Technology for growing square watermelons with your own hands at home

In August, the time comes for ripe and juicy watermelons. The pulp of the fruit contains a large amount of nutritional vitamins and microelements. Regular consumption of fruits will help cleanse the body and, at the same time, lose excess weight. Traditionally, everyone is accustomed to the fact that the berry has a round or oval shape. But more and more often you can see a square watermelon in markets.

The advantage of this shape of watermelon and the difference from the round one

Everyone is accustomed to the fact that watermelon is a round berry or, in extreme cases, oval. But in the last few years, you can see cubic watermelons on the market. According to the characteristics, this is the same berry, only of a different shape. There are no differences between cubic and round berries, except for the shape.

Square watermelons have been around for several years. For the first time, the Japanese managed to give the fruit a square shape. The advantages of such berries are that in this form the fruits are easier to transport. They take up less space during transport. This is the only advantage of square watermelons compared to round ones.

Secrets of growing

Growing watermelons in open ground is not difficult. The only limitation is that this crop does not grow in every climate. More precisely, berries can only be grown in the southern regions, where summers are hot and long. Even in the central parts it will not be possible to grow large fruits.

Seed selection

One of the most expensive watermelons is the Densuke variety. This berry is distinguished by an unusual dark green tint of the peel, which appears black from a distance. Before planting watermelons, you need to choose the right variety.

If the variety has to be grown in the central regions, then preference should be given to zoned varieties. Such seeds are adapted to climatic conditions and produce a good harvest.

In the southern regions, any varieties are grown. Early varieties of watermelons are distinguished by watery pulp. They don't taste very sweet. Only late varieties of berries are sweet. In the south, seeds are immediately planted in open ground. In other regions, they first grow seedlings at home and then transplant them to a permanent place.

Sowing and growing seedlings

Since square watermelons are no different from regular ones, they are grown in the same way. Particular attention is paid to sowing seeds.First, the seeds are germinated.

In a saucer you need to dilute a weak solution of potassium permanganate and transfer the seeds there. Place the saucer in a plastic bag, fill it with some air and tie it. After a few days, shoots begin to appear. After this, the seeds are planted.

Each seed is placed in a separate container. To prepare the soil you need to take:

• sand, peat and turf soil (in equal proportions);
• 100 grams of double superphosphate;
• 50 grams of ammonium nitrate.

Mix all ingredients thoroughly and pour into glasses. Plant the seeds. The first shoots appear after a few weeks. Planting melons in open ground is carried out after the weather is warm outside and there are no frosts at night.

Care, watering and fertilization

After planting in open ground and during the period of active growth, melons and melons require a large amount of liquid. The preferred type of watering is rain, that is, using a hose. They also install an automatic sprinkler and turn it on for 3-4 hours in the evenings. Watering should be done only in the evening.

The amount of watering is reduced after the flowering period. Then they switch to drip irrigation.

Fertilizers are applied at the root of watermelons. One bush requires 300-500 milliliters of fertilizing. Afterwards the soil is watered with warm water. Organic fertilizers include mullein and chicken manure. As for mineral ones, you need to use complex ones, which contain all the necessary elements.

Mixtures prepared according to traditional methods are also used as fertilizer. For example, yeast-based feeding is considered the most effective.To prepare yeast-based fertilizer, you need to take 3 liters of water, 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar and a package of yeast. Mix all ingredients and leave to ferment for 3-5 days. Before watering, dilute 200 milliliters of fertilizer with 1 liter of water and water the plants at the roots. Such fertilizing promotes the growth of bushes and abundant formation of ovaries.

Formation of the fetus

You can grow a square watermelon only in the southern regions, where summer comes early and ends late, and the weather is hot throughout the season. The technology for growing a square watermelon is quite simple, and such fruits can be obtained even at home. Those summer residents who live in the south can experiment and grow square fruits.

How to prepare a mold for a watermelon

Preparing a mold for a watermelon at home is not difficult. The main thing is to have the necessary materials on hand. This is the only difficulty that summer residents face in the process of growing a square fruit.

Required materials and tools

In order to make a structure for forming berries, you will need the following devices and materials:

• several sheets of transparent material (thickness 0.5-0.8 millimeters);
• corners for connecting the structure;
• screws with nuts;
• furniture hinges;
• hacksaw (if you don’t have a hacksaw at hand, a jigsaw will do);
• drill;
• screwdriver;
• ruler;
• marker.

Once all the materials have been prepared, you can begin assembling the form.

Construction process

Making a square shape for a watermelon with your own hands:

• Several squares measuring 20x20 are cut out of plastic;
• where the squares touch, they are connected using screws;
• on one side of the resulting box, drill a hole for the watermelon vine;
• The top of the box is secured with hinges and fasteners.

The main thing is that the plastic box is strong enough and able to withstand the pressure of the watermelon growing inside. Fruits should be placed in prepared boxes after they reach the size of an apple.

Harvesting and storage rules

There are several ways in which watermelon maturity is determined:

1. The skin of a ripe watermelon becomes shiny and glossy.
2. To determine the ripeness of the berry, you need to press hard on the peel; if it presses through, then the watermelon is not ripe. And if it remains solid, then you can harvest.
3. The stalk should be dry.
4. There should be a bright yellow spot where the watermelon touches the soil.
5. Before cutting the berry, you need to tap the peel. If the sound is muffled, then the berry is ripe.

After the melon crop has been harvested, the berries must be properly stored so that they remain intact longer. They should be stored in a dark room where open sunlight does not penetrate. Only late varieties of melons are suitable for long-term storage.

Such fruits are cut with a sharp knife or pruning shears. In this case, the stalk must be left at least 5 centimeters long.

The harvested crop is placed on a thin layer of straw. Only healthy fruits without mechanical damage are suitable for long-term storage. If there are cracks in the peel, then the fruit will not be stored for a long time.

Square berries are often kept in earthen trenches. The recess is covered with straw or hay, then the crop is laid out. After this, they are covered with straw again and covered with soil on top.