About germinating watermelon seeds before planting: rules for soaking for planting

Is it necessary to germinate

Watermelon is characterized by high intensity of growth processes . At a temperature of 25-35ºС and sufficient soil moisture, the time from planting to germination is about 10 days.

However, such temperature values ​​are not typical for central Russia , especially in April-May. It will take a long time for sprouts from ungerminated seeds to emerge.

Sprouting is a simple and inexpensive technique for obtaining an earlier harvest of watermelons.

Benefits of the procedure

Sprouting allows you to get advantages in growing a heat-loving crop like watermelon:

• germination will be almost one hundred percent - you can select the strongest seedlings for planting.
• seedlings appear together - it is easier to care for seedlings when all plants are at approximately the same stage of development.
• The harvest date comes 1-2 weeks earlier.

It will be interesting:

When to harvest and how to store the crop

The harvest of “Astrakhan” watermelons always occurs in August and September. The ripeness of the berries is determined by the ringing sound when tapped and the dry stalk

It is important to harvest with the utmost care, otherwise even the slightest mechanical damage will not allow the berries to be well preserved. All fruits must be intact, without abrasions, bumps, cracks

The berries will be comfortable in storage at a temperature of +1–3 °C and a humidity of 80%. You also need to take care of ventilation in the cellar in time. The “Astrakhan” variety has good keeping quality. Experienced housewives manage to preserve its fruits intact until the New Year.

The secret of this lies in the microflora in which the watermelon is placed. It is covered with a thick layer of dry forest moss or thickly coated with paraffin or wax. Some summer residents share their experience of successfully storing fruits in a barrel of ash.

As a result of all your worries, you will receive a unique melon berry, which is not just tasty, but also a healthy delicacy.

Growing in a greenhouse

Since watermelons love light, there should be no trees or bushes near the greenhouse. The seedlings will stay here for about a month before planting the watermelons in open ground. During this time, the seedlings should not be influenced by cold air, so eliminate this possibility in advance. It is worth starting work in mid-spring. Prepare a suitable substrate. In the first option, take soil for seedlings and humus (1:3) and add fertilizers with nitrogen and potassium (a spoonful) and three tablespoons of fertilizers with phosphorus. In the second option, add about a spoonful of potassium sulfate and a glass of wood ash to a bucket of soil.

Drowned seeds are ideal for germination.
The next step is to plant them in separate, half-filled containers (about 10 cm in the crossbar) to a depth of 2 to 4 cm. Before germination begins, maintain the desired temperature: during the day at +23-+25°C, and at night – +18 °C.

After the sprouts appear, for 4-6 days it is necessary to reduce the temperature to a constant value of +18°C. In the future, maintain temperatures at +20-+25°C during the day and +16-+18°C at night.

Make sure that there is enough space between the containers and that the leaves of the plants do not touch. Provide adequate lighting: use lamps for 12-14 hours daily. Water the seedlings only with warm water, not often, but in large quantities. Try not to get on the leaves.

Growing at home

Growing seedlings at home is almost no different from growing them in a greenhouse. The same substrate and the same seed preparation are needed. Only, after planting in pots, they should be covered with plastic film, and after germination, it is better to place the sprouts in southern windows, where there is more light. There is also no difference in the required thermal and light conditions.

Before planting in open ground (7-10 days before), the seedlings should also be hardened off; to do this, you need to ventilate the plants and lower the temperature to +15-+17°C during the day and +12-+15°C at night.

How to germinate watermelon seeds

For planting on a summer cottage, it is better to use zoned early or mid-season varieties and hybrids.

The germination procedure consists of several stages , at each of which the recommendations should be strictly followed.

Stage 1: verification

For germination, select strong and complete seeds without damage or signs of deterioration (mold, stains).

To check the quality of the seed, a small test is carried out: 1 tbsp. l. table salt is dissolved in 0.5 cups of water, seeds are placed in the solution, those that float are thrown away. For further work, take watermelon seeds that have fallen to the bottom. They are washed with clean water and dried.

Stage 2: preparation

Preparation for germination includes several procedures:

1. Calibration _ Planting material is sorted into groups by size. Germination and emergence of seedlings in each group will be more friendly.
2. Etching . Disinfection is carried out with a 2% solution of potassium permanganate: 1 tsp. without top, dilute in 300 ml of water at room temperature. The seeds are placed in the solution for 20 minutes, then washed with running water. If the manufacturer of the planting material has carried out dressing (there is a warning about this on the packaging or the seeds are painted in a bright color), this procedure should be excluded.
3. Treatment with growth stimulants . This is an optional procedure, but to speed up germination and additionally saturate the sprouts with nutrients, you can use one of the preparations: potassium humate, Heteroauxin, Epin, Zircon. It is important to strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions. After treatment with stimulants, there is no need to rinse the seeds with clean water, just dry them.
4. Scarification is a violation of the integrity of the membranes to facilitate pecking of the sprout. Using fine-grit sandpaper, lightly grind down the nose of the seed. You need to act carefully so as not to damage the embryo.

Stage 3: germination

Before germination, prepared seeds are soaked for 10 minutes in hot (45-50ºC) water to soften the thick peel.

Lay out, leaving a distance between the seeds , on damp gauze folded in several layers. The workpiece is placed in a shallow flat dish and left in a room with a temperature of 20-30ºС. The gauze should be checked and moistened regularly. Planting material should always be on a damp substrate, but not floating in water.

Reference. To reduce the rate of moisture evaporation and create more favorable germination conditions, the container can be covered with film.

Why are seeds prepared for planting?

Special seed treatment is carried out before planting for a number of reasons:

• prepared seeds have better germination;
• they germinate faster and become ready for transplanting;
• immunity is strengthened, they tolerate diseases better;
• the number of barren flowers decreases.

