. Spring came, the seedlings grew, and the gardeners faced the question of how to plant a watermelon directly in the ground. Seedlings are planted in open ground in the second decade of May, after reading the lunar calendar again. IN different years weather conditions are different, so you need to make sure there are no frosts. Thus, the age of seedlings sown in April will be a little more than 1 month. For planting in the ground, it is necessary very carefully, without disturbing the earthen clod, to remove the seedlings from the pot and, together with this clod, transplant into a previously prepared hole.
From peat pots it is not required to extract the seedlings, it is placed in a hole along with a pot. Then carefully water the sprouts with warm water. Watermelon is a plant large fruits, so he loves not only the sun, but also space. Therefore, planting density should not exceed 2 bushes per 1 square meter. Disembarkation must be carried out in even rows keeping a distance of 1.5-1.8 meters between them. If used high bed, then watermelons are planted under a film, which is recommended to be removed only after the onset of stable warm weather. Covering material is also used on ordinary melons, if the temperature environment less than 15 degrees. - Watermelon care. If there is no rain, young plants will need regular watering. You should water them with slightly warm water at the rate of 1 bucket per 1 sq. m landings. Watering frequency - 1 time in 3-4 days. Stop watering watermelons about 1.5 - 2 weeks before the fruit ripens. If watering is continued, this will lead to cracking of the fruits, a decrease in their shelf life and a deterioration in taste.
Pinching watermelons. In order for the fruits to be large and tasty, you need to regulate their number. To do this, in regions where there is not much sun, it is imperative to pinch watermelons: leave only the main shoot and remove all the side shoots. In addition, it is advisable to count the number of flowers and ovaries on each bush and leave only 4-5 pieces. Otherwise, you can get a lot of small, underdeveloped, unsweetened fruits.- Soil loosening. During the season, loosen the soil on watermelon melons several times. This is necessary for optimal gas exchange and plant nutrition.
So that the fruits do not rot, under each of them, when it reaches a few cm in diameter, you need to put a piece of plastic, glass or other material, or tie it above the ground in a net
Donkey-sized cucumber. This is how the Persian word xarbuza is translated. It was it that became the basis for the Russian name for watermelon. The Russians borrowed not only the word, but also the wisdom of growing berries.
The first domestic samples were obtained in the 17th century. The springboard for selection was the Astrakhan region. They bred their own variety. The criteria for selecting berries for him are their size, sweetness and drought resistance.
Astrakhan watermelons famous to this day. But, there were others. Now dozens of varieties are grown in central Russia. Among them: Spark, Leader, Chill, Yarilo, Sweet Krinson. So, there is a reason to know ...
How to plant watermelons
Planting watermelons begins with seeds. Given the Russian climate, it is better to use seedlings. In a short season, the plant should not only grow, but also bear fruit.
So that they have time to ripen, with the onset of heat, not seeds are placed in the ground, but already grown bushes. They are creeping, like cucumbers, pumpkins. By the way, the family to which the watermelon belongs is called Pumpkin.
To a question, how to plant watermelon seedlings, it is worth approaching with gauze and cotton wool. They are needed for seed germination. First, they are placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Its color should be yellowish rather than pink.
Manganese will act as disinfectant in case of seed contamination. 20-30 minutes and you can spread the seeds on a "pillow" of damp cotton wool covered with a bandage.
Above is the same "blanket". After abundant watering of the workpiece, it is left for 3-4 days. During them, the gauze should not dry out. The result will be the appearance of roots. The seeds are ready to be planted in the ground.
Small containers are filled with soil. Convenient to use plastic glasses. It is important to make holes in their bottom for the outflow of water. As for the substrate, it is made up of 50% purchased land, 50% garden. Both need to be disinfected. A couple of minutes is enough microwave oven. Wood ash is added as a top dressing to the mixture.
The soil substrate is laid almost to the edges of the cups. The earth will be compacted after heavy watering. The excess will flow out through the drain holes.
One common tray is enough for all cups. A 2-centimeter deepening is made in the middle of each. The seed is lowered into the hole with the spine down, sprinkled with a substrate, watered. It remains to put the cups in a warm, sunny place and wait for shoots.
Seedlings with 4-6 leaves are considered suitable for planting in the ground. The greenery of neighboring plants should not touch. As the watermelons grow, the cups are moved apart.
When the leaves come into contact, the development of seedlings slows down. Watering with cool water also has a negative effect. Use only warm. Subject to the conditions, the seedlings will have 4-6 leaves a month after planting.
When to plant watermelons
Starting from monthly cycle development of seedlings of watermelons, it is possible to calculate the time of its planting, and the movement of plants into open ground. Focus on the climate of the region.
