Description of the watermelon variety “Photon”, characteristics and subtleties of cultivation, yield

One of the favorite delicacies of people around the world during the summer is watermelon. Nothing refreshes and quenches thirst more than juicy and tasty pulp. You don’t have to buy watermelon in a store, because the fruit can be grown in your own garden and enjoyed at any time. We'll look at the watermelon known as the Photon. Let's find out its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the rules of cultivation.

Characteristics and advantages of the variety

Description of the benefits of the variety:

1. Gives a good harvest. With proper care, up to 7 kilograms of product can be collected from one square meter.
2. Accelerated growth and maturation rates.
3. Not susceptible to most diseases.
4. If necessary, it can be transported over long distances.
5. It does not require special agricultural equipment for cultivation.

Characteristics:

• large fruit;
• the minimum weight of a ripe watermelon is 4 kilograms;
• juicy pulp of bright pink color;
• oblong shape;
• green color of the fruit with pronounced dark stripes.

History of origin and regions of growth

Watermelon first became known in South Africa. Subsequently, thanks to its taste, it quickly spread throughout the world. Today, there are many varieties cultivated for cultivation in different regions.

The “Photon” variety arose as a result of the breeding of hybrid products that can grow not only in hot countries. This watermelon is grown both in the southern and northern regions of the country.

When should you start planting watermelons?

Any harvest depends on the timing of planting, and watermelon is no exception. “Photon” is best planted in late April or early May, since the ripening period is 85 days.

Thus, maximum productivity is achieved, and the watermelon fruits will be ripe and juicy.

Berry planting technology

Each product grown in the garden has its own planting and cultivation technology. Watermelon is no exception, and to get a positive effect you need to follow the following algorithm:

• sow seeds to harden them before planting in open ground;
• grow seedlings;
• form and tie up sprouts;
• harvest.

At each stage there are nuances that we will consider separately.

Sowing seeds

The seeds are planted in separate containers and grown for 10 days, until the first shoots appear - this will allow the seedlings to harden. As soon as the seeds have sprouted, the containers are removed to a sunny place, since watermelon is a heat-loving plant. In this state, they continue to grow for another 20 days, after which they are planted in a summer cottage.

Experienced gardeners advise immersing the seeds in hot water for a quarter of an hour before planting. The water temperature should not exceed 60 o. Alternatively, instead of immersing in liquid, the seeds are wrapped in damp gauze or a napkin. The best soil for growing seedlings is considered to be a mixture of peat, soil and sand. Note! Ready seedlings are best planted in open ground.

Growing seedlings

To properly grow seedlings, you will need:

1. Choose a place that will be illuminated for the maximum possible period of time. The optimal option is when the seedlings are exposed to sunlight for at least 10 hours.
2. Watering should be plentiful, but do not overdo it.
3. Loosen the soil around the sprout so it will receive more nutrients.
4. The temperature in the room with seedlings should be maintained at 23 o. Deviations of a couple of degrees up or down are possible.
5. After 12 days from the moment the sprouts appear, organize feeding the seedlings with a special complex of non-organic fertilizers.

Shaping and tying

The formation of seedlings is an important stage in growing watermelon. The thing is that sprouts constantly form shoots on which fruits are formed.If the excess is not removed, the plant will not have the opportunity to feed all the branches. You'll end up with lots of long shoots that produce little watermelons. To avoid this, choose the right pattern, following which you will shape and tie the watermelon.

There are two most common schemes:

1. In each bush, one lash and one fruit are left, which was the first to form. The remaining side shoots are removed, and the leaves that are further from the fruit are also pinched. This method is advantageous in that you are guaranteed to grow a good, large fruit, and it will take much less time and effort. Agronomists say that it is easier to grow several dozen bushes with one fruit than 10, but with 2-3.
2. If you want to take a chance and try to grow 3 fruits on one bush, leave the main vine and two side ones to grow. It is best to leave the side vines that grow near the third and fourth leaves. When the lashes are finally formed and fruits are formed on them, you need to organize plucking over the fifth leaf from each first fruit on the lash.

Harvesting

The harvest can be harvested in late August-early September. A more accurate time is determined by the presence of the following signs:

• the fruit has a rich aroma;
• the pattern on the peel stands out clearly;
• if you knock on a watermelon, you hear a dull sound;
• The tails of the watermelons are starting to dry out a little.

These signs indicate that the crop is ripe and ready to harvest.

How to create conditions for good yields

Not everything will depend on you, since climate and weather will have a great influence on the quality of the harvest.To increase your chances of achieving the expected result, you will need:

• water the beds correctly, maintaining optimal humidity;
• Fertilize the soil in a timely manner, saturating it with the elements necessary for the growth and formation of the fruit.

Watering and humidity

Watermelon has a strong root system, so watering the beds is not a serious problem. The plant does not need to be watered often, the main thing is to do it abundantly. For 1 square meter, watering equal to 3 buckets of water is considered sufficient. During the formation of ovaries, moisten the soil at least once every 2 weeks. When the ovaries have formed and the fruits have begun to ripen, the frequency of watering is reduced.

Important! After each watering, it is necessary to slightly loosen the soil around the plant.

Timely fertilizer

Timely fertilization of the crop is necessary at all stages of cultivation. There are 5 such stages in total:

• fertilizing the soil before planting watermelon seeds;
• during transplantation of mature seedlings into open or closed ground;
• fertilizer during the flowering period;
• during fruit formation;
• in the process of their maturation.

When fertilizing the soil, follow these rules:

• It is advisable to feed the soil with mineral-based fertilizers;
• Fertilizers must contain elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus;
• during the flowering period of watermelon, it is important to focus on fertilizers containing a high potassium content;
• if longitudinal yellow stripes form on the fruits, this means a lack of boron in the soil.

These are general rules that will allow you to get a decent harvest. As a piece of advice, I would like to note that you should not overdo it with fertilizers either, as this will lead to undesirable consequences. Remember - everything should be in moderation!

What difficulties arise when caring for a watermelon?

The main difficulties when growing watermelon include the following things:

1. Competent selection of the site where the product will be grown. The soil should be light and freely permeable to moisture.
2. To protect watermelons from pests, you need to carefully weed the beds to remove weeds and mow excess grass around the area.
3. In case of sudden cold snaps or frost, take care to protect the fruits.
4. Excessive soil moisture will provoke the growth of pests. In case of prolonged rains, check the planting site periodically. There is a risk that a harmful fungus or aphid will grow on the fruits.

Otherwise, growing watermelons is not particularly difficult, and if you approach all stages competently and thoughtfully, you will end up with a tasty and juicy harvest.