Thus, seedlings obtained after preparatory work with seeds significantly improve their condition and health. The seedlings themselves are stronger, stronger, and adapted to growing in open ground. There is no need to prepare seeds that have undergone special preparation from the manufacturer. These are granulated and panned. If there is no shell, they must be processed.

Container for germination of seedlings.

Increased germination energy

Germination is the number of germinated seeds in relation to the total number. This indicator is measured as a percentage, if the germination rate is 80%, then out of 100 sown, 80 sprouted, and 20 simply died or turned out to be empty. Sprouted are those that have produced a root no less than the length of the root itself. Germination energy is the number of sprouted seeds in a certain period of time, usually 3-4 days. This indicator is determined similarly to the germination parameter and is also measured as a percentage. Growth vigor is the percentage of healthy shoots that hatched 10 days after sowing. These indicators are indicated on the packaging by the manufacturer; the higher these numbers, the better quality they are.

Protecting future plants from pests

To increase plant protection, seeds must be treated with an antiseptic. On their surface there may be dangerous pathogenic microorganisms that, when seeds germinate, can harm the young plant. It is for this purpose that such disinfection is carried out. Usually, to do this, they are soaked in potassium permanganate for several hours.

Prevention of mold damage

To prevent mold from appearing, you need to take some preventive measures. It is necessary to ventilate regularly. Until the first shoots appear, the seeds must be kept in greenhouse conditions. It needs to be ventilated every day to evaporate excess moisture. To do this, open the greenhouse slightly in the evening for 30-60 minutes.

If there are drops of condensation on the inside of the lid before closing, it must be wiped off. An important measure is compliance with the watering regime. When sowing, you need to moderately moisten the soil, it is better to do this with a spray bottle

The humidity level must be maintained at a moderate level, and the water itself must be settled and at room temperature. Mold is afraid of light. At a sufficient level, the risk of getting this phenomenon is significantly reduced.

How many days do soaked seeds germinate?

Watermelon seeds soaked according to all the rules will hatch in 5-7 days . The appearance of sprouts may be delayed if there was no prior soaking in hot water. Low temperatures can also slow down the germination rate.

The germination time of germinated seeds may vary depending on the temperature and soil moisture. Shoots appear on average 10 days after planting. If the weather is warm, the sprouts will rise above the ground a little earlier.

The best varieties for forcing seedlings

The work of breeders to develop new crop hybrids is ongoing. There are more than 1,200 varieties of watermelon on the seed market. For seedling cultivation, zoned representatives are selected that easily adapt to the conditions of the cultivation region. They are tolerant to the temperature regime of the zone, daily differences in values ​​on the thermometer

When purchasing seed material, pay attention to the timing of fruit ripening, immunity to pathogenic organisms, and method of pollination.

"Crimson Sweet"

It is represented by powerful plants that vegetate for 80 days. Mid-early watermelon is the result of the work of French breeders. It surpasses many varieties in its evenness, large size of rounded fruits, average weight of 9-11 kg, honey taste, dark red, crispy, veinless pulp. Suitable for fresh consumption.

It is easy to grow, does not require watering, and has a high yield of mass yield. Resistant to fusarium and anthracnose.

"Ogonyok"

Russian breeders bred a representative of the crop by crossing the “Sakharny” variety with an Asian hybrid. In warm areas, watermelon grows well in open ground without shelter. In the conditions of the Moscow region and Siberia, the variety bears fruit abundantly under a film or on unprotected beds if grown seedlings were planted. It is distinguished by its sweet taste, aroma and ease of care. On thin, branched vines, spherical berries weighing up to 3 kg ripen 80 days after emergence. The pulp is juicy and moderately sweet.

"Siberian Lights"

A cold-resistant variety that was bred for Siberia, as the name indicates. Thanks to tolerance to fusarium, even in short, cool summer conditions, the fruits have time to ripen (growing season up to 90 days). Externally, the berries look like a light green ball of regular shape, covered with black stripes. The pulp is tender and sweet in taste, bright red in color. The peel is thin. The weight of the fetus is 1-2.5 kg, sometimes reaching 5 kg.

"Ultra-early"

Watermelon is characterized by high disease resistance and unpretentiousness. But it is sensitive to soil temperature and excess fertilizing. On compact bushes with non-intensive branching of side shoots, fruits weighing from 4 to 6 kg ripen within 80 days after emergence. The berries have tender, sweet pulp. To increase productivity, they resort to the trellis cultivation method.

"Peasant"

Mid-season (105 days pass from germination to ripening) representative, which is suitable for cultivation in both unprotected and protected ground. The fruits are oval, striped, with a thick, durable peel. The pulp is red, granular-sugar, sweet. Weight – 5-8 kg or more. The variety is light-loving; with thick planting, productivity noticeably decreases. Value of the variety: high quality and excellent yield, perfectly refreshes and quenches thirst, removes cholesterol. The purpose is universal.

"Emperor's Hat"

Another cold-resistant hybrid with medium ripening periods. The fruits are elongated-oval, green with black stripes, weighing 6-8 kg. And single specimens can weigh 9-10 kg. The grainy, sweet flesh is intensely red. Sugar content – ​​up to 12%. The yield per plant with proper care is 15-25 kg. Watermelon is valued for its tolerance to pathogenic organisms, high shelf life, and suitability for long-term storage.

What to do if there are no sprouts

Seed material may not germinate if:

1. The seeds are old and not germinating . In this case, you need to purchase fresh ones and carry out all the procedures again.
2. The temperature regime is not maintained . Perhaps the seeds are not getting enough heat. We need to move them to a more suitable location.
3. Scarification and soaking in hot water were not carried out. You need to wait until the sprout breaks through the thick shell.
4. Not enough moisture . Perhaps the gauze with planting material periodically dries out, so you need to check and moisten the watermelon seeds more often.

