Dates for planting watermelons and melons for seedlings in 2022

When to plant watermelons in 2022

We will try to understand the general directions and features for different options for growing watermelons at home.

Depending on variety and region

These watermelons are easy to grow in the Moscow region

Depending on landing location

On average, planting watermelons in open ground begins in mid-May. But using a greenhouse allows you to do this two weeks earlier, or maybe a month. The main condition is that the soil inside the greenhouse be warmed to +12ºС.

The seedlings are transplanted on the 20th of May, so they begin to sow them from the beginning of April.

Depending on the planting method

When to plant watermelons directly in the ground without seedlings depends on weather conditions. You need to start from the soil temperature necessary for seed germination - it should be about +16ºС. Based on this, the approximate time for planting watermelons in open ground is closer to the beginning of June.

For the seedling method, planting time is determined taking into account the air temperature. The seedlings are planted when the weather is consistently warm during the day, around +25ºС. This time falls already in the first ten days of June.

The seedlings are completely ready for transplanting approximately 3 weeks after germination. Therefore, seeds are sown from mid-April to early May.

Timeframe for landing at a permanent location

In the center of Russia and more northern regions, only early varieties should be planted. Mid-season and late-ripening varieties will not have time to ripen. You need to plant seedlings or plant seeds when the threat of frost has completely passed and stable warm weather has returned to normal. In the Moscow region and other cities in central Russia, this period falls at the end of May.

Seedlings of watermelons and melons are planted in a permanent place at the age of 30-45 days. Before planting, it is advisable to organize a warm bed or greenhouse. The soil should be well loosened and fertilized. Rotted manure or compost is added to the soil in an amount of 5 kg per 1 sq.m. You can add a little peat and sand.

To transplant seedlings, dig holes. The holes are placed at a distance of 50-70 cm from each other, in a checkerboard pattern. Plants are placed in such a way that only the top few leaves remain on the surface.

After planting, it is necessary to water each hole generously with warm, settled water.

Video:

Lunar calendar for planting watermelons in 2022

To select the date for sowing watermelon seeds, you can refer to the Lunar Calendar table. It shows all the favorable days when to plant watermelons for seedlings and in the ground, as well as full moons and unfavorable days for planting.

Care

Melons are ready for transplanting in 3-4 weeks. Watermelons need more time - from 30 to 40 days. At the stage of growing seedlings, they are fed twice. For the first time, fertilizers are applied a week after germination. Any mineral complex preparation is suitable for this, in an amount of 20 g mixed with 5 liters of water. After another 7 days, organic matter and superphosphate are added.

Shortly before transplanting to open beds, hardening begins. To do this, the daytime temperature is reduced to +15°C, and the nighttime temperature to +12°C. Regular ventilation is provided in the room. At stage 5 of the formation of a true leaf, the growth point is pinched to stimulate the formation of lateral lashes. Female flowers necessary for fruiting appear faster on them.

How to grow watermelon seedlings at home

Greenhouses and open spaces have their own recommendations for preparing and planting seedlings.

Preparing seeds and soil

It is worth choosing seeds for planting that are about 3 years old. They produce more female flowers, and fresh ones can produce many male flowers, so-called barren flowers.

The seeds are immersed in a saline solution for a short time. Those that have sunk to the bottom are washed and dried. To stimulate the formation of female flowers, they are first heated for 2-3 hours in water at +60ºC, and then dipped in a manganese solution for half an hour. Before planting, soak until they hatch.

Soaking watermelon seeds in potassium permanganate

The soil is prepared from turf and humus in proportions 1:3 or a mixture of humus, peat and sawdust is used, proportions 0.5:3:1. The soil is poured halfway into separate containers with a diameter of 10 cm, so that later the soil can be added during the growth process.

Sowing seeds

The soil in the cups is moistened before sowing, and 2 holes are made in it with a pencil or other similar object. Watermelon seeds are planted to a depth of 4-5 cm, two pieces per container. Before germination, they are covered with film or glass.

If watermelon seedlings are grown at home, then they need to be placed in a lighted place. If necessary, additional lighting is provided so that the total daylight hours are at least 12 hours.

