Features and secrets of growing watermelons in Siberia

Features of this region

Despite the harsh climatic conditions, many Siberians are engaged in gardening and gardening - they cultivate various crops, because, despite the considerable amount of imported products, they still want their own and 100% environmentally friendly. The main emphasis of the inhabitants of this region is made on the cultivation of grain crops. Basically, these are rye, wheat (spring), oats and barley. This choice is primarily due to agricultural needs - for feeding livestock. Many Siberians grow vegetables, usually potatoes. Some people prefer sunflower and flax.

Varieties for Siberia

Let's start, so to speak, with the preparatory stage. First, you need to decide on the varieties of watermelons that will be appropriate for the conditions of Siberia.

The most common varieties are: Honey Scooper, Sugar Baby, Emperor's Hat, Odintsovsky, Peking Joy and Ogonyok.

It's worth noting that watermelons love warm temperatures. But due to the fact that the Siberian region can not boast of special warmth every year, then you can count on a harvest only if there are at least one hundred warm days (+28) from the moment of planting this crop.

Video "How to grow a crop of watermelons in Siberia"

See what kind of harvest you can get on melons in Siberia with the right variety and proper care.

When to plant

According to already experienced gardeners, if you have learned how to grow cucumbers, then it will not be difficult with watermelons, because these two crops have much in common both in planting and in care. In regions with higher temperatures, planting can be done directly into the ground.

Usually, planting begins at the end of April, when the earth has managed to warm up to at least 10 degrees. Do not delay sowing watermelons, because the later, the yield will decrease.

When planting, the holes are made 6-8 cm deep. If the next summer is expected to be dry, the holes should be made a couple of centimeters deeper. Seeds are placed in the holes to a depth of 1 centimeter. It is not worth deepening, otherwise there is a high probability of damage.

There are people who grow bashtanovye in the following way: put seeds in a pre-prepared hole (how to prepare it - described below) and immediately cover it with a cut plastic bottle (the bottom is cut off, neck up). Thus, the optimum temperature for fruit ripening is constantly maintained. In case frost is foreseen, the neck of the bottle should be covered with a film or other covering material (but do not screw it with a cork from this bottle, since there will be no air circulation and sunlight will not enter enough for good fruit ripening). When the danger of frost has passed, the bottle can be removed and you can continue to care for the watermelons as usual.

But, basically, the cultivation of bashtans in Siberia is carried out using seedlings. We start working with seedlings around the end of April.

And when working with seedlings, and when planting directly into the ground, the seeds must be soaked. Some recommend soaking them with water at room temperature, others - with water of 50 degrees. When soaking with warm water, you need to let the seeds brew for about 2 days. If you fill it with hot water, then just let the water cool down for a while and you can plant seeds for seedlings.

Some believe that the seedlings are ready for planting after one month. And other gardeners say that 4-5 days will be enough to carry out planting.

When the seedling germination period is already over, we begin to prepare the holes for planting. Watermelons are quite freedom-loving cultures, so you should try to make holes at a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other. An important point is the weeding of the watermelon planting site. It is worth remembering that it is the presence of some weeds that will help the fruits become juicy, and not scorched by the sun. So it is not necessary to remove all weeds “to zero”. You yourself will notice that the largest fruit will grow near the largest weed.

We loosen the earth of each hole, add humus or compost, sand and, if possible, ash there. Next, cover the holes with foil or glass - this way, let the soil warm up. Some gardeners, in order to warm the ground, simply pour hot water (just not boiling water) on each hole, let the water soak in and immediately land.

Caring for planted watermelons

To grow tasty and juicy watermelons, you need to go through the final stage - caring for the planted plants. The most important thing here is to make sure that the ground is always moist.

Many people mistakenly believe that watermelon, as a heat-loving plant, does not really need water. But this opinion is extremely erroneous, because even when they exist in hot conditions, Bashtanovy take quite a lot of water from the soil and from warm southern rains.

So in hot weather, watering should be done twice a day. Watermelons should be watered with exceptionally warm water (in extreme cases, slightly cool).

Around the beginning of August, watermelon whips begin to grow actively. They should be pinched. You also need to remove constantly growing shoots.

As for weeding, it is not recommended to carry out it often. As mentioned earlier, weeds are more protective of watermelons from the sun. So many people weed the ground only once at a time. It is worth remembering that those weeds that appeared after the germination of plants are no longer scary. That is why experienced gardeners keep a part of the garden with seemingly unkempt watermelons, but, believe me, this is it for a bashtan.

Some, when growing bastans, resort to some of their own tricks and secrets. For example, when the fruit of a watermelon is already starting to pour, a brick is placed under it. This helps to accumulate heat, the presence of which for the fruit is a prerequisite for its good ripening.

Video "Secrets of growing Siberian watermelons"

In this video you will get acquainted with the invaluable experience of breeding melons and gourds of the professionals of the Irkutsk Organic Farming Club.

Long-term and constant care will help the watermelons grow successfully and, as a reward, bring you an excellent and juicy harvest.