It can be useful:

Home stage: growing watermelon seedlings

While the grains are germinating, we prepare the soil and boxes for moving them. What the seedlings need:

1. The first boxes are taken to be shallow - up to 12-14 cm in height and 10-12 cm in diameter. Regular flower pots and large plastic glasses will do. It is better not to use small cells, since the seedlings will bypass the picking stage and will immediately move to the site.
2. A good soil for watermelons is made from peat and humus, taken in equal proportions. An option is also possible with a purchased mixture for seedlings of fruit crops, for example, cucumbers.
3. In addition to the substrate, add a nutrient mixture of 1 tsp. superphosphate and 2 tbsp. l. wood ash. Proportions are indicated per 1 kg of soil.

What conditions need to be organized at home so that young watermelons fully develop and do not get sick:

The first days after planting we maintain the temperature to 30 degrees Celsius. When the shoots appear, we try to lower the temperature to 18 degrees for a couple of days

As soon as the sprouts adapt and their growth becomes noticeable, we control the temperature at 18 degrees at night and 22-25 during the day. Like many other seedling specimens, watermelons need plenty of sunlight. Therefore, we free up a spacious window sill on the southwest or east side for the boxes.

Everything is ready, now we transfer the sprouts into containers:

1. We fill the boxes with moist soil and make small depressions.
2. We move the seedlings, holding them with tweezers so as not to damage them.
3. The depth of immersion of a watermelon seed is 3 cm.
4. It is better to plant two seeds in one pot. Perhaps only one will germinate, although the germination rate of germinated material is almost 100%. If both hatch, then after a while we simply remove the weaker one.
5. Before the sprouts appear, cover the boxes with cling film.

Advice from Miss Clean magazine: Disinfection of soil and seedling pots should also be given attention

How to plant sprouted seeds

Once the seedlings reach 1-1.5 cm in length, they can be planted in the ground.

Watermelons are usually grown using seedlings . If weather conditions permit, you can plant the seeds directly in open ground.

Planting seedlings

Watermelons are suitable for cucumber substrate , which is sold in specialized stores. It’s easy to prepare the soil yourself: mix sand, turf soil and humus in equal parts.

To grow seedlings, small containers with a diameter of about 10 cm are used.

The pots are filled with soil , spilled with water, and a hole 3 cm deep is made. A seed is lowered into the hole and sprinkled with soil.

The container is covered with film and kept at a temperature not lower than 25ºС until shoots appear. Then the film is removed and the seedlings are moved to a well-lit place. If the weather outside is cloudy, you need to worry about additional lighting.

Seedlings do not need to be watered abundantly . It is enough to moisten with warm, settled water when the soil dries 1-1.5 cm deep. Plants will benefit from fertilizing with complex fertilizer a week after germination and about a week before transplanting to a permanent location.

A week before planting in the ground, the sprouts are hardened off, leaving them in the open air during the day.

Planting in open ground

The optimal time for planting seeds in open ground is the end of April or the beginning of May. To protect from the cold, the bed is covered with film. If the weather is cold and rainy, cover the plants at night until June.

For the development of lashes, watermelons require a large area . The distance between plants should be at least 1 m, between rows - 2 m.

Advice. To avoid damaging the delicate sprouts when planting, it is better to use tweezers.

Timing for sowing watermelon seeds in open ground

Planting watermelon is quite common by seed method. The timing of sowing crops depends on the weather and the time when the harvest is planned to be obtained. If spring has come early and the weather is warm, you can start sowing seeds from the end of April to mid-June. If the approach of warmth is delayed, then the sowing dates are shifted to the end of May.

When planting in the southern regions, you can start work from mid-April, taking into account weather conditions. For middle latitudes, watermelon seeds are sown in open ground only after stable warm weather has established. To determine the time of planting seeds, attention should be paid to the air temperature. The minimum temperature for the emergence of seedlings is considered to be +15˚С. In regions with an unpredictable climate, gardeners prefer growing watermelons using seedlings. In this case, the seeds are sown in the second half of April, and the mature seedlings are planted in open ground in May-early June.

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Useful tips

Experienced melon growers have many tricks to speed up germination and increase seed germination. Here are some of them :

1. Germination in sawdust . Soak the sawdust in boiling water, cool, and squeeze out. Place a layer of 4-5 cm in a shallow container, spread the seeds on it, cover with a 2-3 cm layer of sawdust on top. Cover with a bag and put in a warm place. Seedlings appear already on the fourth day.
2. Soaking in aloe juice . Seeds are soaked before germination for 12 hours in water with the addition of 1/5 aloe juice. This product improves germination and strengthens the immunity of seedlings.
3. Hardening . When the first signs of hatching appear, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator for 12 hours, then warmed up at room temperature for the same amount of time. The procedure is repeated 2-3 times during germination. This technique strengthens the resistance of future seedlings to unfavorable conditions.

What determines the germination of watermelons?

The basis for growing this heat-loving plant is favorable temperature and weather conditions.

Temperature

Watermelon seeds begin to germinate at a temperature of +12-15 ºС. Moreover, the warmer it is, the faster the shoots will appear. So, at a temperature of +25 ºС, seedlings appear already on the 5th day. If the temperature is +20-25 ºС, then sprouts can be seen on days 7-9. If the temperature is too low, the grains may not hatch at all.

Lighting

Watermelons require 12 hours of daylight. Therefore, for seedlings, choose southern, southwestern or southeastern window sills; if there is insufficient light, additional lighting is provided. An open, well-lit, unshaded place is also chosen for the garden bed.

The soil

This melon crop prefers sandy and sandy loam soils.

Composition of soil for seedlings No. 1:

• humus - 1 part;
• sand - 1 part;
• garden soil - 1 part.

Composition of soil for seedlings No. 2:

• turf soil - 1 part;
• sand - 2 parts;
• humus - 3 parts.

Ready-made soil for cucumbers or melons is also suitable.

