Emma Miller
Watermelon and melon are not afraid of drought and are not very demanding of the soil. These plants are not very demanding of the soil, they root well and bring us a rich harvest.
When to plant watermelon and melon
Watermelon and melon seedlings do not like the temperature changes, so sow them when the warmth is constant and stable. The air temperature should not drop below +12°. May in Ukraine was not constant, but in June the melons can already be planted.
How to plant watermelon
Watermelon in the open ground is planted from seeds. Seeds for planting can be bought in an agro-store – they are already ready for planting and specially treated. If you plant watermelons yourself, the seeds need to be prepared before planting.
- Cover the seeds with a cloth and soak them in warm water for 3 hours.
- Then transfer them into a weak manganese solution for 30 minutes.
- Place the seeds on absorbent cotton and leave for 2 days in a warm, sunny place. The seeds should make the first sprouts.
- If the weather in your region is unstable – in the end you can harden the seeds, leaving them in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
Plant watermelons ideally in a sunny place, where there is never any shade. Loose soil, fertilized with compost or humus is suitable for the culture. Watermelons should not be planted 2 years in a row in the same place. Also, the culture does not grow well on the ground after melons, passions, and zucchinis.
Watermelons should be planted as follows
- Prepare holes 10 cm deep. The distance between the holes should be not less than 50 cm, and between the rows – not less than 1 meter.
- Sprinkle a little ash or humus in each hole.
- Water the holes.
- Put 2 watermelon seeds per hole and sprinkle them in gently.
- Cover the seedlings with foil or aerofoil to speed up growth.
- Water the watermelon seedlings 1-2 times a week. After the first fruits appear, stop watering until harvest.
How to plant melon
Melon is not planted with freshly harvested seeds, because then only male plants will grow. To sow melon, four-year-old seeds are used. It is easier to buy them in an agro-store. It is also possible to grow melon through seedlings.
The soil for melon should not be very acidic. If the soil is too clayey, sand is added to it. The place for planting melon should be well-lighted. Before planting the melon, the soil should be deeply recultivated and fertilized with ash or hummus.
Melon should not be planted in an area where solanaceous and gourds are used to grow. Cabbage, onions, garlic, and beans are good precursors for melon.
The melon can be sown as follows.
- Soak the seeds for half an hour in a weak solution of manganese.
- Make holes 5 cm deep. The distance between the holes – not less than 70 cm, between the rows – is 1 meter.
- Cover the holes with a handful of ashes.
- Water the wells with warm water.
- Put 3-4 seeds in each hole and cover with soil.
Melon does not tolerate high humidity. Water it no more often than once a week, unless it rains. Warm the water a little before watering.