If the possibility of frost, low temperatures is excluded only by June, the seeds are planted in early May. If positive indicators are stable already in April, the process starts in March.
When to plant watermelons for seedlings suggests the lunar calendar. It is compiled taking into account the dependence of plants, their development, on the phases of the night star. It is recommended to sow gourds from the Pumpkin family in 2016 from May 16 to May 20. Conditionally auspicious days 5th, 6th are named. 8th, 9th and 10th numbers. In March, the “segment” is suitable from the 24th to the 29th.
Question, when to plant watermelons in the ground, abandoning seedlings, depends only on weather conditions. Suitable, for example, the same days from the 16th half of the 20th of May. In the southern regions, there is no longer a risk of low temperatures by this time.
Taking into account the warm autumn, melons have time to grow and give a harvest even in the open air. From seedlings refuse, sometimes, and in Siberia. But, there the seeds are grown in greenhouses, picking up early maturing varieties watermelons.
How to choose a variety of watermelon for planting
In question, like a greenhouse, there is important nuance- Use only one variety of berries. This eliminates cross-pollination of plants. If it happens, the harvest will be of poor quality.
In cold regions, early ripening varieties with small fruits are chosen. large berries fail to mature. The most precocious is considered "Suga baby". From the name it is clear that the plant produces fruits-babies. Their weight is not more than 4.5 kilograms. The peel of the berries is dark green, and the stripes are almost black.
The varieties “Spark”, “Skorik” and “Leader” also belong to the early ripening ones. From the first shoots to harvest, 70-80 days pass. The “Gift of the Sun” ripens even faster. But, this watermelon has a yellow rind. The flesh remains red. She is gentle, sweet. The size of the berries is 3-4 kilograms.
How long do watermelons ripen middle group? From 90 to 110 days. Late-ripening varieties are not suitable for any of the regions of Russia. Mid-season includes, for example, "Sugar Baby". The crop is harvested 13 weeks after planting.
Berries are good for pickling. This is another nuance of the choice of variety. Some watermelons are meant to be eaten fresh, while others go for marinades. By the way, historically, Russians prefer the latter option. Watermelons were brought into the country in a salty form.
In the 17th century, transportation took long months. Fresh berries did not keep up with the royal table, they deteriorated. So the merchants brought pickles. Having learned to grow watermelons themselves, our ancestors did not perceive them fresh for a long time.
How to care for planting watermelons
Deciding how to plant watermelons outdoors, or a greenhouse, it is important to consider the area of \u200b\u200bthe site. Creeping plants. The berries should lie on the ground, so the garter is not done. For free development, one bush needs a large area.
Between the rows of watermelons leave at least half a meter. 70 centimeters are ideal. Between the bushes you need a meter backlog. But, there are varieties with compact, not too long stems. When they land, 50 centimeters is enough.
How far apart should watermelons be planted? found out. Now, let's study the issue of the formation of bushes. Seedlings have several creeping shoots.
You need to leave only one, the most powerful, with side branches. Docking the remaining shoots will allow the plant not to waste energy on them. All energy will be spent on the development of the main trunk and berries on it.
Watermelons are demanding on soils. We need fertile land. Fertilizers will help make them so. Melons need both mineral mixtures and organics. From the latter, mullein and chicken droppings are suitable.
From mineral mixtures first take superphosphate. It is applied immediately after transplanting sprouts into open ground. By the time the ovaries are formed, watermelons are already given phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
They work with melons carefully. It is not recommended, for example, to once again walk between the rows. Watermelons are vulnerable root system. Her weakness- branching. The roots are underfoot, damaged, landings suffer.
They also suffer from lack of moisture. In the heat, abundant watering is required 3-4 times a week. Berries are 95% water. Even the bodies of jellyfish are only 92% aquatic. There will not be enough moisture, there will not be tasty, sweet fruits.
Then her - in the greenhouse. After that, the seedlings should be watered with warm water, fed as needed.
Sowing dates for seedlings
Seeds must be sown in such a way that the seedlings are no more than 30 days old. The watermelon has a dense shell, so it can take up to ten days for the cotyledons and root to emerge from it.
Seedlings are planted in a permanent place at the onset of heat, when the threat of a return of frost ceases to exist.From this, one can calculate optimal time sowing seeds. In the middle lane, night frosts end around June 1. This means that it is necessary to start preparing seeds for planting on April 22-25. It is possible and a little later - April 26-30.
Look first. When choosing a day for sowing watermelon for seedlings, it is better to rely on this night star. So, on the full moon, these works are not carried out, at this time you can only prepare the soil and shed it. In "barren" signs such as Aquarius, Aries, it is also better to refrain from planting.
Watermelon is better planted in those days lunar calendar when "tops" grow well. Then the watermelon will have good astronomical indicators for excellent growth.