Important! Soil, especially home-made soil, must be disinfected. To do this, you need to heat it in the oven and pour it with Fitosporin solution.

Boarding time

The time for sowing watermelon seeds depends on the climate of a particular region.

• In the south of the country, sowing can begin as early as April. If you are not sure and are afraid that night frosts may still strike, it is better to play it safe and sow in a greenhouse.
• In central Russia, you can sow in open ground in May, in a greenhouse earlier. The main thing is that the soil has time to warm up and dry out by this time.
• In Siberia and the Urals, the soil warms up and dries out by early to mid-June. The weather in these regions is unpredictable and frosts can occur even in summer, so it is recommended to plant watermelons under film or in a greenhouse.

Advice! To further warm the soil, you can pour boiling water over the bed and cover it with film.

Seed quality

When properly stored, watermelon seeds remain viable for up to 8 years. However, it is better to choose fresher grains that have been stored for no more than 3 years. Pay attention to the packaging; the higher the expiration date indicated on it, the fresher the seeds you will purchase.

Important! When preparing your own seed, its germination rate becomes maximum if the seeds have been stored for 2-3 years after collection.

Treatment before sowing

There are a number of measures that will prepare watermelon seeds for sowing, increase their germination rate and reduce germination time:

1. Calibration _ At this stage, good, even grains, close in size, are selected for more friendly shoots. To reject empty seeds, planting material is immersed in a saline solution, and the floating ones are removed.
2. Warming up . This stage activates seed growth, which promotes faster germination. The grains are kept for 30 minutes in water at a temperature of 50-60 ºС.
3. Scarification or disruption of the seed coat. Watermelon has a fairly strong shell, so breaking it promotes faster germination. The soaked seed is rubbed with its nose on sandpaper, the tip is bitten with teeth or cut with scissors.
4. Disinfection . For disinfection, use a weak solution of potassium permanganate, in which the planting material is kept for about 20 minutes, or a solution of Fitosporin (kept according to the instructions). The grains are then washed and dried.
5. Hardening allows you to make plants more resistant to temperature changes. The seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth and put in the refrigerator for 12 hours, then taken out to a warm place for 12 hours. The procedure is repeated 3-4 times.
6. Soaking . The seeds are disinfected and wrapped in a cloth moistened with water or a growth stimulant. The fabric must be kept moist throughout the seed germination period.

If the seeds have already been pre-treated by the manufacturer (coated), then there is no need to subject them to additional processing. Such seeds can be sown immediately.

Soil moisture

Water the seedlings as the top layer of soil dries. Watering is done abundantly, but carefully, allowing moisture to be absorbed. If the seeds have already sprouted, it is important that water does not get on the leaves.

Planting depth

Watermelons are sown in beds to a depth of 5-7 cm. If you sow deeper, it will be difficult for the sprouts to break through the soil and germination will slow down. The optimal depth for seedlings is 2-3 cm.

Fertilizers

If the seeds are planted in sufficiently fertile soil, then they will not need additional feeding. The seedlings are fed 10 days before planting in the ground with potassium fertilizer.

Crop rotation

Good predecessors for watermelons are perennial grasses, winter wheat, corn, and annual legumes.

It is not recommended to plant watermelons in beds where nightshade and pumpkin crops previously grew.

To protect watermelons from diseases, they should be planted in their original place no earlier than after 7-8 years.

Varieties

The following varieties are perfect for growing in central Russia: Delicatessen F1, Farmer F1, Beijing Joy F1, Coral, etc.

For the short summer of Siberia and the Urals, early varieties are suitable: Ogonyok, Sibiryak, Ultra Early, etc.

Do I need to germinate watermelon seeds before planting?

Germination of seed is not a mandatory procedure. It is necessary if the melon owner wants to speed up the process of plant development and get an earlier harvest. The fruits of a plant crop whose seeds were sprouted before planting ripen 2–3 weeks earlier than pumpkins grown from unsprouted seed material.

The advantages of the method include the fact that even at the stage of sprouting, you can select the strongest ones, from which in the future they will grow into strong plants that produce high-quality fruits, as well as get friendly seedlings and achieve almost 100% germination. However, this result can only be achieved if germination is carried out correctly.

When approximately do watermelons germinate under different conditions?

When sowing dry seeds and an air temperature of +25 ºС, watermelon seeds will germinate in 5-9 days. If temperatures fluctuate, seedlings can wait 10-12 days. And if the temperature drops below +15 ºС, the grains may not germinate at all.

Soaking the seeds before planting will speed up their germination by 2-3 days, and if you wait until the grains hatch, the seedlings will appear already 2-3 days after sowing.

Thanks to the emergence of many mid- and early-ripening varieties of watermelons, their cultivation has become accessible to Central Russia, the Urals and Siberia regions. You just need to choose a variety suitable for your region, choose a growing method (seedlings or non-seedlings), treat the seeds before sowing and provide plantings with protection from low temperatures.

How to properly germinate watermelon seeds at home

Germinating seed material at home is not difficult for anyone. The main thing is to prepare, create the correct temperature conditions and periodically inspect the seedlings. Preparation is carried out in several stages. First you need to discard the seeds.

The largest and strongest specimens are selected for sowing. Then you need to place the selected material in a saline solution (1 tbsp salt/0.5 tbsp water). For planting, only those specimens that remain at the bottom should be selected. Those that float to the surface must be thrown away.

Caring for melons and watermelons after planting

A good harvest is possible only if the plants are cared for promptly and carefully. Do not neglect loosening the soil, weeding, and watering. It is important to apply fertilizers on time and take measures against diseases.

Watering

Watermelons and melons are moisture-loving plants. Their juiciness depends on timely and sufficient watering. There should be at least 30 liters of water per square meter, which must first be left standing for 24 hours.

Watering should be done once every seven days. If dry weather occurs, watering is done twice a week.

