Cultivation of watermelon - planting, breeding and care
Until recently, only a few decided to grow it in their own garden. In fact, it's not that hard at all! How to grow watermelon at home? Is it difficult? How to care for the farm? You will find the answers to these questions in the guide below.
Basic varieties of watermelon
Watermelon, i.e. watermelon is low in calories, it complements the potassium deficiency in the body. Contains vitamin C and antioxidants - lycopene and beta-carotene and lycopene. We will not find cholesterol and fat in it. Due to these properties, we are so eager to reach for it. When deciding to grow watermelon, it is worth getting acquainted with its basic varieties. Let us remember that breeding in the ground requires us to choose an early species, among which we distinguish:
Rosario - a ground variety, red, whose fruits reach up to 4 kg. This species resists powdery mildew.
Złoto Wolicy - a variety that is characterized by color - yellow watermelon is extremely popular and delicious.
Janosik - yellow variety, resistant to diseases, characterized by sweet and juicy flesh.
How to plant a watermelon?
Watermelon is an annual plant belonging to the gourd family. Before we decide to plant a watermelon, it is worth taking care of the right position and preparing everything. Watermelons should be grown in a sunny place in the garden, sheltered from the north. They require fertile soil, rich in nutrients, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0, which is properly fertilized - e.g. with compost or manure. However, the most important thing is the temperature - watermelon likes heat. The minimum growth temperature is around 18°C, and the optimum is 22 to 28°C. It is worth noting that it feels best at a temperature of around 21 ° C. How to ensure it? Well, you can warm the substrate, e.g. with non-woven fabric, straw. Watermelons require 2-3 months of heat and are resistant to periodic droughts, but do not forget to provide them with adequate moisture, because the plant has deep roots. It can be grown in the ground, in a polytunnel, in a pot or in a greenhouse under foil. The plant should be provided with enough space - its shoots can reach up to 2 or 3 m in length. It is planted in a spacing of about 80 x 100 cm. Watermelon leaves are extremely characteristic - they have a heart-shaped, indented shape, and tendrils are visible in the leaf nodes. Over time, flowers grow - first male, and after a few days female. Watermelon fruit has the form of a large berry with sweet flesh. We suggest you look for suitable seeds in our seed category.
Planting a watermelon - step by step
Watermelon seeds should be sown in a pot in a polytunnel, in a greenhouse, etc. Watermelon seeds should be sown about 5 weeks before planting it to a permanent place.
Cover the seedling - the seeds will germinate faster. Remember to fertilize the plant.
When the leaves appear, harden the plant - do not water it so often.
Plant the plant into the ground after hardening in late May or early June (then the soil is properly heated).
When planting a watermelon, remember about the right distance between the plants.
Watermelon breeding and care
After planting the plant, cover it for some time (several days) with a white agrotextile - thanks to this you will protect it from the cold. Remove the fabric when flowering begins. If you live in colder regions, remove all flowers that develop in the first 50 days after the first frost. This will help the fruit to ripen better later. What's next - how to care for a watermelon farm? First of all, weed the soil (don't let weeds take valuable nutrients). Be careful when watering. How to properly water watermelons? First of all, remember to be regular and not to use cold water. Do not water the plant, but the soil. The stems are extremely sensitive to drought when its fruits are forming, so make sure to provide water directly to the soil. You can use an automatic watering system or drip irrigation for this purpose. It is important to prevent the fungus from spreading among the wet leaves. The soil on which we grow watermelon must be constantly moist, but not soaked with water. It is good to water the plant in the morning - then the leaves will have time to dry, which prevents the development of fungal diseases. It is normal for leaves to wilt when exposed to the sun and should not be a cause for concern. However, let's make sure that they do not remain in this state until the evening.
TRIMING THE STEM SHOTS
Ripening fruits should not come into direct contact with the soil, as they may begin to rot. Place them on straw or cardboard. If you put the fruit on a surface that reflects light, i.e. on aluminum foil, then they will ripen faster (because the light is concentrated there). If you notice that your farm has been noticed by pests, cover the fruit with, for example, a laundry basket and load it with something heavier. There are different opinions on pruning stem shoots - some believe that regular pruning will make the watermelon ripen faster, while others believe that they produce sugars that affect the taste of the fruit (thus pruning makes watermelons less sweet).
Watermelon fertilization
Watermelons should be fertilized from the moment of flowering. Some are of the opinion that the fertilizer should be changed during the growing season. From planting to the appearance of the first flowers, it is good to use fertilizers with high nitrogen content and less phosphorus and potassium (See: Garden fertilizers). From the moment of flowering, we change the strategy and use a fertilizer with less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium.
Watermelon breeding - solving problems
Watermelon cultivation, like all other plants, is exposed to various types of diseases. What are the most common and how to deal with them? In the article spring fertilization of the garden you will find some tips on spring work in the garden. The most common ailment is fungal diseases that spread quickly on the leaves. They cause spots and faded or brown spots on the stems, resulting in fruit rot. Powdery mildew is also a common ailment. It causes yellow or white spots. In the case of this type of disease, it is good to use fungicides. Watermelon cultivation is also exposed to aphids. It is good to check every day if they have appeared, and if necessary, apply an insecticide. The threat of beetles attacking stems often results in a disease called myxoma. Unfortunately, the shoots that have been attacked will not come back to life. For the threat itself in the form of beetles, it is good to use special anti-rotting agents and pesticides. Let's use them at dusk.
Collection of watermelons
Watermelon fruits are usually harvested from mid-August to mid-September. Ripe fruits easily detach from the stems. If you're trying to pick a watermelon and you can't turn it around and pull it off the stem, it's a sign that it's not ripe enough yet. If we notice white and pale yellow marks on the underside, it is a sign that the fruit is suitable for harvesting. If you are looking for the right tools, please visit our category. Let us remember that leaving watermelons longer after harvesting will not contribute to the fact that they will be sweeter. The moment we tear the watermelons from the stems, they are ready to eat. It is also worth tapping the watermelon - this will be a hint for us whether the fruit is sweet. If you hear a hollow sound, it's a sign that we will definitely like it.
Why is it worth eating watermelons?
Watermelons are not only delicious and sweet, but also healthy! As mentioned above, they are rich in minerals (including potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, iron), vitamins (C and A), contain folic acid, amino acids, carotenoids and carbohydrates. Thanks to the high water content, watermelons are great thirst quenchers. It is worth remembering that these fruits, due to the high content of carbohydrates, will not be suitable for people struggling with diabetes.
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