How to grow watermelons in a polycarbonate greenhouse

A modern summer resident of the Moscow region grows many different crops, including watermelons in a greenhouse. Melon agrotechnics is somewhat different from the process of working with greenhouse crops, so we will tell in the article how to grow a watermelon in a greenhouse juicy, and organize the whole process as correctly as possible. Modern methods of agricultural technology, selected varieties of seeds and at least a little knowledge of care, will allow you to grow delicious juicy watermelons in your own summer cottage, whether it be the Moscow region or the lands of Siberia.

Content

1 Basic requirements for growing
2 Choosing a variety
3 Video "Watermelons in a polycarbonate greenhouse"
4 Seed and seedling preparation
5 Preparing a place for landing
6 Watermelon care
7 Video "Greenhouse for growing watermelons"

Basic requirements for growing

All representatives of melons and gourds are plants for which long daylight hours and warmth are extremely important. Therefore, in order for the harvest to be good, it is necessary to provide in the greenhouse the most identical natural conditions for the growing season of the crop. For the full life of a watermelon in a greenhouse, the temperature should be at least + 30 degrees Celsius in the daytime, and at night it should not drop below + 18 degrees Celsius.

To create such a temperature and light regime for growing watermelons in a greenhouse, it is necessary to use special heating and ventilation systems, as well as careful care. Melon berries normally adapt to drought, but waterlogging can be detrimental to the growing season of the crop. The optimum moisture content for watermelons should always be kept within 60%.

Melons, including watermelon, are very susceptible to the peculiarities of the soil and climate in general. Therefore, for planting in Siberia and in the Moscow region, completely different varieties of seeds will be required.

Choosing a variety

When choosing seeds for sowing in the Moscow region or in another region, focus on a local producer. You should not choose varieties with large fruits, since the agricultural technology of watermelon in a greenhouse requires uniform compliance with growing conditions throughout the growing season. Small fruits reach ripeness much faster. By the way, varieties with small fruits are capable of producing much more ovaries after planting than large-sized ones.

If we talk about the "maturity" of seeds, it is better to choose fresh sowing material, since they germinate in Siberia and in the Moscow region much more actively than their mature counterparts. If you are new to growing such a berry, then try planting the Ogonyok variety for your first experience. The seeds are easily accepted and give early ripening small fruits. Ripe watermelon reaches from 1 to 2 kg, the pulp is juicy and sugar, the outer color of the peel is green-black.

For the cultivation of greenhouse watermelons in Siberia and in the central regions of Russia, such varieties as "Sibiryak", "Gift to the North", "Siberian Lights" are suitable, since they are early ripening and cold-resistant. For the Moscow region, the best option would be "Cinderella", "Ultra early", "Pink champagne".

Video "Watermelons in a polycarbonate greenhouse"

Seed and seedling preparation

The start of work in the greenhouse falls in mid-April. Seeds must be sorted in brine before planting. To do this, dissolve 1 tsp in one glass of water. salt and throw seeds - floating seeds are not suitable for planting. Then the selected seeds are thoroughly washed in fresh water, and then placed in a solution of 1% potassium permanganate for half an hour. After that, the seeds should be rinsed well.

To increase germination, the seed is soaked in warm water or in a solution of an immunostimulant.After a few days, the seeds hatch and at this time they are planted in pots with soil for seedlings. The soil mixture is preliminarily prepared. Below is the calculation of the components for one bucket of soil mixture:

soil - ¼ buckets
humus - ¾ buckets
fertilizers (potassium, nitrogen) - 1 tbsp.
phosphoric mixture -3 tbsp.
potassium sulfate - 1 tsp

A glass of wood ash will be useful. Seeds should be poured into the ground by 2-3 cm, and the seed should be placed sideways. Choose pots for planting with a diameter of at least 10 cm. The temperature regime in the greenhouse where the seedlings are grown should be within 22-25 degrees Celsius, and after the first shoots appear, the degree is lowered to 21-23. Pots with seedlings are covered with foil until the emergence of seedlings. At this stage, it is important to provide long daylight hours (12-14 hours) using artificial lighting.

Place the seedling pots so that the leaves of the "neighbors" do not touch each other. After ten days, the seedlings must be fed with mineral fertilizers, it is not recommended to do it earlier. Two weeks later, the second feeding. You can plant seedlings in a greenhouse after a month, when the seedlings will have from three to five true leaves.

Preparing a place for landing

Transplanting seedlings into a greenhouse requires careful preparation, and this process should begin in the first months of spring. A polycarbonate greenhouse is great for growing melons, but it is important to respect the dimensions, namely, the height should be 170-200 cm.Planting seedlings in greenhouse soil is possible in mid-May, when the daytime temperature reaches 20-25 degrees, and at night - at least 5. Be sure to prepare a film or thick paper in case of sudden frosts.

We prepare the soil for transplanting in advance. 7 days before transplanting, a layer of soil is removed to the depth of a shovel and hay with humus is laid. Nitrogen fertilizers are poured on top, after which everything is filled with hot water. After the "hot shower", the soil is returned back, creating a layer of 2-3 cm, and the area is covered with black film or paper. This will allow you to warm up and fertilize the soil well before planting.

In mid-May, when the seedlings have real leaves, they are transplanted into a greenhouse. The entire plot is divided into beds with a width of at least 1 meter. You need to plant it to a depth of 10 cm, observing the distance between adjacent crops of 50-100 cm. To acclimatize the seedlings faster, cover it with a film. Over the next ten days, the seedlings "get used" to the new conditions, so your task is only to maintain the desired temperature and periodic ventilation.

Watermelon care

Caring for watermelon crops in the Moscow region requires patience and time. The first thing that must be ensured is watering in a polycarbonate greenhouse until flowering with warm water in the evening (three times within 7 days). Watering decreases with flowering. Try to prevent water from getting on the leaves, as well as the formation of condensation in the greenhouse.

The second condition of care is feeding with nitrogen fertilizers and chicken droppings:

the first - when the lashes reach 25-50 cm;
the second - before the formation of buds;
the third - after the formation of the ovary.

Pollination of a crop can be artificial (manual) or natural. By planting honey plants near the watermelons, you will ensure that the bees are available for pollination. On the tenth day after the transplant, a trellis tie is carried out. Following our recommendations, you can easily provide the necessary care and grow watermelons in a greenhouse at a summer cottage both in the Moscow region and in Siberia.

Video "Greenhouse for growing watermelons"

If you want to get acquainted in more detail with the process of growing watermelons in greenhouses, then this video is what you were looking for.