Planting watermelon seedlings in the ground

In order to grow a large and sweet watermelon, you first need to decide on a variety. It is very important to find the variety that is best suited to the climate in your area. Watermelon is a thermophilic crop, but there are already hybrids with a short growing season that can be grown even in Siberia, so you will not have any problems with choosing a variety.

Soil preparation and transfer of seedlings to the garden

In northern latitudes with short summers, it is better to grow watermelons through seedlings. To grow seedlings, you need to prepare a mixture of sand and humus 1: 1, since the plant loves loose fertile soil. The age of seedlings ready for planting in open ground is about 30 days. As soon as one true leaf is formed, the seedlings will need to be transplanted into the soil. It is best to plant seedlings in late May - early June, depending on weather conditions.

You should not keep young shoots in cassettes for too long, since when transplanting an overgrown plant there is a risk of damaging the main root.

Before planting watermelons in the ground, you need to prepare a garden bed. Add ash to the soil at the rate of one glass per plant. After that, fertilize the soil with superphosphate - one tablespoon per seedling, and also sprinkle compost on the garden bed - one three-liter bucket per plant. Watermelon loves nutrient soil very much.

The width of the beds should be 60 cm, the distance between the watermelons - 50 cm. The scourges will grow from the sunny side, so it is necessary to leave a distance between the beds of about 1 m 50 cm for the free growth of melons.

You will need to prepare holes for planting plants, their depth should correspond to the height of the seedling container. Before planting, pour half a glass of potassium permanganate solution into each hole, fill the rest of the hole with water. As soon as the water is absorbed into the soil, you can start handling the plants. Planting is done very carefully so as not to damage the roots. Plants planted in such holes will hurt less and get stronger faster.

Caring for watermelon after planting

In the first month after planting, you need to create greenhouse conditions for the seedlings. Place arches over each bed and cover them with agrofibre, then the watermelons will take root better. For a watermelon in the growing stage, abundant watering is very important. It is necessary to remove all side shoots and leave only the main lash, because the plant will need strength to form a large berry. When the watermelon begins to form lashes and grow, treat it with drugs for late blight.