Then, the seeds, and then the seedlings, need to be provided with optimal conditions for growth and fruiting.
Sowing seeds, growing seedlings
If you look at 2014, then a great time for planting a watermelon is April 30th. It is on this day that you need to start preparing the seeds for planting, and you can bury them on other days, but not on the full moon and not on the new moon.
On April 29, 2014, landings cannot be made, since on this day the new moon, and even the solar annular eclipse, is another sign that indicates the undesirability of landings.
April 27, 2014 is a very good day for preparing the soil. So pour at this time fertile land in seedling cups, let it settle a little, and on April 30, soak the seeds first in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then in the existing growth stimulator for 8 hours.
After that, the seeds are soaked in a slightly warm boiled water for a day. Now you can have 2 of them in a seedling cup, in the soil prepared and spilled with warm water.
Watermelon seeds do not have 100% germination. Therefore, only one of the two can ascend. If both begin to grow, then only a strong plant is left.
Seedlings at the age of 20-30 days are planted in soil rich in organic matter, under cover. When the fruits are tied, then no more than one or two are left on one whip. Then the watermelons will ripen well and become juicy and sugary.
Watermelon is a melon crop that grows reluctantly in conditions of northern and middle latitudes. Therefore, you need to buy seeds of zoned varieties. But they also have to provide suitable conditions: loose semi-dry soil, a lot of sun and heat.
Sowing watermelons for seedlings
Sowing dates
Watermelons are grown by residents not only of the south, but also middle lane, Siberia and Far East. For regions with cool and short summers, this melon cannot be grown without seedlings. The timing of sowing seeds depends on the variety chosen, as well as on when the threat of returning frosts has passed in a particular region.
Watermelon seedlings are planted in a permanent place at the age of 30–35 days. Knowing the date of the planned landing, it is easy to calculate when you can start sowing. For example, if morning frosts in your region occur until mid-May, then you need to sow a month earlier plus a week (for soaking and germination), we get - the beginning of April.
Watermelon seedlings 30 days, can be planted in the ground
When to sow if watermelons grow in a greenhouse?
Landing in a greenhouse or unheated greenhouse, and not in open ground, has almost no effect on the above calculations. If you plan to plant under cover, then you can sow a week earlier, but after planting the seedlings, you will have to follow the weather and weather forecasts. The fact is that watermelons do not grow and do not develop at a temperature of +16 ⁰C and below. And if there are many cloudy days, when the sun does not warm the greenhouse, it is impossible to ventilate, then the seedlings can get sick and die. In addition, during freezing (at night and in the morning) under a film or agril, the temperature is not much higher than outside. Therefore, the seedlings will have to be additionally covered also inside the greenhouse or greenhouse.
But in summer, watermelons feel better under waterproof covering materials, because there they are protected from prolonged rains and cold winds. On sunny days, it is much warmer in the shelter, the fruits grow larger and sweeter than in the open field.
Optimal conditions for watermelons: temperature - +25 ... +30 ⁰C, humidity - 50–60%. Watermelon is a light-loving crop; in cloudy weather, development stops.
Choosing a container for seedlings
Watermelons do not tolerate picks, it is very difficult to take root in a new place if their roots are disturbed. Therefore, each seed is sown in an individual pot or cup in which the watermelon will grow until planting. The size of the cup is 10 cm in depth and the same in diameter. Moreover, the container should be such that the watermelon can be removed from it along with a clod of earth without exposing the roots. Pots made of peat or compressed paper are ideal, seedlings are planted directly in them without taking them out.
It is better not to disturb the roots of watermelons during transplantation. Ideal container for growing seedlings - peat or paper cups
You can not grow watermelons in peat tablets. This is compressed peat, in which there are no nutrients. Peat tablets designed for germinating seeds of those crops that require picking.
What kind of soil do watermelons need?
Watermelon loves loose, moderately dry and neutral soil. Therefore, on sandy and sandy loamy soils, the culture develops faster and gives rich harvests. The soil for seedlings should be prepared in accordance with these preferences. Can be used ready ground for cucumbers, or make a mixture of equal parts: river sand, humus, sod land. Before sowing, the soil must be spilled with boiling water or heated for 10 minutes in the microwave. A sign of successful disinfection - the earth should soar.
Video: Biologist's advice on using seedling containers and preparing soil mixture
Seed preparation
Often, store-bought seeds are already treated with fertilizers and fungicides for diseases. In this case, soaking and germination are not needed. Untreated seeds are best germinated in order to be sure of their germination. Then, after sowing, a sprout will definitely appear in each cup. To do this, watermelon seeds are first soaked in a growth stimulator. The most common is Epin Extra (4 drops per 1 liter of water). It not only contributes to the early awakening of the embryo of the plant, but also softens the shell of the seed.
