Watermelon is a southern heat-loving crop. Until recently, the fruit was grown only in the south. Professional farmers in northern latitudes know that even if watermelon plantings develop and grow, they are unlikely to be able to enter the full stage of maturity. But thanks to the experiments of breeders, dramatic changes took place. Sweet southern berries are successfully grown in the North, and the Siberian Lights watermelon is a prime example of this.
History of selection of the Siberian Lights variety
Humanity has been cultivating watermelons for thousands of years. The annual plant began to be cultivated in sultry Egypt. Juicy sweet fruits, along with seeds, moved with traders across continents and settled on the southern African continent. Centuries passed, farmers all over the world studied the agricultural technology of fruit crops. We have learned how to fruitfully grow melons in the southern territories of our country.
Gardeners living in the northern regions of the country made numerous attempts to grow a heat-loving plant, but all efforts resulted in failure. Watermelons did not have time to ripen in too harsh a climate. Selection does not stand still; scientists, thanks to numerous experiments, have learned to develop cold-resistant varieties of watermelons that can ripen at an early age. Siberian Lights is a prime example.
Characteristics and taste of the berry
Early ripening varieties differ significantly from many hybrid varieties of watermelons. This is evidenced only by positive reviews and characteristics. Ripening time is suitable in the period from 80 to 95 days. Planting melons and melons is resistant to fusarium. They grow well after potatoes, cabbage, and legumes. Appropriate care significantly increases the amount of harvested crop, which sometimes exceeds established standards.
The taste of the berries is sweet and rich, the flesh is bright with a dark red tint. The fruits grow in the shape of a dark green ball with faint black and greenish stripes. The peel is quite thin and light. The fruit can weigh from one to two and a half kilograms. The presentation is always at a high level and is not lost during long-term transportation. The crop is grown in open ground and in greenhouses.
In what regions can it grow?
Breeders, studying the nature of heat-loving melon crops, have developed a technology for growing them in areas of the country with a short warm period. Early ripening, cold-resistant varieties with a short growing season and the ability to produce crops in the Moscow region, the Urals and the northernmost regions of Russia have been developed. The Siberian Lights watermelon grows successfully and bears fruit even in the short Siberian summer.
Reviews from gardeners prove that it has become possible to grow melons in cold climates, and the process produces fairly good results every year.
Rules for planting and growing varieties
To growing watermelon brought only positive results, you need to stock up on good quality seeds. The material offered by specialized retail outlets is ideal for the process. The grains harvested at the enterprise have undergone thorough screening, processing, and disinfection. They are suitable for planting and do not require additional actions.
The best material for germination is selected by soaking. Good grains sink to the bottom of the vessel, empty, unsuitable grains float up. To prevent diseases, selected seeds are treated with hot water, the temperature of which is about sixty degrees. Next, for some time they are placed in a pink composition of potassium permanganate or in a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide.
To harvest in Siberian conditions, first determine the approximate time of planting the seedlings in the ground. Only after this the grains are lowered into the ground.
The seeds will take about five days to hatch. The age of seedling material suitable for planting ranges from a month or more.The grown plants are transferred to a permanent place, and each gardener independently determines under what conditions the crop will produce the best harvest.
In greenhouses
In the regions of Siberia there is always a long frosty winter and a short but very hot summer. Melon crops that grow measuredly and slowly are not always able to adapt to changing climatic conditions. When planting early-ripening watermelon varieties for seedlings, many gardeners prefer greenhouse growing technology.
Greenhouses are equipped with thick transparent film. To enhance the greenhouse effect, wrap it in two or three layers. Capital buildings made of modern polycarbonate material are more convenient and reliable. The sprouts are planted in well-prepared soil, carefully dug, loosened, fertilized with mineral components and organic matter.
Outdoors
For growing watermelons in the regions of Siberia the main thing is the correctly selected variety. Based on reviews from avid gardeners, Siberian Lights is an ideal option. In this case, little attention is paid to the size of the fruits, since in cold climates the fruits do not grow large. An important positive quality of the variety is the small number of days from setting to ripening.
In a short summer, these are the main points, and only thanks to them can you count on the future harvest.
If you want to grow watermelons on your property, you must adhere to the following basic rules:
- Only hybrids adapted to the climatic conditions of the region are selected for cultivation:
- agricultural technology is carried out strictly observing the basic requirements.
The weather plays a big role, as it is impossible to both predict and determine with accuracy. The positive results of the harvest, external and taste characteristics of the fruit depend only on it.
How to grow a good harvest, proper care and fertilizers
Watermelon Siberian Lights is an early ripening variety. The standard time frame from germination to ripening is eighty days. This is the most suitable hybrid for areas that lack sunny days. At the initial stage, seedlings are grown for a month or more, and then, at an almost accelerated pace, the growing process itself is carried out. The soil for planting is prepared in advance. At the end of autumn, it is plowed up, trenches are made, and all the necessary nutrients are laid out in them.
With the onset of spring, organic matter is added to the rotted layer, and a month later seedlings are planted.
Seedlings are placed in open ground when the ground has warmed up to fifteen degrees plus. To protect the plants from possible spring frosts, the seedlings are covered with film, and after a couple of weeks they are additionally fertilized with liquid organic fertilizers. The Siberian Lights hybrid does not require frequent watering, which is stopped a month and a half before harvest.
You have to pollinate the plants yourself; they do it with a “male” flower. It is torn off and for seconds connected to the inflorescence of a woman's accessory. To obtain a good harvest, control the number of ovaries and shoots. For early ripening varieties, several ovaries are enough per bush. A larger quantity will not allow the fruits to ripen.
Disease Prevention
Watermelon, like all cultivated plants, is subject to insect attacks and infectious diseases. Every gardener, trying to get a good harvest, must not forget about preventive measures. The first prevention measures are carried out with planting material.Before planting in the ground, the seeds are kept for some time in Bordeaux mixture or in a Fundazol solution.
After planting, the plants are periodically sprayed with a mixture of wood ash and water; tobacco dust is also good at ridding melons of aphids. When serious infections or insect infestations occur, fungicidal agents are used.
Harvesting and storing the watermelon harvest
The ripeness of watermelons is determined by characteristics characteristic of the culture:
- the amniotic cord began to dry out;
- from lying on the ground for a long time, a wide yellow spot appeared on its side;
- when lightly tapped, the fruit produces the ringing sound of a ripe watermelon;
- ripeness has arrived;
The fruits are stored for a long time, the process depends on the amount of harvest and the storage location.
