Cultivation of melons in Siberia in the open field and greenhouse

Cultivation of melons in Siberia no longer seems unusual. Hardworking gardeners plant them in greenhouses and in open ground. Then they get a harvest of fragrant juicy berries.

Heat-loving berry is traditionally cultivated in the steppe regions of the south. In Siberia, not so long ago, gardeners did not dare to plant melons. But new varieties and hybrids of early ripening have appeared. Cultivation experience gained. Known technologies are also used.

Gardeners note the pleasant taste and juiciness of fruits grown in the open field. They compare favorably with melons brought from the southern regions. Competent agricultural technology will provide the family with products in the required quantity.

Region suitability for cultivation

The climate of Siberia is not uniform. In the northern part, air masses from the Arctic Ocean cool the ground. Farming here is problematic.

In the southern part (in Khakassia) apricots and pears feel at ease. The number of sunny days is sufficient. Gardeners are trying to grow grapes and heat-loving gourds, including melons, in the open field.

The disadvantage of the region's climate is unpredictability. There are droughts in spring and summer. The temperature in the shade reaches 40 ⁰С. This heat is replaced by a July cooling and prolonged rains. June often brings snowfalls. Frosts occur in early August. Then the warm weather comes back for a short time.

To grow melons in Siberia in the open field, all the features of the region should be taken into account. It is required to get acquainted with the catalog of varieties and hybrids of zoned plants, to work out cultivation methods. The advice of agricultural technicians and the use of covering material will make the task easier.

What does a melon require?

This crop is characterized by increased requirements for growing conditions. For the growth and ripening of melons in the open field, you need:

1. Comfortable temperature for growth and maturation +25-30 ⁰С. When exceeded, pollination of the ovaries stops (pollen is sterilized).
2. Reducing the average daily temperature to 10-15 ⁰С leads to a h alt in the growth of melons. A prolonged cold snap causes the death of the plant.
3. Early ripe melons require up to 70 days of comfortable weather to ripen. In mid-season, the period is longer - up to 90 days. If conditions change, the term for reaching technical ripeness is extended.

It is possible to grow melons in a greenhouse in the north of Siberia. Moreover, it is required to provide sufficient illumination and temperature in the room for plant growth. These activities increase the cost of fruits.

In the central and southern parts of the region it is possible to harvest heat-loving berries in the open field. The main requirement is the absence of prolonged rains and summer cold. The number of sunny days varies from 40 to 50. The same number of days happens with night temperatures above 15 ⁰С. Therefore, it should be grown in seedlings.

Some gardeners take a risk: they plant a melon with dry seeds immediately in a permanent place in an open garden. The method pleases with positive results only in the southernmost regions. In this case, the weather should be as favorable as possible. In the conditions of the region, such an event is rare.

How to grow a melon?

Unstable climate with a small number of days comfortable for the plant requires effort from the gardener. Consider:

• growing melon through seedlings (should be planted a month before the intended planting in the ground);
• prepare ridges (pay special attention to soil fertility);
• use covering material under adverse conditions (June and August);
• carry out normalization of plants.

Cultivation of heat-loving berries in the open field requires effort from the gardener. But what a joy to offer home grown juicy fragrant fruit!

How to prepare seeds?

When buying material from well-known companies, nothing is required before planting. The manufacturer checked the seeds for germination, additionally carried out chemical treatment, and provided soil control. This is written on the bag.

Some gardeners collect their own seeds. In this case, you should:

1. Check for germination. Pour a handful of material into a glass of water. Stir. Wait 5 minutes. Empty seeds will float. They are rejected. The rest are suitable for landing.
2. Calculate the percentage of germination (when cultivating large areas). To do this, the number of seeds remaining at the bottom should be divided by the total number of seeds checked and multiplied by 100. This measure will avoid empty holes.
3. Decontaminate material in pink potassium permanganate solution (hold for 10 minutes).
4. To increase germination, it is recommended to dip the seeds for 30 minutes in a solution of potassium humate or aloe vera juice.
5. It is recommended to dry the seeds after wet treatments.
6. In Siberia it is risky to sow sprouted seeds. With a sudden cold snap, the awakened embryos will die.

Melon seeds should be planted 2-3 years after harvest. This measure will increase the number of female flowers.

Sometimes a gardener plans to plant a melon for the first year. In this case, dry heating of the seeds is required for a month at a temperature of 30-40 ⁰С. You can pour the material into a cloth bag and hang it from the battery.

Soil preparation

To get a good harvest, it is recommended to pay attention to the choice of area for cultivation. Under the plants, the sunniest and most protected from cold winds place should be allocated.

Melon predecessors should be: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, cabbage, peas, potatoes. These crops are affected by other pests. The soil after their cultivation does not accumulate pathogenic organisms.

It is forbidden to plant melons after watermelons, cucumbers, pumpkins, eggplants. They have common pests. The roots take the same nutrients from the soil. It is impossible to get a decent harvest.

Prepare the bed should be 2 weeks before the proposed landing. Activity Plan:

1. Remove weeds. Choose your roots carefully.
2. Melons require loose, breathable soil. Sanding on heavy loams.
3. Add humus (bucket per square meter), dig. After 3-5 days, fill the soil with a mineral complex (according to the manufacturer's instructions).
4. Dig up the bed on a spade bayonet. Break up lumps.

Cover the entire area with a dark thick film. Press the ends around the entire perimeter to the ground. Check the temperature with a thermometer. When warmed to the required value (12 ⁰С at planting depth), seedlings can be planted or seeds can be sown.

Warm ridges

This ancient method is used by Siberians to grow cucumbers in open ground. Enthusiast gardeners use it when planting melons. Preparing a garden bed is easy. To save time, you can start in the fall. Sequence of actions:

1. Mark the area with twine. Remove the soil on the shovel bayonet.
2. Make a box of boards, plywood, plastic. It should rise 20-25 cm above the soil surface.
3. Lay down chopped branches, grass, tops, bark, the remains of defective fruits and vegetables.
4. Fill in half of the excavated earth.
5. In the spring (after the snow has melted), spread horse manure mixed with straw on top. The layer should be 5-10 cm.
6. Top with the remaining soil and spill with hot water (60-70 ⁰С).
7. Close with a dark film. Press the ends tightly.

Dung with straw will begin to overheat with the release of heat. After a few days (5-7), the soil is ready for planting seedlings or sowing seeds.

Advantages of the method: the bed is heated from below for 2-3 weeks, manure is an additional source of organic matter, the soil is loose and fertile.

Horse manure can be replaced with cow or bird manure. But the warm-up time will be longer. The heat release period is shorter. Melons grown in this way will ripen earlier than those planted on regular beds.

The method has a drawback. Melons in open ground are placed according to the scheme: 100 × 140 cm. Preparing a warm ridge will require significant physical effort and material costs: you will have to buy manure on a farm or from a breeder.

Greenhouse melons

The melon grown in the open field is tastier and more fragrant than the greenhouse one. But using greenhouses has advantages:

• harvest ripens 2-3 weeks earlier;
• planting scheme is changing: it is enough to place plants according to the scheme 70×40 cm;
• it is possible to regulate the microclimate: change the temperature, soil moisture, illumination;
• Greenhouse melons are less affected by rot.

The optimal material for building greenhouses in Siberia is polycarbonate. It retains heat and lets in sunlight.

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