Additionally, it is necessary to irrigate the melons superficially, adding fertilizers. It is recommended to alternate feeding, using both fertilizers for the root system and shoots.

The more the fruits gain weight, the more watering is reduced. Finally, it should be stopped a week before harvest. This trick has a noticeable effect - sugar accumulates in the pulp during this time, as a result the fruit becomes very sweet and aromatic.

After watering, the soil must be loosened to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture.

Top dressing

This manipulation is carried out 14-15 days after sowing the seeds.

The first fertilizing is done with ammonium nitrate. There should be 20 grams per bucket of water. of this substance. The resulting solution in an amount of two liters is added to each well.

The second feeding is necessary when the formation of buds begins. During this period, 4 grams are needed for each plant. calcium chloride, the same amount of ammonium nitrate and 6 g. superphosphate.

Time from planting to germination of watermelon seeds

Of course, every person trying to germinate watermelon seeds is interested in the question: on what day do they germinate. Usually, if all conditions and recommendations are met, the first sprouts that hatch can be seen after 5–7 days. The process will be more protracted if you skip soaking in warm water at the preparation stage. You can speed up germination if you gradually increase the temperature.

Choosing a place and soil for planting melon seeds

At the beginning of the gardening season, every gardener tries to wisely distribute the territory of his plot. A certain place is allocated for different crops, depending on what used to grow in this location and what the conditions were there.

Where is the best place to plant a melon in open ground to get the maximum yield? The most important requirement for a growing site is lighting, that is, the location should be well illuminated by sunlight throughout the day.

This melon crop is not only light-loving, but also very heat-loving, so it needs to be planted in warm, well-heated beds. It is optimal to plant a melon on a southern slope.

Of particular importance is the protection of the location from wind and cold drafts. If you don’t have the opportunity to choose such a site, then it is advisable to plant sunflowers, corn, and sorghum next to the melons, which will protect heat-loving crops from the wind

The soil for growing melon is light, loose, fertile, with neutral acidity and good water and air permeability. Sandy and sandy loam soil is ideal

It is very important to avoid areas with high waterlogging; the crop does not tolerate high humidity. Dense, heavy, clay soil is also not suitable.

Good and bad predecessors in the melon bed

When choosing a place to sow melon seeds in open ground or in a greenhouse, it is also recommended to focus on the principles of crop rotation. They help determine after what you can and cannot plant melons.

Good precursors for melon are the following crops: legumes (beans, peas and others), grains, cabbage, onions, garlic, peppers, eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, lettuce and other greens.

All members of the Cucurbitaceae family (watermelons, zucchini, pumpkins, squash, cucumbers and melons themselves) are bad predecessors. It is advisable to plant crops in such a place at least after 4 years, not earlier.

What to do if watermelon seeds do not germinate

Germination may not occur for several reasons:

• placing seed in unsuitable temperature conditions;
• the skin of the seeds is too thick, which is why the sprouts cannot break through;
• too low humidity in the germination container;
• overdrying gauze;
• selected seed material that is overdried or whose shelf life has expired.

It is necessary to establish the exact cause of the problem and eliminate it: raise the temperature, increase the humidity, purchase other seeds.

The need to soak basil seeds before planting

The herbaceous annual shrub has a delicate structure. It is afraid of frost, does not tolerate drought well, is picky about the chemical composition of the soil and needs abundant watering. Nature has provided protection mechanisms. Each seed is placed in a dense shell of oils (vegetable wax) - a ready-made concentrate of nutrients, which, upon germination, provides the seedling with conditions for gaining vegetative mass.

It takes at least a week to dissolve this shell, even at room temperature. In spring soil, cool and loose after digging, there are no such conditions. A seed thrown into the ground may not sprout at all.

Is this necessary and what will happen if you ignore this processing stage

To dissolve the oily coating in which the basil seed is placed, at least two factors are needed - temperature and humidity. This is how the plant “understands” that conditions are favorable for germination and it is possible to move from a dormant state to an active one. If at least one of the requirements is not met, no such signal is received. The embryo “believes” that it is still too cold outside and waits in the wings.

The average germination rate of good quality seeds thrown into the ground without preparation is 30%. Experiments have confirmed that failure to comply with at least one of the conditions (low temperature with high humidity or abundant moisture at temperatures below +20°C) gives the same result.

How to plant sprouted seeds

Germinated seed material can be used for growing seedlings and for sowing in open beds. It is important to plant carefully and carefully, since awkward movements can damage the sprout.

Planting seedlings

Sowing for growing seedlings is carried out in mid-April. The exact timing can be determined by the height of the sprout emerging from the seed - it must be at least 1 cm. For this process, you will need to prepare one long and flat container or several small containers, for example, plastic cups, peat pots.

You will also need a soil substrate that meets several requirements. It should be light, loose, nutritious, and conduct moisture and oxygen well. It can be purchased at a specialized store or prepared at home by mixing peat, humus and sand (1: 1: 0.5). Wood ash should be added to the prepared mixture (2 tablespoons/1 liter of mixture).

The sowing technology is as follows:

1. Fill the containers ¾ of the entire volume with soil mixture.
2. Using tweezers, spread out the seeds - 1 piece at a time. in each pot or in one container at intervals of 1.5 cm.
3. Sprinkle with soil substrate to a height of 2–3 cm.
4. Moisten with warm water from a spray bottle.
5. Place the containers in a room where the temperature is maintained at +25…+27°C. After the shoots appear, the daytime temperature can be lowered to +20...+25°C, and the night temperature - to +18...+20°C.

Caring for crops involves moistening with warm water and fertilizing with fertilizers. Seedlings are planted in open ground no earlier than mid-July.

