How to grow a watermelon in a greenhouse in the suburbs: planting and care, with photo and video

Many gardeners living in the suburbs are engaged in growing watermelons. In this region, gourds are planted both in greenhouses and on the street. It is recommended to familiarize yourself in advance with how to properly grow watermelon in the Moscow region in order to get a lot of high-quality harvest.

Which varieties grow best in the suburbs

Before you start planting and growing gourds, you need to familiarize yourself with the most suitable varieties for the Moscow region. Breeders have bred several varieties of watermelon that are adapted to the climate of this particular region.

Sugar

Often, gardeners plant sugar watermelon on their plots, which copes well with temperature changes. The variety has an average ripening period, which is 60-70 days. Ripe watermelon berries are covered with a dense greenish skin that protects the flesh from damage. A feature of the variety can be considered its taste, characterized by a pleasant sweetness.

Maristo

This variety is popular with gardeners who prefer early varieties. The fruits of Maristo are fully ripe within 45-50 days. The advantage of the plant is its resistance to anthracnose and other common diseases that often lead to the death of watermelon seedlings. When growing Maristo, at least 25 kilograms of juicy fruits are harvested from one bush.

Baraka

Among the high-yielding varieties with fast ripening berries, Baraka watermelons are distinguished.They grow well in the Moscow region and in other nearby areas. Baraka is distinguished by large fruits, weighing more than ten kilograms. They are covered with a dense dark skin, under which there is a sweet and watery pulp. Baraka independently copes with pathogens of Fusarium and aphids.

Erken

The earliest varieties of watermelons include Erken, whose berries are ripened within three weeks after planting seedlings in the garden. The advantages of the variety include its unpretentiousness, thanks to which even inexperienced gardeners can start growing Erken.

Ripe watermelon fruits weigh at least 12 kilograms. They are dark green in color and have a sweet taste.

Growing methods

Before planting gourds, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the methods of their cultivation. There are two main ways in which you can grow watermelon bushes.

Seedlings

People who are addicted to watermelons often grow them using the seedling method. Its main advantage is considered to be faster ripening of fruits in comparison with seed cultivation in the garden.

Also to the pluses, you can add the fact that plants grown in seedlings are better protected from diseases and pests.

To get strong watermelon seedlings, seed is sown in pots or plastic cassettes filled with soil and fertilizer. Within a month, seedlings will grow to 5-7 centimeters, and they can be transplanted into a garden or greenhouse.

Seeds

Gardeners who do not want to spend time transplanting seedlings immediately plant watermelons in the garden. When using the seedless method, all seeds are soaked in advance in a solution of manganese and water so that they germinate better and are not subject to disease. Then the treated seed is dried and planted in the ground.So that the planted seeds do not suffer from frost, they are buried to a depth of 15-17 centimeters. For additional protection, all beds with planted seeds can be covered with plastic wrap.

How to plant and care for seeds

Gardeners who prefer to grow gourds by seed should learn how to do it right.

Outdoor

Some residents of the Moscow region prefer to plant watermelons in the garden. To do this, choose a site with good lighting and protection from strong gusts of wind. The most suitable place will be the place where cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes or radishes were previously grown. Also, when choosing a site in the country, pay attention to the soil, which should be sandy loam.

After choosing a site, they begin pre-sowing soil preparation. 10-15 kilograms of humus and wood ash are added to it. Then the garden is treated with a mixture made from superphosphate and sulfate.

When the preparation of the site is completed, start planting. To do this, rows are marked, along which holes 15-20 centimeters deep are made with a chopper. Two seeds are thrown into each hole, after which they are sprinkled with earth and watered. To grow strong bushes, at night all rows are covered with foil or sprinkled with straw.

In greenhouse conditions

Growing in a greenhouse is popular among gardeners who want to protect seedlings from night frosts as much as possible. For planting plants use greenhouses with a height of more than two meters. A low greenhouse for watermelons is not suitable, as the whips are grown indoors in an upright position.

Before planting a watermelon, they prepare the soil. To do this, beds are marked along the greenhouse, in which fertilizing in the form of manure is added in advance. Then holes are made on the beds and filled with superphosphate liquid.After that, 1-2 seeds are placed in the holes and covered with soil.

Rules for planting and caring for seedlings

Planting and growing watermelons using the seedling method causes difficulties for some gardeners. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself in advance with the features of growing gourds in this way.

For open ground

Planting watermelons in open ground is carried out 35 days after sowing seeds. Most often, the planting dates coincide with the end of May or the beginning of summer. To transplant seedlings, pits 30-40 centimeters deep are dug in the area, into which seedlings are carefully placed.

Planted seedlings must be constantly looked after so that they grow better. Be sure to form a bush, in which all additional shoots are removed, and the main stem is pinched over the sixth leaf. Also, seedlings are regularly watered so that the soil does not dry out. In summer, watering is done 2-3 times a week.

For greenhouse

Growing seedlings in a greenhouse is no different from planting in open ground. Caring for watermelon bushes in a greenhouse consists in regular fertilization of plants. Bushes are fed with a solution prepared from ammonium nitrate. Organic top dressings are also used, which increase the yield of watermelons. To do this, the bushes are watered with liquid from bird droppings or manure.

To effectively care for watermelon seedlings, you need to monitor the temperature in the greenhouse. Temperature indicators at night should not fall below 20 degrees, and in the daytime - below 30.

Diseases and pests of watermelons

Among the most dangerous diseases and pests are:

Anthracnose. This disease appears as a result of exposure to seedlings of a dangerous fungus. Signs of anthracnose begin to appear if watermelons are grown in high humidity.First, the upper part of the bushes turns yellow and becomes larger. Then ulcerative wounds appear on the stems, and the fruits are deformed. To get rid of the symptoms of anthracnose, you need to use Bordeaux liquid.
Rot. Pathology is activated due to temperature changes and waterlogging of the soil. The development of rot leads to compaction of the root system and its gradual cracking. For prevention, it is recommended to regularly fill the bushes with warm water and chalk solution.
Wireworm. These bugs damage the roots of seedlings, which leads to their partial or complete drying. Getting rid of the wireworm is quite difficult. The only effective way to fight is the use of traps made from jars of chopped carrots and beets.
Aphids. Such an insect is considered a dangerous pest that can quickly suck the juice from seedlings and destroy them. Often aphid colonies appear in the summer or late spring.To fight the insect, it is necessary to periodically clear the area of weeds and remove infected plants.

Determining the ripeness of watermelon

Before harvesting, you should familiarize yourself with the definition of the degree of maturity.

To make sure that the fruits are ripe, you need to pay attention to their size. Ripe watermelons cannot be too small. Their weight should be about 5-10 kilograms. Also, the ripeness of a plant is determined by color.

Ripe watermelons are dark green. If the fruits are too light, it is better not to pick them, as they are not yet fully ripe. Ripe watermelon berries have a hard surface. A soft crust indicates that the crop is already overripe and should be plucked immediately before it begins to rot.

Collection and storage rules for watermelon

If agricultural technology was fully observed when growing watermelons, ripened fruits will be well stored for six months. For longer storage, it is recommended to plant only late varieties that are resistant to temperature extremes and transportation.

For the storage of watermelons choose rooms in which the air temperature does not exceed ten degrees Celsius. Also be sure to take care of good air circulation and low lighting.

Conclusion

Many gardeners of the Moscow region are engaged in the cultivation of watermelons. Before you start planting, you should familiarize yourself with the best varieties for this region and the features of growing gourds.