How to grow watermelons in Siberia

It turns out that watermelons in Siberia can be grown even in the open ground. To do this, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of breeders and select specially selected varieties for northern regions. For Siberia will require early ripening species, which include "Sibiriak", "Siberian lights", "Svit", "Ogonyok", "Ultra".

Watermelons in Siberia are grown in seedlings. Since the plant is thermophilic, it is planted on raised beds, which have been prepared since autumn. Growing seedlings produce a month before its transfer to the ground. First, the seeds are prepared by soaking them in hot water (60 ° C). After the liquid has cooled to room temperature, the seeds must be removed and immersed in a solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%) for a quarter of an hour. You can also omit them in the potassium permanganate.

Seeds of watermelon are placed in prepared cups or other containers filled with soil, which is taken as any vegetable mixture, impregnated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Usually, the planting instruction is contained in a package with seeds. Before emergence of watermelon seeds, it is desirable to place the cups in a warm place, for example a battery. Germs should appear in three days.

When the sun comes Neither, the seedlings should be hardened daily, taking it out onto the terrace or balcony. In the early days it is done for half an hour, increasing the duration of the walk by 10 minutes every day. This will allow the plant to become accustomed to the sun's rays.

While seedlings are developing at home, on the site in a warm patch should prepare the holes. They add humus, ash and sand in proportions 2/1/1. All must be well mixed, poured into water and close each well with glass to warm the soil.

To get watermelons in Siberia, it is necessary to transfer seedlings to beds from June 10, planting one plant per well. The interval between the shoots should be about 80 centimeters, between the rows - one and a half meters. At first, to protect against possible frosts on the soil, the entire range covered with non-woven material. Watering when planting produce only warm water.

After a week, you should feed the watermelons with a liquid mullein, diluted with water at a concentration of 1 to 10. Since Siberia rarely has a dry, hot summer, the berry is watered at a minimum. She does not like a lot of moisture. In August, humidification is stopped altogether after supplementation at the beginning of the month. For stimulation of the plant, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are added to the soil.

Growing watermelons in Siberia, it is very important to conduct the formation of stems in a timely manner. To do this, one plant should not leave more than three stems, and all the other stepsons need to be nipped. If this is not done, then nutrients and water will disperse in all the ovaries, as a result, the watermelon will go to the tops, and the fruits will not ripen.

In order not to decay berries, it is necessary to put a plate under each fruit formation. Berry with growth should be carefully turned on the other side. Those watermelons, which do not have time to ripen, can be salted.