Agricultural technology for growing watermelons in open ground and in a greenhouse in Siberia, planting and care

Watermelons are a low-maintenance crop that is easy to grow. But the plants are also heat-loving, and give a good harvest only when grown in hot southern regions. Growing watermelon varieties in Siberia is rarely successful. The climate in such regions is unfavorable for melons. It is possible to grow berries in a greenhouse, but even so the yield is not always high.

The best varieties for growing watermelons in Siberia

Siberia has short and cold summers; the climatic conditions in these regions are not suitable for growing melons in garden beds. You can only grow watermelons in a greenhouse. It is also important to choose a variety that is suitable for cultivation in unfavorable climates.

Varieties for planting in Siberia:

1. Ogonek - the fruits of this variety grow small, up to 2 kilograms. The variety does not require care and tolerates cold summers. Ogonyok is considered one of the most common varieties in Siberia.
2. The Ultra Early variety is suitable for planting in Siberia. The growing season of this variety is 80 days. Watermelons have juicy and sugary pulp. The fruits do not grow large, and few side shoots are formed on the bush. Suitable for growing in glass greenhouses.
3. Super early Dyutina is a variety with large watermelons, weighing from 4 to 6 kilograms. The plant is an early plant; the growing season is only 60 days. The peel is thin, green in color, with light green stripes. The shelf life after collection is no more than a month.

Before planting crop seeds, you need to carefully read the packaging. It must indicate that the crop is suitable for cultivation in unfavorable climatic zones.

How to grow watermelons in a greenhouse

Every summer resident who wants to grow large and sweet fruits needs to know the secrets of growing berries in a greenhouse in Siberia. It is preferable to build a greenhouse from polycarbonate.

It should be located in sunny areas, protected from strong winds. The berry does not tolerate strong winds.

You need to grow only those varieties that can withstand cold weather.Ordinary varieties of watermelons will not be able to produce a harvest in such conditions. The optimal height of the greenhouse is 1.7 meters. Watermelon vines often climb upward along the trellises.

Calculation of germination time

To find out how to properly care for plants, you must first calculate the timing of seedling germination. In most cases, you do not need to calculate the dates yourself. The germination period is indicated on the seed package. The timing of emergence of seedlings depends on the variety of watermelon.

Planting seeds

Watermelon seeds should be planted in open ground in the last days of May, when the soil has warmed up by more than 14 degrees. Before planting the seeds, water the soil generously.

Then you need to make holes in the soil 50 centimeters wide. The depth of the hole is 10 centimeters. The distance between the holes is about 1 meter. If watermelons are planted in peat cups, then they are planted with them. The edges of the cups should protrude 1-2 centimeters from the ground. For the first few weeks, the seedlings should not be touched. You need to cover the bushes with polyethylene and leave them. Just make sure they don't start to fade.

Growing seedlings

Before growing watermelons in a greenhouse, some summer residents prefer to first plant seeds at home and grow seedlings. Before growing seedlings, planting material must be germinated:

1. Dilute a weak solution of potassium permanganate in a saucer.
2. Place the seeds in the water and cover the saucer with plastic.
3. After 2-3 days, shoots appear.
4. After this, the planting material is planted in the soil.

If you pre-germinate the planting material, watermelon sprouts will appear much faster.

Care and watering

Watermelons always form a bush. As the bush grows, the side branches need to be pinched. You will have to do this often. You need to leave 3-4 strong and powerful lashes, cut off the rest. The main thing is not to touch the central shoot.

Plants need to be constantly looked after. It is important to pay attention to watering.

During active growth, bushes require a lot of liquid. An automatic waterer is installed in the greenhouse and turned on daily for 3-4 hours.

Harvesting

You can understand that it’s time to harvest based on several criteria:

1. The peel of the fruit does not press through when pressed.
2. A yellow spot remains where the peel and soil touch.
3. If you knock on a watermelon, you hear a dull sound.
4. The stalk has dried up.

