Watermelon is a melon crop that is classified as a heat-loving plant. This plant can be grown in any particular region. The main thing is to choose zoned varieties and select the correct planting day. To determine when to plant watermelon seedlings in 2022 according to the lunar calendar, you can use tables of favorable and unfavorable days.
The best varieties of watermelons that are planted as 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 and daily changes 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.
A representative of melons is recommended for fresh use, making candied fruits from watermelon rind, honey and pickling in barrels.
Watering melons and watermelons
Water melons and watermelons once a week, but generously, at the rate of 3 buckets per m² of plot. When the heat comes or the time of flowering, it is necessary to carry out 2 such abundant waterings per week, moistening not only the soil around the bushes, but also the aisles - the entire area of the site. When fruits form, watering is gradually reduced until it stops completely two weeks before harvesting. In total, watermelons are watered 3-4 times during the summer: when 5-7 leaves develop, during the flowering period and at the beginning of fruit formation.
A day or two after watering at the beginning of the growing season, loosen the soil in the area to a depth of 6 cm and at the same time remove weeds from it. When the watermelons close in rows, the weeds will no longer harm them, so loosening and weeding can be stopped, especially since the plant’s root system, which extends in different directions, is very easy to damage with a hoe.
Favorable days for sowing watermelons by lunar phases in 2022: table
It is recommended to select favorable days for planting watermelons according to the lunar calendar. It is recommended to plant seeds for seedlings in the spring of 2022 on the following days:
| Month | Favorable numbers |
| March | 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 |
| April | 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
| May | 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
All these periods are phases of the waxing Moon. This indicates that the celestial body attracts the energy of the earth and plant juices. This time is favorable for all plants whose fruits ripen above the ground.
What soil does watermelon seedlings need?
Watermelons are very demanding on the quality of the substrate. It must be nutritious, with a high content of organic matter and nitrogen. The substrate can be purchased ready-made or you can make it yourself. The homemade composition must include:
- non-acidic peat – 3 parts;
- fine sawdust – 1 part;
- turf – 2 parts;
- wood ash - 2 tbsp. spoons per 1 kg of substrate.
ATTENTION! Regardless of what substrate is used for planting watermelon seeds, it should be disinfected. This is done by calcining or pouring the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Influence of region on timing
It is important to observe not only the planting days according to the Lunar calendar, but also where the plant crop will be grown. If you plant it in open ground too early, it will wither and die from the cold. On the contrary, if you are late with the planting date, the berries will not have time to ripen to the required size and become sufficiently full.
Landing in the Moscow region
In the Moscow region, it is recommended to sow watermelon seedlings in mid-April. To transplant into open ground, its age must reach 34-36 days. The approximate period for planting in a permanent place for further growth is the end of May. You can determine readiness for transplantation by the appearance of the plant crop. By this time, 4 true leaves should already have formed on it.
Landing in Siberia
Summer in cold regions comes later than in central Russia or in the south. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant watermelons before May. You can transplant seedlings into open soil or a greenhouse from June 1 to June 15. Previously, this was done only if the plant will be grown under dense covering material.
Favorable days for sowing seedlings:
- April – 3, 25, 26, 27.
- May – 2, 3, 10, 11, 23, 24, 30.
Deadlines for the Middle Zone
In all regions, the optimal time for planting watermelons in open ground is when the soil temperature has reached approximately 14°C. Therefore, in central Russia it is not recommended to move seedlings to a summer cottage before June 25. Accordingly, you need to sow the seeds at the end of April.
Watermelon varieties for seedling planting
Many varieties of watermelon have been created that, according to their characteristics, are able to withstand low temperatures and can give a good harvest even in the northern regions. With a short growing season, the fruits of these melons do not reach large sizes - some do not weigh more than 1 kg. But they manage to mature. To grow watermelon, you must first choose the right zoned variety. According to regional characteristics, they are selected from the following options:
- For central Russia and the Moscow region, seeds are often purchased: Romanza F1, Astrakhansky, Ikar, Melania F1, Kemera, Crimson Sweet, Maristo F1, Erken F1, Yubileiny.