Planting in open ground

Sowing seeds in open beds is done when the ground warms up to +16°C. The planting depth is 6 cm. Planting density is 10 seeds per 1 linear meter. Using tweezers, the seeds are placed into grooves in the beds, sprinkled with soil and watered. Germination should be expected after 7–10 days. If the sprouts sprout well, they need to be thinned out.

Methods for planting watermelons on the site

Depending on the climatic conditions of the region and the availability of free space, watermelons are grown in different ways.

In a bucket

In this way, watermelon can be grown at home. To do this, first seedlings are grown in a small pot. Further work is carried out as follows:

1. Prepare a bucket with a volume of 16 liters (a wooden box measuring 50x50x30 cm can be used).
2. The container is filled with fertile soil with neutral acidity, mixed with perlite in a ratio of 2:1. This will protect the soil from stagnant water.
3. After the third true leaf appears on the seedlings, the plant along with the earthen ball is transplanted into a bucket.
4. The optimal daytime temperature is 25–30°C, night temperature is 18–20°C. Such conditions are created in spring and summer on a closed balcony.
5. Watering should be moderate; watermelon does not like waterlogging.
6. The soil is fertilized every 2 weeks. Liquid fertilizers for vegetables are suitable for this (add 1 tsp of fertilizer to 1 liter of water). Only fresh solution is prepared for irrigation.
7. At the stage of ovary formation, a second feeding is carried out with an increased content of potassium and phosphorus, and after 2-3 weeks - a third.
8. The side shoots of the watermelon are pinched, leaving only the main shoot.
9. During the flowering phase of watermelon, artificial pollination is carried out: male flowers with stamens are picked, the petals are removed and the female flowers (with a thickening at the bottom) are pollinated, touching the pistils with the stamens.
10. After fruit set, no more than two berries are left on the plant, the rest are removed.
11. Fruits about 10 cm in size are placed in a net and tied to a support.

After about three months, you can harvest a harvest of delicious berries weighing about 1 kg.

According to the author, this method can be considered more of a hobby than a way to obtain tasty berries. In apartment conditions, it is unlikely to provide the plant with optimal temperature conditions, except perhaps on the balcony during the hot summer. A watermelon grown at home is unlikely to delight you with the aroma and sweetness of the pulp. For those who decide to experiment, I advise you to make a drainage hole at the bottom of the container to protect the roots from waterlogging. And to determine whether a watermelon needs watering, it is recommended to slightly lift the bucket with the plant, basing its weight on the soil moisture.

On the trellis

In the southern regions, melon plants are cultivated in open ground, in which case they do not require staking. When grown in northern regions with a cool and humid climate, trellises can be used. This is especially true for small areas where there is little light and moisture stagnation is likely. In such places it is recommended to grow watermelons of small-fruited hybrids and varieties:

1. On both sides of the beds, a support at least 1.5 m high is dug in, and ropes or twine are pulled between them.
2. Other ropes are tied to the stretched ropes, which go down to the plants and serve as a support for the watermelon stems, determining the direction of growth.
3. The end of the lowered rope is secured to the stem of the plant or to the ground.
4. The main stem is tied in a vertical direction, the top is not pinched. All side shoots are removed, since female flowers are formed mainly on the main stem.
5. The grown fruits are placed in nets, then individually tied to a trellis so that they do not fall under their own weight.

With the formation of 2-3 fruits the size of a chicken egg, the remaining ovaries are removed, since more watermelons will not have time to ripen.

The trellis is relevant for small areas where there is little light and moisture stagnation is likely.

Under covering material

Cultivating watermelons under covering material has now become especially popular. The additional costs of film are offset by the advantages of this technology, including:

• protection of seedlings from weeds in the early stages of growth in open ground;
• reduction of daily temperature fluctuations;
• accumulation and retention of soil moisture.

The use of covering material allows you to shorten the period of fruit ripening by 7–10 days. This method is especially relevant in short or humid summers and can be used in several ways:

1. Warm bed under black polyethylene. Beds no more than 10–15 cm high are made at a distance of 1.5 m from each other, a longitudinal ditch about 40 cm deep is dug in the middle, and layers of hay or straw are laid in it. The hay is spilled with water, and the straw with a urea solution (0.5%) to speed up decomposition. To create additional moisture, fresh grass is laid on top of the first layer. Everything is compacted tightly. A layer of humus about 10 cm thick is laid on top and mixed with soil taken from the edges of the furrow. This will help create the nutrient medium for watermelons that is necessary for the first time after planting the seedlings. Everything is spilled with water to a soil depth of 25–30 cm and covered with black polyethylene. Cross-shaped slits are made on the film in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 0.9 m. The film is pressed along the edges with heavy objects so that the wind does not tear it off. Watermelon seedlings are planted in slots.
2. Temporary film shelters. In case of a sudden cold snap, you can install arcs over the garden bed, over which film or other covering material is stretched. The width and height of such a structure should be about 70 cm. This measure will also speed up the ripening of the crop by 10–15 days. In extreme heat, the film is removed so that the watermelons do not overheat in the sun.

   In case of a sudden cold snap, you can install arcs over the garden bed on which the covering material is pulled

3. The easiest way to cover seedlings: spunbond (non-woven agrofibre) or film is laid along one side of the ridge. This will allow you to quickly cover the plants directly along the vines, protecting them from possible frosts.

Spunbond can be used to cover plants directly along the vines, protecting them from possible frosts.

Advice from experienced gardeners

To ensure successful planting, we recommend using the advice of experienced gardeners:

1. Select an area for growing in open beds that is illuminated for a long time during the day by sunlight and sheltered from drafts.
2. Groundwater should be located no closer than 2.5 m to the soil surface.
3. Keep in mind that watermelons produce the best yields when planted in light sandy and sandy loam soils.
4. Before planting, you should measure the acidity of the soil and bring it to 6.7–7 pH.
5. It is important to adhere to the rules of crop rotation and sow watermelons in beds where wheat and alfalfa previously grew. It is necessary to exclude sowing in areas where melons and nightshades were cultivated.