Watermelon seeds have a very dense and hard shell, so they are soaked in a growth stimulant solution before planting.
Watermelon seeds are kept in Epin's solution for 12 hours, and then laid out between two wet cotton pads. Place such a structure in a disposable Plastic container with a lid or on a saucer, which is wrapped in a plastic bag. For the rapid emergence of seedlings, a temperature in the range of - + 25 ... + 30 ⁰C is needed. After 4-5 days, the seeds should germinate, you can start sowing.
If you have to sow unsprouted watermelon seeds, then to soften their shell, the soil is watered with hot water (+50 ... +60 ⁰C) when planting along with the seed.
Stages of sowing watermelon seeds for seedlings
Video: How to sow watermelon seeds plus a greenhouse idea on a balcony
Watermelon seedling care at home
Temperature and lighting
As soon as shoots appear, they are transferred for 3-5 days to a sunny and cool place (+18 ... +20 ⁰C). The temperature in the following days and before disembarkation is +20 ... +25 ⁰C. Even on the southern window, watermelons can stretch out, because the weather does not always please us with sunny days. Therefore, you need to be ready to highlight the seedlings. In addition, the pots turn the other side to the glass every day.
On cloudy days, watermelons are drawn to the glass, lighting is needed
Watering
In addition to heat and light, watermelons need moisture. Watermelons are watered rarely, but plentifully, soaking the whole clod of earth, but not falling on the leaves. The signal for watering is the drying of the topsoil to a depth of 1–1.5 cm. Watermelons love dry air, so there is no need to spray them.
The watermelon root is long and adapted to extract water from the lower layers of the soil.
Water should be settled and warm. It is better to keep it in the same place where watermelons grow so that there is no temperature difference when watering. The earth in pots is always kept loose.
top dressing
For the entire seedling period, watermelons are given only 1-2 top dressings. The first one a week after germination is needed if the plants receive enough light and heat, but grow poorly, real leaves grow slowly, they are small. This means that the soil taken for planting turned out to be poor, it has few nutrients. The second top dressing is done a week before planting in a permanent place, so that the seedlings gain strength and endure stress more easily.
Top dressing seedlings of watermelons - table
Fertilizers are applied after watering, on damp ground. Pour about 1-2 tablespoons into each pot.
Photo: Fertilizers for dressing seedlings
Complex fertilizer Fertika Lux (powder) Agricola Forward - concentrate for feeding seedlings 
Uniflor Growth - top dressing for rapid development green mass
hardening
If watermelons continue to grow in the open field, then hardening is necessary. Seedlings are taken out to the balcony or open the window. You can not immediately expose young watermelons under direct Sun rays and wind. For the first "walk" choose a place shaded and protected from the wind. Gradually intensity and time sunbathing increase from 15 minutes to a whole day.
On outdoors the soil in pots dries out faster, which means that you will have to check its condition and water it more often.
Seedling problems and solutions - table
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
| Seeds cannot shed their shell | Seeds are sown finely or the seed is weak, underdeveloped | Moisten the shell with water several times a day, the watermelon will drop it by itself. You can not pull the dry shell with your hands, the shoot may die. |
| Uneven seedlings | The seeds were sown at different depths, covered with heavy soil from above, a crust formed. | Use loose soil for watermelon seedlings, sow seeds at the same depth. |
| The seedlings died, the stems near the ground darkened | Seedlings fell ill with a black leg. Among the reasons: excessive watering, contaminated land, a cold window sill. |
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| Not enough light or nutrients |
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| Pests have appeared | Aphids or spider mite can switch to watermelons from indoor flowers or from the land in which they winter. |
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| The leaves are turning yellow | Not enough food | Feed with Agricola, Fertika Lux or Uniflor. |
| Colorless (white) spots on the leaves | Sunburn is often given to seedlings that are first taken out of the room under the bright sun. | Start hardening on a cloudy day or shade watermelons, for example, with paper. On the windowsill, the leaves of the seedlings should not touch the glass. |
| White mold on the surface of the soil | Mold spores are found in the air of any room. It develops on waterlogged soil with a lack of ultraviolet rays. | To loosen, sprinkle the ground with crushed coal, wood ash, spray with a weak solution of brilliant green (1 drop per 1 liter of water). |
When to plant watermelons in a permanent place?
The main rule of the gardener is to plant seedlings in the evening or on a cloudy day. Watermelons should be well watered 3-5 hours before. Of course, there should be no more frosts in the morning. A favorable temperature for watermelons is required: during the day +20 ... +30 ⁰C, at night not lower than +16 ... +18 ⁰C. The first 2-3 days the seedlings are shaded.