- For the Urals and Siberia, Top Gun, Bonta, Ogonyok, Early Kuban, Chill, Siberian Lights, PVP Producer, Eureka, Siberian Rose, Great Beijing Joy are suitable.
- In the south of the country, in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory, it is recommended to choose late-ripening varieties, but the most common are Dumara F1, Gift of the Sun, Borchansky, Lunny, Tofi F1, Ataman F1.
The fruits of heat-loving varieties of late maturity reach an average weight of 7-12 kg. But such parameters cannot be considered limiting. If agricultural practices are followed and favorable planting days are chosen correctly, they can grow to large sizes. In central Russia, different types of varieties can be grown, but all heat-loving crops, after transplanting into open ground, must be protected from the cold with lutrasil or ordinary plastic film.
Attention! When planting watermelon seeds, the old planting material will have a higher yield. It is recommended to choose seeds that are at least 5 years old. Last year's seeds, according to experienced gardeners, give the worst results.
Preparing seeds and soil for planting watermelons
By sowing seedlings and following all the rules, you can count on receiving a rich harvest. Individual containers should be selected. You can use plastic cups. But gardeners recommend using peat pots. When transplanting, the plant is less damaged. Picking melons is unacceptable.
Those who use peat tablets do not need to prepare the soil in advance. When transplanting, the root system is not damaged, the plant quickly adapts to new conditions.
Melon crops are quite demanding on the soil. It should contain a lot of organic matter and nitrogen. You can buy soil at the store or make it yourself. Most soil mixtures are of good quality. It is better to give preference to a trusted manufacturer. The purchased soil is completely ready for use. You can also prepare it yourself. To do this you need to mix:
- 3 parts peat;
- 1 part fine sawdust;
- 2 parts of turf land.
It wouldn't hurt to add wood ash. A few days before sowing, the soil is disinfected. The soil needs to be shed with a solution of potassium permanganate. This will destroy fungi and various diseases. Stores also sell special solutions, for example, the drug Maxim. Seeds are also subject to processing. They are calibrated and laid out depending on size. Planted in different containers. The big ones will not slow down the growth of the little ones. Seeds should be taken only from trusted producers. Next comes soaking the seeds for several hours and then drying them.
Planting days for watermelon by region
To choose the right numbers for planting seeds for seedlings according to the lunar schedule, you also need to take into account the climate zone. Depending on the growing region, the calendar for sowing watermelons is different. If you perform this manipulation too early, the plants will overgrow, and if planted early, the crop may not ripen. Before planting in a greenhouse or open ground, watermelons should develop normally in seedling containers. From the moment the first shoots appear until transplantation, it takes from 25 to 60 days, which also needs to be taken into account.
When to plant in Siberia
For cultivation in Siberia, it is recommended to choose varieties with a short growing season. Watermelons of medium and late maturity are not suitable for cold regions, since the plant is classified as a heat-loving crop. Southern varieties of plants not only will not ripen on time, but also will not have time to fully form. Seedlings can be planted in a greenhouse or in open ground, but only under film cover.
Pre-sowing seed preparation
Before buying varieties, you need to pay attention to the packaging and study it carefully. In central Russia, the melon crop must have time to ripen before the onset of autumn cold weather. The bag of seeds must indicate in how many days the crop will sprout.
You should also pay attention to the expiration date of the seeds; it is better to buy fresh seeds that were prepared no more than three years ago.
Calibration
The germination of seeds and the further development of young plants depend on this procedure. This issue must be approached with full responsibility. It is necessary to select the strongest and most viable seeds.
How to do it? Create a saline solution: pour 1 liter of water and add 50 grams of salt to a glass of water. Mix everything well. Empty and smaller seeds will float to the surface, while the best ones will remain at the bottom of the glass. These are the ones we need.