So, the process of germinating watermelon seeds can significantly improve productivity and accelerate the ripening of fruits. When carrying out it, it is important to follow the recommendations in order to do everything correctly and achieve the desired results.

Selection and preparation of site and soil for planting watermelon

To grow watermelon in open ground and get a good harvest, you need to take care of choosing a place that must meet the following requirements:

• be well lit;
• protect from winds;
• provide plants with the necessary nutrition.

Based on the listed factors, you need to take into account that the area for the watermelon should receive a sufficient amount of light during the day, be well warmed up and ventilated. It is best if you start preparing the soil in advance: sow the future bed with green manure and add the necessary fertilizers.

The area for the future watermelon bed should be well lit, ventilated, and well fertilized.

Green manures are plants that are grown for the purpose of their subsequent incorporation into the soil, which improves its structure, enriches it with nitrogen and prevents the growth of weeds.

An important point is the previous crops, i.e. those that were grown on the site before the watermelon. The most preferred are onions, garlic, carrots and early cabbage, as well as potatoes and tomatoes. Melon crops (watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin, melon) should not be constantly planted in the same place, since pathogens accumulate in the soil.

It should be noted that watermelons and other melons require light, loose and fertile soil. The most suitable option is if the land consists of sandy or sandy loam soil, and the necessary organic fertilizers (humus, compost) will be added for digging in the fall. Organic matter is added at the rate of 2.5 buckets per 1 m² of land. In addition, attention should be paid to the acidity of the soil: for watermelons it should be within the pH range of 6–7.

Humus is an excellent organic fertilizer for preparing a site for planting watermelon.

In the spring, the watermelon bed should also be fertilized with mineral fertilizers before digging. For 1 m² you will need:

• 24–35 g ammonium sulfate;
• 40–45 g superphosphate;
• 15–25 g of potash fertilizers.

Combining mineral and organic substances can increase the productivity of watermelon.

Do I need to germinate watermelon seeds before planting?

The pre-emergence period in the life of any plant is considered the most difficult and dangerous. In order to minimize the risks of poor plant development, it is advisable to germinate watermelon seeds before planting. This method has several advantages:

• After the watermelon seeds have sprouted, you can select the potentially strongest ones among them
• After planting germinated seeds, their germination rate is 99.9%
• Plants develop simultaneously and in harmony

After planting germinated seeds, the resulting seedlings are easier to care for. You don't need to select strong plants and remove weak ones. And the needs of watermelon seedlings, which are at the same stage, are the same. If you use this method of pre-planting seed preparation, you can speed up the harvest by 15-20 days. Germinating watermelon seeds is not difficult, and the benefits of this method are obvious.

Of course, this method of preparing seeds also has disadvantages, the main one of which is the waste of time preparing and germinating the seeds. For this process, you need to create the temperature regime they need, periodically inspect and sort the seeds so that they do not become entangled in their roots.

And planting germinated seeds is a more complex process, which is fraught with some difficulties. Such seeds must be planted carefully so that their roots do not break. You will have to use tweezers to plant.

Growing watermelons from seeds

Many gardeners use seed germination as a technique to speed up the emergence of seedlings. But, as a rule, the seeds of vegetable crops, which are more popular and often eaten, are sprouted. And germinating watermelon seeds is considered troublesome and even unnecessary. It is those who hold this opinion who are most often left without a harvest. To ensure that your work does not go to waste, it is enough to learn how to germinate watermelon seeds.

Watermelons are grown in two ways: seedlings, suitable for the Middle Zone and northern regions of the country, and without seedlings, practiced mainly by melon growers in the south. The latter, having become skilled in growing melons and watermelons, do not neglect germination, although the warm climate is already favorable for delicate plants.

Watermelon seeds

Benefits of Sprouting

Of course, germination is not a panacea for all problems associated with obtaining a decent harvest of watermelons. However, this method has several advantages worthy of attention:

• The seeds sprout vigorously. When sowing dry seeds, sprouts appear unevenly, when one seedling is already producing true leaves, the other is just emerging from the ground. Such inconsistency leads to the fact that many plants do not have time to form fruits on time, while others have already successfully passed the fruiting period and began to die off;
• The strong ones rise first. During germination, you will immediately see which seeds have produced healthy, viable seedlings. For a small garden bed, you can select the best ones for planting;
• Makes it easier to care for seedlings. Seedlings growing together have the same needs for watering and fertilizing, and it is more convenient to care for them;
• High percentage of germination and survival. If the seeds have sprouted or at least sprouted, the abundance of seedlings is guaranteed. It is not always possible to predict whether dry seeds, even high-quality ones, will germinate;
• Acceleration of harvest. When using sprouted seeds for planting, the fruits can be removed from the melon two weeks earlier than usual.

There is only one disadvantage to germinating watermelon seeds: you will have to spend time and effort on painstakingly caring for the seeds. However, the resources spent will certainly be repaid by a good harvest.

How to properly germinate watermelon seeds

Before carrying out this process, it is necessary to carry out several preparatory activities. The first of these is seed sorting. The largest and strongest seeds of varieties and hybrids that have proven themselves well in the region where they will be grown are selected.

Selected seeds are tested using a “salt test”. Add a tablespoon of salt to half a glass of water. The water is stirred until the salt dissolves, and the seeds are immersed in the solution. Those that float to the surface will not be able to produce good seedlings. The remaining seeds are washed in clean water and dried.

To quickly germinate watermelon seeds, you must first pickle them. This will help rid them of bacteria that cause various diseases. Some gardeners ask whether it is necessary to treat seeds? Yes, this must be done if the seeds have not undergone such treatment at the production stage (otherwise, this will only worsen the characteristics of the seeds). This way you can protect your seedlings from various diseases.