Caring for watermelon seedlings

• After germination, the film is removed and the temperature is kept at +22°C during the day and +19°C at night.
• Seedlings are fed 2 times. After germination, mineral fertilizers are used a week later. And after another 7 days they are fed with organic matter. You can use a solution of mullein and add a tablespoon of superphosphate to each liter of infusion.
• Containers with seedlings should be positioned so that the plants do not touch each other; if it is grown in a greenhouse, then the seeds are immediately planted at a distance of about 10 cm or then the seedlings are thinned out.
• At first, the seedlings are watered moderately, every other day.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

The agricultural technology for planting seedlings of watermelons and melons is no different. Very reminiscent of sowing cucumbers.

Containers for seedlings

Watermelons and melons require fairly large containers. Each plant is grown in an individual cup, since picking is unacceptable.

Disposable cups with a volume of 200 grams are perfect as a container. You can also use store-bought containers. There is a huge selection in stores now.

Peat tablets proved to be the most convenient containers. They do not need to prepare the soil in advance. When transplanting to a permanent location, the root system is not damaged.

Make sure there is a drainage hole in the bottom of each pot to drain excess moisture.

Soil preparation

All melons are demanding on soil quality. It is important that it contains a lot of organic substances, in particular nitrogen. You can go two ways:

• Buy ready-made soil in the store
• Do it yourself

The first option is the simplest. There is now quite a large selection of soil mixtures in stores. Many of them are of high quality. Choose soil only from a reputable manufacturer. The purchased soil is completely ready for use.

You can prepare the soil for seedlings yourself. To do this, you need to mix the following ingredients:

• Peat – 3 parts
• Small sawdust – 1 part
• Sod soil from the garden - 2 parts
• You can add a little wood ash

Mix all ingredients thoroughly.

2 days before sowing seeds, it is necessary to disinfect the soil. To do this, thoroughly spill it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will destroy pathogens of fungal infections and other plant diseases.

Seed preparation

Before sowing, it is necessary to prepare the seeds. First of all, they must be calibrated. Place the seeds in 3 piles, depending on the size - small, medium and large. These seeds will be planted in separate containers. As a result, the big ones will not overwhelm the little ones and growth will be amicable.

Choose seeds only from well-known and trusted manufacturers.

Before sowing, the seeds need to be warmed up. The day before planting, place the seeds in water at a temperature of +50 degrees for 30 minutes. Then dry. This procedure is mandatory for watermelon seeds.

After warming up, you can disinfect the seeds. To do this, they are placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15-20 minutes.

If you doubt the quality of the seed, it would be advisable to germinate the seeds. To do this, they are soaked in water for some time and placed on a damp cotton swab on a saucer. After 3 days the first shoots will appear.

Agricultural technology in the classical way

The agricultural technology of sowing in the classical way is extremely simple. Step-by-step instruction:

1. Fill the prepared cups with soil and water thoroughly.
2. You can plant 2 seeds in one cup. Make two holes 2-3 cm deep in a glass and place the seeds there.
3. Cover with soil and water again with warm, settled water. Water carefully so that the seeds do not spread.
4. Cover the top with film and put the containers in a warm, dark place.

Video:

Sowing in peat tablets

The most convenient containers for watermelon and melon seedlings are peat tablets. Their main advantage is that the root system is not damaged during transplantation. There is no need to specially prepare the soil. Peat tablets already contain a nutrient substrate for plants.

The process of planting seeds in peat tablets is simple:

1. Place peat tablets in a tray and fill with water.
2. Wait until they swell and take shape.
3. Make a well in each tablet.
4. Place the seeds there.
5. Sprinkle with soil.
6. Cover the tray with film and place in a warm place.

In 5-7 days the first shoots will appear.

Video:

How to plant a watermelon correctly

Before transplanting, seedlings are hardened by lowering the temperature to +16°C during the day, +13°C at night, and the room is ventilated more often. The seedlings will be ready when 3-5 true leaves appear on them (about 1 month).

The best option would be sandy loam or even sandy soil, away from groundwater. The acidity should be neutral or slightly reduced. Over-moistened areas of land and with weak sunlight are not suitable.

Watermelon is a fairly heat-loving plant; to grow it requires temperatures of about +25°C during the day and +20°C at night.

How to plant watermelons in open ground

A planting site is chosen with maximum sunlight and sheltered from cold winds. They begin to prepare the soil for the beds in the fall, scattering humus over the surface and digging it up.

In the spring, specialized complex fertilizers for pumpkin crops are added to each hole. For additional heating, before planting, the ground is covered with a dark film or watered with hot water.