Selected seeds can simply be dried. Stronger seedlings develop better, thereby destroying poorer and smaller seedlings. When you size the seeds, they grow more uniformly and abundantly.
There is another option for sizing seeds: simply scatter all available seeds on the surface and manually select large and powerful seeds. Everything is simple here: large seeds have more nutrients, which will further affect the growth and harvest of your crop.
Warming up and soaking
It is important to understand how this stage is useful. When you heat and soak the seeds, the speed of biochemical reactions in the cells increases sharply, which leads to a rapid increase in seed germination. Female flowers also develop much faster thanks to this procedure.
Step by step steps:
- The seeds must be soaked in water for several hours. You can place them in some special bag. The water should be 50 -60 degrees, no more and no less.
- Next, you should place this bag in potassium permanganate for 25 - 30 minutes. This point will help kill all the “infection” of your crop.
- After soaking in the solution, remove the bag from the water and let all the liquid drain. All seeds are removed and placed on paper or a sandy surface to dry. Leave for about several days (two or three) until sprouts appear. Be sure to leave the seeds in a warm room. Make sure the temperature is room temperature.
If you purchased seeds in a store, you do not need to go through all these stages of work, but can immediately plant them in the ground.
In order for your plants to be adamant to temperature changes, stable and unshakable, it is necessary to carry out the hardening stage. It is also useful because after hardening, the harvest will be more abundant and larger.
Hardening
This method can usually be used in different ways. Everyone chooses the necessary option for themselves.
1 hardening option. Temperature drop. The swollen seeds can be placed in the refrigerator or room where the temperature is not higher than 0 degrees. Place for several hours, stirring occasionally. If you do all this in the spring, then you can immerse the seeds in the snow for several hours.
Hardening option 2. Variable temperature. Swollen seeds can also be placed either in the refrigerator or in a room where the temperature is below 6 degrees. The need for exposure in this room is about 6 hours. Next, you should leave this bag of seeds in a room where the air temperature reaches 18 - 20 degrees. The time period is 6 hours. It is necessary to repeat the procedure several times (preferably 3 times).
It is advisable to dry the seeds a little before sowing.
Thus, it becomes clear that planting watermelon seeds for seedlings takes more than one day. The process is quite labor-intensive.
Pests and diseases of melons and watermelons
- Powdery mildew. It is most often caused by a fungus. How to determine. The leaves begin to become more grayish with a white tint, as if plaque, and accordingly they begin to die, which leads to a tasteless fruit. If the fungus is not detected in time, this can lead to deformation of the fruit and death altogether.
- Perenosporosis. Also, the pest is quite strong. It's the same fungus. The difference is that the infection occurs first on old leaves, only then does the fungus spread to young leaves. The color of the fungus is also different: the top of the leaf is covered with yellow spots, and the bottom is visible with a light purple coating.
- Olive spot. Here the stems bear the brunt of the disease. The leaves also become covered with spots, ulcers form on the stems, as a result of which the ovaries dry out and fall off.
- Medyanka. Infection from the fungal family. As a result of infection of the fruit, the leaves acquire yellow spots with pink pads. If the infestation is severe enough, the watermelon dries out and dies.
- Melon aphid. This is dangerous enough in itself. It feeds on the juice of parts of the watermelon, which leads to the death of the fetus. You will not save your fetus, since there are no vaccines against it.
Features of caring for watermelon seedlings
Caring for seedlings is no different from any other plant crop. It consists of moderate watering and storing containers with plants in a warm and well-lit place. It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight.
It is advisable to transplant seedlings in cloudy and windless weather, after making holes in the ridge and abundantly watering the soil with water at room temperature. The distance between sprouts should be at least 70 cm.
It is believed that watermelons grow well only in the south and it is impossible to grow them in the central zone or in the northern part of Russia. However, many gardeners argue that this assumption is wrong. If you choose the right variety, follow planting dates and care rules, you can get a decent harvest of sweet fruits, regardless of where your summer cottage is located.