All these signs indicate that the berries need to be removed from the site.

Rules for growing melons in open ground

Growing melons and melons in the country is not difficult. The only problem is that watermelons grow well in open ground only in the south. It is very difficult to do this in Siberia.

Choosing a resistant, fast-ripening variety

First of all, preference should be given to early ripening varieties of watermelon. Such a feature as early ripening will allow you to grow the crop before the onset of cold weather.

The following varieties are suitable for growing in Siberia:

1. Kholodok is a mid-early berry variety that is suitable for cultivation in cold regions. The growing season is 80-100 days. The fruits reach a weight of up to 4 kilograms, the shape is slightly elongated, oval. The bushes are characterized by long vines growing up to 5 meters.
2. Siberian Lights is another mid-early variety, the fruits of which begin to ripen 80-100 days after planting the seeds in open ground. It is immune to Fusarium wilt. The fruits are small, weighing from 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms. The peel is thin, dark green in color. The pulp is sweet and juicy.
3. You can plant the Raspberry Sweet variety in open ground.An unpretentious variety that produces yields when grown in unfavorable climates. The fruits are small, up to 1.5 kilograms. The pulp is sweet, sugary.

Despite the fact that the varieties are suitable for growing in open ground, it is preferable to plant watermelons in a greenhouse.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Planting material is planted in open ground at the end of May - early June. The main thing is that the soil warms up to more than 15 degrees. If you plant seeds in cold soil, they will not sprout. The place for planting seedlings should be located in a sunny area. Bushes require a lot of space, so the beds need to be allocated areas at least 3 meters long and wide.

Before planting, you need to dig up the soil and add 4-5 kilograms of rotted manure. It is not advisable to use fresh manure. In addition, you should apply a complex fertilizer that contains minerals. Planting watermelon seedlings in open ground needed exactly the same as in a greenhouse. There are no differences in the planting method.

Watering and fertilizing

Particular attention is paid to the formation of a watermelon bush. To maximize yield, side shoots should be trimmed regularly. Only strong and powerful lashes should be left. The main thing is not to touch the central lash.

During the period of seedling growth, bushes require a lot of liquid. Watermelons prefer sprinkling. This watering is carried out using a hose with a nozzle.

You need to water the beds in the evening, after sunset. Water the beds every other day. When the inflorescences begin to bloom, stop watering. It is important to ensure that the soil does not become waterlogged.

To increase productivity, fertilizing is important. Nitrogen is used as mineral fertilizers. Such fertilizers are necessary to stimulate growth.Urea is sometimes used instead of nitrogen. You also need to add phosphorus and potassium to the soil. Organic fertilizers include manure, yeast infusions, wood ash and bird droppings.

Harvesting berries

Berries begin to be harvested when they reach biological maturity. According to the rules of agricultural technology, ripe watermelons should have a thick rind and a dried stalk. To keep the crop longer, it should be kept in a dark, cool room. But watermelons cannot be stored for more than a month, even if all conditions are met. Especially early ripening varieties. You need to lay a thin layer of straw on the floor, and then lay out the watermelons. Fruits with cracks should be eaten immediately. They will not be stored for long.

Some summer residents store watermelons in trenches, but this method is suitable for those who live in the southern regions. In Siberia, night frosts occur early and can ruin the harvest.

What difficulties might you encounter?

Since Siberia is considered an unfavorable region for growing melons, summer residents who decide to plant watermelons face a number of difficulties. Some of them cannot be solved.

First of all, it is important to understand that summer is short in Siberia. And hot sunny days are never enough for successful cultivation of melons. In such conditions, only early varieties that are not very sweet are grown. The watermelon will be small in size. It will not be possible to grow large fruits in such a climate in any case. Late varieties, which are considered the sweetest, are also impossible to cultivate in Siberia.

It is possible to successfully cultivate berries only in a greenhouse. In open ground, there is a high probability that the plants will be weak. And few ovaries will form. Growing watermelons in Siberia, although possible, is problematic.