Planting is carried out according to the following scheme: the distance in the row is 0.5 m and 1.5-2 m between the rows.

The seedlings are transferred carefully with the entire lump of earth so as not to damage the roots. There is no need to bury the seedlings; they are planted level with the soil.

It is better to plant thicker watermelons directly into the ground with seeds, and then thin them out, leaving only the strongest ones. The first time this is done after germination, and the second time, when the first 3 true leaves appear.

Care consists of infrequent but abundant watering. During the flowering period it should be 2-3 times a week, and when ripe it stops.

Fertilizing is applied several times:

1. During the formation of lashes, solutions of organic fertilizers are used - cow manure and chicken droppings.
2. During the same period, it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers, for example, superphosphate.
3. When the ovaries form, they are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Planting watermelon in a greenhouse

Before watermelons, you can plant greens in the greenhouse, since they are planted in well-warmed soil.

Covering material inside is prepared in advance against sudden cold weather, especially after transplantation. It is convenient to use arcs and spunbond for this, which are simply thrown on top. In this case, the plants will not receive any damage.

Watermelon seedlings under cover

The soil is prepared in advance. The top layer of soil is removed, hay and humus are laid, nitrogen fertilizers are scattered and everything is spilled with hot water. The earth is again poured on top and covered with material. This will warm the soil to the desired temperature.

Planting pattern:

After planting, the lump of earth should be 1-2 cm above the soil level. Otherwise, the plant may begin to rot.

2 seedlings and lashes are placed in each hole, which are subsequently sent in different directions.

Seedlings in peat pots are planted with them, and they are removed from other containers very carefully.

The holes are made with a distance of 70 cm between rows and 50 cm in a row. Fill with humus or compost and spill with warm water.

Watering is carried out with warm water, avoiding stagnation of water and so that it does not fall on the leaves and stems of the plant. Fertilizing is carried out according to the same scheme as in the previous paragraph, but with the addition of nitrogenous fertilizers and wood ash.

The greenhouse must be regularly ventilated, and the plants must be pinched and tied over time.

After what crops and next to what can a watermelon be planted?

Good predecessors would be:

1. Vegetables - potatoes, beets, radishes, tomatoes, corn, sunflowers.
2. Legumes - peas, beans, beans.
3. Green manure and various types of greens would be ideal - onions, garlic, parsley, winter wheat, phacelia.

Next to watermelons in a greenhouse it is convenient to plant greens and early crops that can be harvested before the vines grow. And in open ground, you can place corn or sunflowers nearby for protection from the wind. Planting melons in the immediate vicinity of watermelons is allowed, but in this case it is better not to collect the seeds, as they are cross-pollinated.

Not recommended predecessors are crops from the Pumpkin family, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers.

Diseases and pests

Melon crops constantly suffer from harmful insects and diseases. The most common diseases are fusarium (withering due to a fungus), bacteriosis (caused by bacteria, manifested as brown spots), anthracnose (a fungal disease). For prevention, it is necessary to resort to agrotechnical methods (digging the soil, destroying weeds, timely sowing, adding mineral fertilizers to the soil, etc.). As for pests, all kinds of insecticides or traditional methods of repelling them, as well as manual collection of harmful insects, will help fight them. To get a good harvest of melons and watermelons, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the stems, leaves, and fruits.

What varieties of watermelons should be planted in different regions?

For Siberia and the Urals:

• Cinderella;
• Siberian;
• Siberian lights;
• Sugar Baby;
• Ultra early;
• Astrakhan.

For the Moscow region:

• Crimson Suite;
• Skorik;
• Light;
• Top Gun;
• Chill;
• Sugar baby.

For Ukraine and southern Russia:

• Producer;
• Light;
• Top Gun F1;
• Sugar Baby;
• Skorik;
• A gift from the sun;
• Astrakhan.

For Bashkiria and the middle zone:

• Watermelon is chilly;
• Charleston Gray;
• Light;
• Photon;
• Spring;
• Leader;
• Suga Baby.

Where to buy seeds:

The influence of the moon on landings

Through the painstaking work of breeders, varieties have been developed that adapt well to the climatic conditions of a particular region. Now residents of the Russian Federation and some regions of Siberia can receive a rich harvest at their dacha. In central Russia and Siberia, watermelons and melons are grown mainly through sowing seedlings. To do this, the timing of sowing seeds must be observed. Below, specific dates for sowing seeds will be determined according to the lunar calendar of 2020.

