Watermelons and melons are southern plants, but they have taken root well in Russia, including in the Krasnodar Territory, the Moscow Region, Siberia, and the Urals. The key to a good harvest of melon and watermelon is correctly selected seeds.
Gardeners in most parts of the country (with the exception of the southern regions) choose varieties of early ripening, the growing season of which is from 65 to 90 days.
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Seed preparation
Before planting seeds for seedlings, care should be taken to disinfect them. The first step in the preparation is soaking the seeds in saline, a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. For planting, only those seeds that have sunk to the bottom are suitable. They should be washed under a stream of warm water and dried on a sunny windowsill.
The second step of disinfection is placing the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes. This procedure is traditional for all seeds and has long been proven effective in pest control.
The third stage of preparation is the soaking of the seeds until the first sprout hatch. Usually the seeds are placed inside a damp cloth (gauze or any other flap of cotton structure). It is important to ensure that it does not dry out. Saucer with a cloth is better to put on a sunny windowsill. To speed up the result, you can cover with plastic wrap.
The time of appearance of the first seedlings from the moment of soaking the seeds is 5-7 days.
Seedling soil
Among gardeners, there are two approaches to choosing soil for melon seedlings.
The first ones sincerely believe that the best seedling soil should be taken from the garden, on which seedlings of watermelon and melon will be planted later. On the one hand, transplanting in such soil in spring will not be stressful for the plant. On the other hand, the layer that is not the richest in microelements will not allow seedlings to stretch to such an extent that its transportation from apartment to cottage will become a real problem.
The second category of summer residents is convinced that fertilizing seedlings determines the quality of the future crop, and most breeders support this point of view. One recognized option is a mixture of humus and turf. The soil is bred at a rate of 1: 3 (turf and cow humus). Some experts recommend adding sand and peat to this mixture.
It is better to plant germinated seeds in separate containers, such as plastic or peat cups.
Landing time
Watermelons and melons are traditionally sown in late March - late April. Specific dates may vary by region. Of course, summer in the Krasnodar Territory and the northern regions of Siberia differs dramatically: in the length of daylight hours, the difference in day and night temperatures, and the total duration. The climate leaves its mark on the planting dates of watermelon and melon seeds.
Moscow region
Frosts in the Moscow region cease after June 5-10. At this time, the ground has already been warmed up, and seedlings can be planted in open ground. Based on this date, we calculate the timing of planting seeds. The formation of sprouts in a peat cup is a month, or three weeks. That is, the seeds should germinate by May 5-10. And they germinate for a week. Thus, we soak them in the period from April 27 to April 30, 2018.
For cultivation in the suburbs, such varieties of watermelons are intended as Peasant, Joy, Titania, Hager, Elsa. Melons - Princess Svetlana, Tsarist, Solar, Ophelia, Lyubava.
Krasnodar region
The Krasnodar Territory of Russia includes several climatic zones. Local residents determine the time of planting melons in the ground by temperature. When the temperature of the earth does not fall below 15 ° C, seedlings can be planted in open ground. Determine the readiness of the soil as follows. If the earth is cold and sticky to the touch, it takes time to warm up with the sun. And if it crumbles in your hand and is warm, you can plant plants.
Landing in the open ground in the Krasnodar Territory usually occurs in the third decade of April. In mid-March, we soak the seeds, transplant the seedlings into cups a week later.
The state registry of selection achievements recommends the following watermelon varieties for cultivation in the Krasnodar Territory: Aklaym, Aksent, Atilop, Bogatyrsky, Dominant, Palladin. Among the varieties of melons are popular such as Augustine, Victoria, Golden, Cossack.
Ural
Some areas of the Urals belong to the zone of risk farming, so the preparation of seeds for planting begins in mid-March and continues until the end of the first decade of April. Transplantation of sprouted plants into separate containers takes place about a week later, and transfer to open ground from mid-May to mid-June, depending on climatic conditions. If you adhere to these dates, you can remove watermelons and melons after 75-85 days from the moment of planting the seeds.
Such varieties of watermelons as Aklaym, Bonanza, Romanza, Sorento, Tamerlan are adapted for growing on the land of the Urals. Varieties of melon - Babor, Wintering, Les, Original, Tiger.
Siberia
Just like the Urals, Siberia is not the easiest region for growing melons. Nevertheless, watermelons of the varieties Carlson, Early Kuban, Siberian Lights, Top Gun, Charlie and melons of the varieties Altai, Kolkhoznitsa 749/753, Nezhnaya, Rosinka, Eldorado have proved themselves to be excellent.
The beginning of work with seeds of watermelons and melons in this region is from the 3rd decade of April to the 1st decade of May. Planting sprouts in a container - from late April to mid-May. Transfer to the garden beds - from the second half of May to mid-June.
Choosing a lunar calendar landing date
The main principle of planting seeds according to the lunar calendar is not to sow at the time of the full moon. The second quarter of the phase of the growing moon is recognized as the most suitable time for this. It is on these days that planting watermelon and melon seeds guarantees an impressive crop.
This year, the moon does not recommend touching the melons for a whole week, from March 25 to March 31. These are unfavorable days for agriculture.
The lunar calendar 2018 recommends planting early ripe varieties of watermelons and melons on April 8, 12, 13 and 14, mid-season - on April 22, 23 and 24. May planting varieties with early ripening according to the position of the Earth's satellite should happen on 1.10 and 11, with average dates - May 19, 20 and 29.
In no case does this year's calendar advise working with the land and seeds of watermelons and melons on April 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, and 11, as well as May 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. These periods reduce crop yields to zero.
Conclusion
Of course, when planting seeds of watermelon and melon, the generally accepted dates and data of the lunar calendar are important. But at the same time, at any moment you need to be prepared to respond to the surprises of nature that can happen both in the Krasnodar Territory and the Urals. A protracted spring or early summer, sudden frosts or heavy rains - not a sentence to the harvest of watermelons and melons in the garden. What to do in these and even more difficult conditions, read on our website.
The timing of planting watermelons for seedlings in 2016
When to plant watermelons for seedlings in 2017 according to the lunar calendar
How to grow watermelons in the suburbs