Sowing melons and watermelons for seedlings
Plant the seeds in pairs in individual containers half filled with moistened soil. As the seedlings grow, soil is added. Bury the seeds at least 2 cm and water with warm water. The pots are covered with glass or film to create a greenhouse effect and placed in a warm place at a temperature of +25 C. The first shoots will appear in 7-10 days.
When greenery appears, the shelter is removed and the weak shoot is removed, leaving the strong one. The temperature during the day must be reduced to bring it closer to street conditions: to create the effect of a difference between day and night indicators. This technique helps to avoid stretching the seedlings.
Planting watermelon in open ground
When to plant watermelon in the ground
Watermelons are planted in the ground four weeks after sowing the seeds in the development phase of the fifth or sixth true leaf - at the end of May or the first ten days of June. For watermelons, choose a site protected from the wind, well-warmed and illuminated on the south or south-east side, on which perennial grasses (alfalfa, sweet clover, sainfoin), winter wheat, cabbage, onions or annual legumes were grown before the watermelons. It is not recommended to grow watermelons after plants such as nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers) and pumpkin plants (melon, zucchini, squash, and watermelon). After you harvest the watermelons, it will be possible to grow pumpkins in this area only after 6-8 years.
Soil for watermelon
The soil for watermelon is preferably sandy or sandy loam with a pH value of 6.5-7 units. Site preparation is carried out in the fall: 4-5 kg of rotted manure per m² is added for digging, as well as 40-45 g of superphosphate, 15-25 g of potassium salt and 24-35 g of ammonium sulfate per the same unit of area. In heavy soils add one or two buckets of sand per m². Fresh manure is not used to fertilize the soil.
How to plant watermelons in open ground
Make holes in the bed at a distance of 1-1.5 m from each other in a checkerboard pattern, leaving row spacing 2 meters wide, and pour 1.5-2 liters of water into each hole. The seedlings are buried in the holes up to the cotyledon leaves, the soil is compacted after planting, and then the surface of the area around the seedlings is sprinkled with sand within a radius of 10 cm in order to prevent root rot. Water the seedlings with warm water and protect them from sunlight until the seedling leaves restore turgor.
Basic recommendations for growing watermelon
It is possible to sow seeds of melons, including watermelons, in open ground only in the southern part of the country. But, for better development and increased resistance of plants, it is recommended to pre-prepare seedling material, as in a cold climate zone. For normal germination of watermelon seeds and the full development of young shoots, you must follow these rules:
- Young plants are highly susceptible to cold, so it is not recommended to open windows when placing seedling containers on a windowsill.
- You can transplant seedlings into greenhouses or onto a plot only after the onset of heat - the ambient temperature is above 21ºC.
- Choose a place on the site for growing watermelon that is well-lit, but without the possibility of prolonged direct exposure to sunlight.
Attention!
Premature transplantation of young watermelon shoots into open ground often leads to plant death. The reason is the nighttime drop in temperature. To reduce risks, it is recommended to additionally cover young plants with lutrasil or agrofibre.
How to sow seeds correctly
Before planting seeds, they must be treated against pests and common plant diseases. To do this, immerse a fabric bag with planting material in a warm manganese solution for 30-30 minutes. To speed up germination, you can additionally leave them in warm water for 24 hours. It is often recommended to add growth stimulants to the liquid, but this will not affect the quality of the seedlings. Main recommendations for planting seeds in seedling containers:
- The depth of the holes for placing watermelon seeds in a seedling container is no less than 2 cm and no more than 3 cm.
- It is not recommended to place more than 2 seeds in one container. Otherwise they will be cramped.
- It is better to place the seeds on the side - this way the seeds hatch faster.
When the seeds have already been processed and placed in containers under the ground, they can be sprinkled and covered with plastic wrap. This addition will help create a greenhouse effect, which will help activate germination. The optimal temperature before seedlings appear is from 22ºC to 25ºC. Containers can only be ventilated in warm weather or indoors, as drafts can destroy seedlings.