On a note! The moon has a certain effect on living nature. In 28 days, she goes through all the phases of the 12 zodiac signs and remains on each for 2-3 days.

This indicates the influence of cosmic energy and nutrient metabolism. There are 4 phases of the moon:

1. New moon. At this time, energy is directed to the base of the plant. Plant growth is slow at this time.
2. Full moon. There is an active release of energy. It accumulates in flowers, shoots and fruits.
3. Waxing Crescent. Nutrients move from the root of the plant to the fruit. It is the most favorable period for planting plants.
4. Waning moon. Nutrients go down to the roots. Favorable time for harvesting.

Feeding melons and watermelons

After the seeds are planted, you need to wait about two weeks and only then can you start feeding them. You need to add 20 grams of ammonium nitrate to a bucket of water.

Next, water each hole with 2 liters. The next stage of feeding will be during the period when budding begins. Here the composition will be slightly different. 4 grams of calcium chloride, 4 grams of ammonium nitrate and 6 grams of superphosphate - per plant.

Complete watering of melons and watermelons

Watermelons and melons should be watered once a week, following the following calculation: 30 liters of settled water per 1 square meter. In the summer, when the climate becomes hot and dry, watering should be increased to 2 times every 7 days. In addition to moistening the soil, surface irrigation with the addition of fertilizers is allowed. It is recommended to alternate them, using various complementary foods that affect both the roots and the bush of the plant. As the fruits form and the berries gain weight, watering is gradually reduced, stopping completely a week before harvest. Stopping hydration will allow the sweetness to accumulate in the pulp, making the fruit sugary and giving it a bright aroma. Every time after watering, they perform agricultural techniques or loosen the soil. Weeds are removed around each bush and the necessary process is carried out, affecting the size of the fruit and its taste.

Caring for watermelons and melons after planting

Any summer resident understands that productivity significantly depends on how to care for watermelons. And since we want to enjoy a good harvest, we regularly loosen the soil, remove weeds, water and fertilize.

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Recommendations

The success of growing melon seedlings depends on compliance with all agrotechnical rules that allow you to obtain healthy, strong and hardy seedlings. This melon crop does not require the close attention of the vegetable grower, but its cultivation has its own subtleties and characteristics.

1. To grow seedlings, you need to use only melon seeds older than 3-4 years. They will produce female inflorescences that bear large and sweet fruits. Younger seeds will be produced only by male flowers - in this case you will have to forget about a good harvest.
2. Healthy seedlings can only be obtained from high-quality and full-bodied seeds. To check, the grains need to be filled with a weak saline solution (1 tablespoon per glass of water) and left for half an hour. All seeds that have sunk to the bottom of the container can be used for planting; the rest should be discarded immediately.
3. You can buy soil for melon seedlings at a gardening store or make it yourself. To do this, you will need turf soil, peat and humus (or compost) in equal proportions. Additionally, you can add a little wood ash or coarse river sand to the soil mixture.
4. The soil mixture that will be used for sowing melon seeds must be prepared. To do this, it is watered with solutions of potassium permanganate or special preparations - Fitosporin, Maxim, Gamair, Alirin-B.
5. For the full growth and development of melon seedlings, a long daylight hours is required, the duration of which should be at least 11-12 hours. To do this, the seedlings will need additional illumination with phytolamps.
6. Melon does not tolerate picking very well, so the best option would be to sow the seeds in separate containers with a diameter of at least 10 cm. 2-3 grains should be placed in each glass, pot or tablet, deepened by 2 cm and sprinkled with a thin layer of sand on top.
7. 10-12 days before planting melon seedlings in open ground, they need to be fed. For this, it is best to use complex mineral fertilizers. Also at the same time, they begin to harden off the seedlings, preparing them for planting in open ground. To do this, the seedlings are taken out into fresh air and left for 1 hour, gradually increasing the hardening time. Before planting day, seedlings should spend a day in the air.
8. Melon seedlings are transplanted into open ground after they have formed 4-6 true leaves.

The seedling method of growing melon allows gardeners in cold climate regions to get a good harvest. If all agrotechnical details and timing of seed sowing are observed, you can grow healthy and strong seedlings that quickly adapt to open ground and will delight you with high yields.