Treating watermelon seeds should be done using a solution of potassium permanganate. This time-tested antiseptic in an amount of 1 g is poured with water (100 g). The solution is mixed and watermelon seeds are placed in it. How long should I leave them there? No more than 20 minutes.

After this treatment, the seeds must be washed in running water. And in order to speed up their germination, the seeds are filled with a heteroauxin solution and left for 10 hours. This will help enrich the planting material with the microelements necessary for growth and development.

Once the seeds are removed from the heteroauxin, they do not need to be washed. Simply dry it in the sun. Now you can proceed directly to germination. But, before that, you need to place the seeds in hot water (45-50 degrees) for 10 minutes. It is needed to soften the thick skin of watermelon seeds.

The seeds are placed in gauze folded several times and placed in a flat jar. The gauze should be moistened with water and the container should be left in a warm place. Seeds must be periodically checked and the gauze moistened. It should always be damp, but should not float in water. In order to reduce water evaporation and improve the seed germination environment, the top of the container should be covered with film.

Rules for germinating seeds of different crops

Seeds of vegetable and ornamental crops have different requirements for germination conditions. They require different soaking times and temperatures.

Germinating carrot and onion seeds

Gardeners recommend soaking small onion and carrot seeds for 48 hours. To do this, they are placed on a cloth, placed on the bottom of a plate and filled with water at room temperature. The water should be changed several times a day, using only settled or melted water. The depth of the seeds should not be large so that they do not suffocate.

Onion and carrot seeds should be soaked at home for 48 hours

After time, the fabric with planting material is removed from the water, wrung out and transferred to a plastic bag for germination. After small sprouts appear, the seeds can be placed in the refrigerator for hardening, but this is not necessary.

Sprouting peas and corn

Pea and corn seeds should not be soaked for a long time, otherwise they will spoil. Maximum time – 6-8 hours. You can determine it visually - the seeds should swell well. Next, the planting material is removed from the water, aged and placed on fabric for germination. During this time, the dishes must be kept warm, but not more than 24 hours. Next, the seeds and sprouts need to be moved to the refrigerator and planted as soon as possible.

When germinating peas, seeds should not be kept in water for a long time.

Pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchini, melons

It is recommended to germinate the seeds of these crops regardless of whether they are processed by the manufacturer or not. Pumpkin seeds do not like warm water, so they should be soaked away from the air heater. After a few hours (up to 12 hours), they need to be taken out and placed in polyethylene along with the fabric for germination at a temperature not exceeding 25 ° C

It is important to monitor the moisture content of the fabric and regularly ventilate the bag

Sprouting cucumbers at home

Sprouting peppers, tomatoes, eggplants

Peppers and tomatoes are first soaked in a hot (40-70 °C) solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. Next, the seeds are removed, washed and placed in a plastic bag for a day. Don't wait for large sprouts to appear before planting. The seeds in the bag must be ventilated several times during the day. Next, the planting material can be hardened in the refrigerator for 3-5 days (t - 5 ° C).

After germination, it is advisable to harden the tomato seeds

Popular questions about soaking seeds

• Is it possible to plant expired seeds? Yes. But you should not use growth stimulants.
• Is it worth soaking and germinating seeds treated by the manufacturer? This is not necessary. If you decide to soak the material before planting, you should use a minimum amount of water so that the nutritious and protective layer is not completely washed away.
• To what length of roots should I germinate seeds at home? Usually just a few millimeters are enough. Longer roots are easily damaged during planting.
• Is it possible to soak very small seeds? The seeds of some vegetable and ornamental crops are very small, even dusty. Such seed material is not soaked, but sown directly into the ground, without covering it with soil.
• Should we strive to germinate and sow seeds as early as possible? No, because in this case the young plants will experience a serious lack of sunlight and will become elongated and weak. In addition, on a cold windowsill, plant roots are often affected by rot.
• Why do seeds not germinate or do not germinate well at home? The main reasons: the seeds were stored incorrectly or are already too old. Sometimes the manufacturer is to blame for this by releasing defective material for sale. Improper germination can also be an influencing factor: too much water or, on the contrary, drying out of the seeds, too low or high temperature.

By following the rules for germinating seeds before planting at home, you increase your chances of getting a rich harvest this season. Be attentive to detail and diligent in your work - and the result will not disappoint you!

How many days does it take for watermelon seeds to germinate?

If you follow these instructions, then after 5-7 days the watermelon seeds will completely germinate and can be planted. But sometimes this period is delayed. This can happen if you skip the step of softening the skins of the seeds in hot water. You can quickly germinate watermelon seeds only by first softening the “shell” of the seeds. How long will it take – no more than a week.

Temperature also affects the rate of germination of watermelon seeds. The higher the temperature, the faster the seeds germinate. A special effect can be achieved if you germinate seeds, gradually increasing the temperature. Some gardeners install special systems that allow them to increase the temperature under germinating seeds from 20 to 50 degrees. But whether you need to do this is up to you to decide.

Preparing containers and soil for seedlings

Since melon has delicate roots, it is recommended to plant it in disposable cups, special containers or peat pots.

Soil for sowing seeds can be prepared independently from the following components:

• peat – 9 parts;
• sand – 1 part;
• wood ash - 1 cup per 10 liters of soil mixture.

Another soil option for growing melon seedlings:

• humus or compost;
• turf land;
• peat.

All components are taken in equal parts, sand and wood ash are added.

Before use, it is recommended to disinfect the soil mixture with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate. But it is best to use a solution of special preparations Baikal-EM 1 or Fitosporin. It is very good if the substrate is prepared in the fall. Then containers with soil can be kept outside until spring, where all fungi and pest larvae will die under the influence of frost.

Test yourself: how to grow a watermelon on a window?

Watermelons on the windowsill can ripen or just decorate the house. The subtropical berry grows in the heat and in sunny fields, how to grow it at home. We will find out by answering the test questions.

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