Square watermelon: how to grow your own hands at home

In August, it's time for ripe and juicy watermelons. The fruit pulp contains a large amount of nutritious vitamins and microelements. Regular consumption of fruits in food will cleanse the body and, at the same time, lose weight. Traditionally, everyone is used to the fact that the berry has a round or oval shape. But more and more often in the markets you can see a square watermelon.

The advantage of this watermelon shape and the difference from the round one

Everyone is used to the fact that a watermelon is a round berry or, in extreme cases, an oval one. But in the last few years, you can see cubic watermelons on the market.According to the characteristics, this is the same berry, only of a different shape. There are no differences between a cubic and a round berry, except for the shape.

Square watermelons have been around for a few years now. For the first time, the Japanese managed to give the shape of a square to the fetus. The advantages of such berries are that in this form the fruits are easier to transport. They take up less space during transportation. This is the only advantage of square watermelons over round ones.

Secrets of Growing

Growing watermelons outdoors is not difficult. The only limitation is that this culture does not grow in any climate. More precisely, it will be possible to grow berries only in the southern regions, where the summer is hot and long. Even in the central parts, it will not be possible to grow large fruits.

Seed Selection

One of the most expensive watermelons is the Densuke variety. This berry is distinguished by an unusual dark green hue of the peel, which from a distance seems black. Before planting watermelons, you need to choose the right variety.

If you have to grow a variety in the central regions, then preference should be given to zoned varieties. Such seeds are adapted to climatic conditions and give a good harvest.

In the southern regions, any variety is grown. Early varieties of watermelons are characterized by watery pulp. They are not very sweet in taste. Sugar are only late varieties of berries. In the south, the seeds are immediately planted in open ground. In other regions, seedlings are first grown at home, and then transplanted to a permanent place.

Sowing and growing seedlings

Since square watermelons are no different from ordinary ones, they are grown in the same way. Particular attention is paid to sowing seeds. First, the seeds are germinated.

In a saucer you need to dilute a weak solution of potassium permanganate and transfer the seeds there. Place the saucer in a plastic bag, draw some air into it and tie it. After a few days, sprouts begin to appear. After that, the seeds are planted.

Each seed is placed in a separate container. To prepare the soil you need to take:

sand, peat and sod land (in equal proportions);
100 grams of double superfast;
50 grams of ammonium nitrate.

Mix all ingredients thoroughly and divide into cups. Plant seeds. The first shoots appear after a few weeks. Planting gourds in open ground is carried out after warm weather has settled on the street, and there will be no frost at night.

Care, watering and fertilization

After planting in open ground and during the period of active growth, gourds require a large amount of liquid. The preferred type of watering is rain, that is, using a hose. They also put an automatic sprinkler and turn it on for 3-4 hours in the evenings.Watering should be done only in the evening.

The number of waterings is reduced after the flowering period. Then they switch to drip irrigation.

Fertilizers are applied under the root of watermelons. One bush requires 300-500 milliliters of top dressing. After the soil is watered with warm water. From organic fertilizers, mullein and chicken manure are used. As for minerals, you need to use complex ones, which include all the necessary elements.

As a fertilizer, mixtures prepared according to folk methods are also used. For example, yeast-based nutrition is considered the most effective. To prepare yeast-based fertilizer, you need to take 3 liters of water, 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar and a package of yeast. Mix all the ingredients and leave to ferment for 3-5 days. Before watering, dilute 200 milliliters of fertilizer with 1 liter of water and water the plants under the root.Such top dressing contributes to the growth of bushes and the abundant formation of ovaries.

Fetus formation

Growing a square watermelon is possible only in the southern regions, where summer comes early and ends late, and the weather is hot all season. The technology for growing a square watermelon is quite simple, and such fruits can be obtained even at home. Those summer residents who live in the south can experiment and grow square fruits.

How to make a watermelon mold

Preparing a watermelon mold at home is not difficult. The main thing is to have the necessary materials on hand. This is the only difficulty that summer residents face in the process of growing a square fruit.

Required materials and tools

In order to make a structure for forming a berry, you will need the following tools and materials:

several sheets of transparent material (thickness 0.5-0.8 millimeters);
corners for connecting the structure;
screws with nuts;
furniture hinges;
hacksaw (if you don't have a hacksaw handy, a jigsaw will do);
drill;
screwdriver;
ruler;
marker.

After all the materials are prepared, you can start collecting the form.

Structure assembly process

Making a square shape for a watermelon with your own hands:

Several 20x20 squares are cut out of plastic;
at the point of contact of the squares they are connected with screws;
on one side of the resulting box, a hole is drilled for a watermelon vine;
the top of the drawer is fixed with loops with fasteners.

The main thing is that the plastic box is strong enough and able to withstand the onslaught of the watermelon growing inside. Fruits should be placed in the made boxes after they have reached the size of an apple.

Harvesting and storage rules

There are several ways to determine the maturity of a watermelon:

The peel of a ripe watermelon becomes shiny and glossy.
To determine the maturity of a berry, you need to press hard on the peel, if it is pressed through, then the watermelon is not ripe. And if it remains firm, then you can harvest.
The stem should be dry.
There should be a bright yellow spot where the watermelon meets the soil.
Before you cut the berry, you need to knock on the peel. If the sound is muffled, then the berry is ripe.

After the melons have been harvested, the berries must be properly stored so that they stay whole longer. They should be stored in a dark room where open sunlight does not penetrate. Only late varieties of gourds are suitable for long-term storage.

Such fruits are cut with a sharp knife or secateurs. In this case, the stalk must be left at least 5 centimeters long.

The harvested crop is laid on a thin layer of straw. Only he althy fruits without mechanical damage are suitable for long-term storage. If there are cracks on the peel, then such a fruit will not be stored for a long time.

Square berries are often kept in earthen trenches. The recess is covered with straw or hay, then the crop is laid out. After that, they are again covered with straw and covered with soil from above.