How to properly pinch watermelons, diagram for open ground and greenhouses, planting and care

Melons grow better in southern countries, where temperatures are constantly high. However, breeders have developed many varieties that adapt well to almost any climate. Thereby growing watermelons Gardeners from different countries can do this. To get a high-quality harvest, you need to familiarize yourself with how to properly pinch watermelons.

Why do you need to pinch watermelons?

Many gardeners are interested in whether pinching is necessary when growing melons. It is no secret that watermelon bushes can be grown in different climatic conditions, so the agricultural technology of such a plant has its own characteristics. For example, if you grow it in the southern regions or in warm countries, then pinching is not attractive. In such conditions, the fruits ripen much better and faster. Therefore, even without removing excess shoots, the yield will not deteriorate.

Experienced gardeners advise taking more careful care of the bushes and pinching them when growing in the northern regions. The climate in such regions contributes to the endless formation of shoots and fruits that do not have time to ripen due to lack of heat and nutritional components.

Even a warm summer will not help speed up the ripening of a large number of watermelon fruits in the northern regions. Therefore, you need to regularly pinch plants and remove excess shoots. Shortening the vines promotes the accumulation of nutritional components in the plant that will be used when watermelons ripen. If the shoots are not pruned in a timely manner, many watermelons will become attached to the bushes and will not have time to grow and ripen.

When you pinch a watermelon

To carry out the procedure correctly, you need to determine the exact time when it is best to pinch the seedlings. Gardeners do not advise doing this too late or too early, so as not to damage the bushes and impair the development and ripening of the crop.

Some people prefer to trim off excess stems immediately after the seedlings have begun to shade each other.

Most often, bushes grow during flowering and the formation of the first fruits.In this case, the shoots on which watermelons have not begun to form are removed. This will help prevent overcrowding of seedlings, which would interfere with the normal development of the bushes.

When pruning, you should not remove too many leaves or shoots, as the plant needs photosynthesis, which is impossible without green leaves. Therefore, you should always leave at least 2-4 leaves on each seedling. If the bush is already large and has mature berries, you will have to leave more leaves.

Sometimes gardeners start pinching 2-3 weeks after planting is completed. During this time, several true leaves appear on the seedlings. In this case, all the leaves of the plant are removed and only the central shoot is left. Such early pinching accelerates the growth of watermelon seedlings several times and promotes further development of the berries.

Basic rules for the pinching procedure

Some inexperienced gardeners claim that shortening the stems negatively affects the growth and ripening of the crop. However, such problems may arise if the correct pinching pattern for the plant was not used. Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic recommendations for the procedure in advance.

When pruning shoots, it is important to remember that the berries should only appear on the main stem.

Therefore, additional shoots must be removed, as they interfere with the normal development of the crop. When pinching watermelon seedlings, you need to monitor the distance between the fruits and the remaining leaves. They should be 20-25 centimeters apart from each other. This distance is enough so that the fruits are not shaded and ripen quickly.

There are several recommendations that must be followed when shortening shoots:

1. One main stem is left on the bush, which should have no more than 7-8 large leaves.
2. It is recommended to shorten the stems only after flowering, when the diameter of the imposed fruits is 7-10 millimeters.
3. After the first pinching, special supports for garters are placed between the watermelons so that the bushes do not break.
4. When the ripening process of the berries has completed, pinching is contraindicated, as this can worsen the shelf life of the collected fruits and their taste.

By following the listed rules for pruning watermelon seedlings, you can reap a tasty and large harvest.

Forming a watermelon in a greenhouse

When growing watermelons in a greenhouse or outdoors, be sure to form seedlings. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the features of this procedure in advance in order to perform it correctly.

In one stem

This method is considered the most universal, as it is used when growing conventional and hybrid varieties. To form a bush into one stem, you need to tie the central vine to a support and remove all unnecessary shoots. When fruits begin to form on the bush, only 4-5 berries are left and the rest are removed.

Vertically, with fruiting on second-order shoots

This method is more complex, since you have to regularly monitor the growth and flowering of the stepsons. When forming bushes, the main lashes are tied to the supports with a strong rope. Then the lower stepsons are pinched and shoots that do not have “female” flowers are removed. The remaining stems are pinched so that they have 2-3 leaves.

In the open ground

In open ground conditions, it is not necessary to tie up the bushes, so they are grown spread out. With this method of growing, it is difficult to constantly monitor the flowers, since they are intertwined.Therefore, gardeners advise pinching the main stem at the initial stage of growth so that the bush does not grow too much.

After the ovaries grow

This method is used when watermelon bushes need to grow freely. Pinching of shoots is carried out only in the upper part so that they are within the melon plant. Bushes are formed after the appearance of 2-3 berries with a diameter of 5-7 centimeters. Shoots that do not have ovaries are removed. In this case, the remains of the plants are left on the ground and not pulled out, so as not to accidentally harm the lashes.

With fruiting on shoots of the third order

This method is used if watermelon bushes are grown in the northern regions. The shoots are pruned after the fifth leaf appears on the seedlings. When second-order stems appear on the seedlings, they are cut off above the fifth leaf. Then shoots of the third order will begin to grow, on which berries will be imposed. 3-4 fruits are left on each bush, and the rest are removed.

Caring for plants after pinching

Bushes after pinching need special care, which will help improve productivity. When growing watermelons, periodically inspect the fruits and make sure that they do not come into contact with the soil surface. To prevent them from touching the ground, you can cover the soil with a small layer of straw, which will protect the berries from rotting. Like other plants, watermelons need regular fertilizing of the soil. To do this, add liquid mullein, manure and other organic fertilizers to the ground.

Also, to increase productivity and improve the ripening of berries, superphosphate with potassium is added to the soil.

Don’t forget about the watering that watermelon seedlings need.Watering is carried out at least twice a week in dry weather. This will prevent the soil from drying out quickly.

Conclusion

Some gardeners who grow watermelons experience poor plant yields. To get more tasty and juicy fruits, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of pinching bushes and regularly remove excess shoots.