Preparing the soil mixture
To germinate seeds and prepare watermelon seedlings, you need to prepare the soil. A soil mixture that will be better suited can be purchased at a gardening store - there should be a corresponding mark on the package. There is no need to add anything to this soil - all the required components have already been added. If the soil mixture is prepared at home, then the following components are needed:
- 2.5 liters of soil from the site;
- 25 g potassium supplement;
- 75 g phosphate fertilizer;
- 25 g urea;
- 10 g potassium sulfate.
The influence of moon phases on plants
The new moon is the worst time for gardening work. Do not plant or replant anything. This unfavorable period lasts three days, the day before the new moon, the new moon and the day after. Growing Moon - The Moon grows itself and pulls up the energy and juices of plants. This is the best time to work with plants whose fruits ripen above the ground (greens, herbs, fruits, vegetables, flowers). You can plant, replant, graft, and so on. Full moon - during this period it is also not recommended for planting and replanting plants, but it lasts one day. You can do weeding, fertilizing, and treating the garden from pests. Waning Moon - juices and energy are directed down to the roots, so try to work with root vegetables, bulbous ones.
How to sow correctly: step by step with video
Experienced gardeners recommend sowing watermelons in both small and large containers. Each seed should be sown in a separate cup or large pot. In a large container, the roots of watermelons will develop more actively and faster, so they will begin to bear fruit 7-10 days earlier than those sown in small glasses.
Therefore, you can sow watermelons for seedlings on the same day, but in containers of different sizes. As a result, you will be harvesting for several weeks.
How to prepare the soil
Melon crops prefer sandy soil, so add 25% sand to the soil mixture from the store. You can prepare the soil yourself from garden soil, humus and sand (2:1:1).
How to sow correctly
There is nothing complicated about sowing watermelon seeds. One bush of seedlings should grow in each container, so you should sow one seed at a time.
The seed sowing depth is two to three centimeters. Place the seeds in the holes carefully so as not to damage the shoots. After the holes are filled with earth, the soil above is watered abundantly.
Attention! If you decide not to germinate the seeds, sow 2-4 seeds in each glass. At least one of them will sprout, and you will not be left without seedlings. If all the seeds have sprouted, the strongest seedling can be left and the rest cut off.
Watch a video clip from the YouTube channel in which they show and tell how to sow watermelon seeds and care for seedlings.
You will be interested to know: Patisson: growing seedlings from seeds, sowing in open ground and for seedlings, care
Advantages of the seedling method
Seedlings obtained using the seedling method will be stronger. They have precociousness, the most stable immunity, and can resist diseases. Plants can grow even in cold summers. You should not strive for large sizes in central Russia. Small varieties of watermelons grow better and have a great aroma. They have thin skin and ripen faster.
To grow a sweet and juicy fruit in the conditions of Siberia or the Moscow region, you need to make a lot of effort. But getting a sweet and juicy berry justifies the effort and time spent on growing it.
How to grow good watermelon seedlings
Lighting
Seedlings need to be provided with good lighting and full daylight hours. If the seedlings reach 10 cm or more, they can be thrown away. Such seedlings will grow into weak plants that will practically not produce a harvest.
Watering
To water the seedlings, use only water that has been standing for at least a day. The soil is moistened as it dries. If at an early stage the soil is moistened more often, but less, then grown seedlings require more water, but not too often.
Water should be at the root so that water does not get on the foliage.
Feeding
In the seedling phase, watermelon should grow at home for no more than a month. During this time, the seedlings can be fed, but not with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. It is not necessary for the seedlings to grow a large green mass.
The first time watermelon seedlings are fed in the phase of 2 true leaves with potassium fertilizers.
The second time, a week before planting in the ground, the seedlings are fed with wood ash, 200 grams of which are poured with 3 liters of boiling water and kept for 24 hours. The nutrient solution is prepared from 200 ml of ash infusion and 1.8 liters of water.
