Most growers of watermelons and melons in their areas believe that since these crops grow in the fields, they do not need moisture or that they need a minimum amount of moisture. In fact, it is largely due to irrigation errors that it is not possible to achieve a normal crop.
Before deciding to plant a melon plant, you need to study the features of caring for them, familiarize yourself with the rules and frequency of watering.
Content
Do watermelons and melons need to be watered
Must be watered! In addition, gourds need this throughout the growing season. Only a few days before harvesting, watering is stopped.
The frequency of irrigation depends on the type of soil, on the presence or absence of a body of water nearby, on the level of groundwater, as well as the climate.
Black soil is considered ideal for watermelons and melons, and sandstones are also suitable for growing due to their looseness. But if the soil is loamy, it is better to use it for growing other crops.
It is advisable to place the bed on a plain or on a small elevation. In the lowlands, stagnation of water can occur, and they are destructive for melons.
A generous crop can be obtained only if the root system of watermelons and melons provides a sufficient amount of moisture and air.
How to determine that watermelon and melon need to be watered
Gourds need adequate watering. This means that both water scarcity and its excessive amount will only bring harm.
If there is little moisture, a small germination of seeds, shedding of color will be noted. There will be few ovaries on the plants or there will be none at all. If watering becomes insufficient during fruiting, watermelons and melons will crack and dry, and those who have matured will have low quality characteristics and a deformed shape of the fruit.
With excessive moisture there will be a lot of color. This confuses gardeners and they, instead of adjusting the frequency of the procedure in accordance with the recommendations, begin to water more often. This leads to the formation of empty flowers, shedding of the ovary, rot, wateriness.
The main danger for melons is fungal diseases, and too much moisture provokes their development.
There is no exact schedule for watering watermelons and melons. It must be regulated depending on the temperature and humidity of the air, on how much the soil water moistens the soil, on the quality of irrigation carried out before this.
It is possible to check whether planting needs water, by checking how moist the soil layer is at a depth of 10-12 cm. It is enough to slightly dig up the ground, take a little in the palm of your hand and squeeze. If there is enough moisture, the soil will be molded, like clay. If it falls apart in your hands, then watering should be done immediately.
How often to water the seedlings of watermelons and melons
To get melons and gourds as early as possible, they are not sown immediately on the beds, but seedlings are grown. Glasses need to choose more so that the root system has the opportunity to develop normally. It is optimal to take glasses of 500-1000 ml. It can be flower pots or peat containers. The second option, although a little more expensive, but preferable.The use of peat cups is not only an additional top dressing, but also a protection for the roots, which, despite all their power, are quite sensitive and vulnerable.
Sowing seeds is carried out in a well-moistened soil. Then daily spray the earth with water using a spray gun. After emergence, watering continues. Water should be warm and only enter the ground. It is very important that there is no stagnation of moisture in the pots, and for this, there must be drainage at the bottom of the tank.
The amount of water during irrigation depends on the age of the seedlings. At the very beginning, 30-50 ml is enough, a little later it is increased to a glass, and by the time of transplantation into the soil, 500-700 ml should be watered daily for each sprout.
Transplanting seedlings of watermelons and melons is carried out at the age of 18-21 days. Each sprout should have at least 3-4 leaves.
How often to watermelon and melon in the open: watering table
Two days before the seedlings are moved to the bed, the soil should be well shed with water so that it is possible not to water it for two days, and the ground would be sufficiently moist. Sprouts in pots themselves also need to be moistened well. After moving to a permanent place of residence for two days, melons will not be allowed to touch. On the third day, watering is resumed and carried out daily. The volume increases to 3 liters of water for each bush.
After flowering begins, the frequency of watering is reduced. The procedure should be performed no more than 2 times a week, but each bush should receive at least 8-10 liters of water. It should be watered slowly so that the moisture has the ability to spread evenly and reach deep roots, and not just soak around the bush.
The root system in melons is located at a depth of 50 cm and the deeper the root is, the more important its role for the development of the whole plant.
Watermelons should be watered in the evening, although you can do it in the morning, if the weather is not too hot during the day. The main thing is that the water is not cold and does not fall on the aerial part of the plant.
When the ovaries begin to form, the frequency of watering is reduced even more. Now the procedure is carried out every 7-12 days, and if it has rained, then the interval can be increased by another five or six days.
Mulch around the watermelon and melon bushes every time after watering from the moment of formation of the ovaries. This will help maintain moisture and protect the plant from rot.
Watering gourds in open ground
| Water volume | Soil depth | ||
| Seedlings | 50 to 500 ml | 5-7 cm | Daily |
| Before flowering | 2-3 liters | up to 40 cm | In one day |
| During flowering | 5-7 liters | up to 60 cm | Two times a week |
| During fruiting | 10-12 liters | Up to 70-80 cm | Once every 10 days |
10-12 days before harvesting, watering is completely stopped, and if the rainy season has begun, melons will not hurt to provide additional shelter so that the fruits do not turn out to be too watery, do not lose their taste and aroma.
How to grow watermelon and melon with drip irrigation
Drip watering has more and more fans. Its undoubted advantages are:
- stable flow of moisture to each plant;
- moisture penetration exclusively under the root;
- Significant water savings.
Many people prefer to buy a ready-made kit for drip irrigation. It consists of primary and secondary hoses, taps and plugs. It is enough to connect such a system to a source of water supply and can be used. But she has a drawback - the number of hoses and their length. Also, in the finished systems, holes have often already been made, and they will have to be positioned based on them, and not on the landing.
You can make a drip irrigation system yourself.To do this, you need to draw up a plan for the placement of hoses, calculate how many meters you need to purchase, arrange them in beds, attach to the main hose with the connecting nuts, and install plugs at the ends. The crane can be installed only the main one, but it is possible, if the system is capital, to place them on each additional.
It is not necessary to use hoses to create a drip irrigation system. You can use plastic bottles for this. They are buried in the ground next to the bush, unscrewing the lid and cutting off the bottom. Water is poured through the bottom, and it is gradually absorbed into the soil. Just remember how much water you need to consume for each melon and stock up on large containers. Each should be at least 10 liters, and it is better to take barrels immediately.
The principle of drip irrigation
Drip irrigation helps gardeners to provide watermelons and melons with enough water that will flow under the root, which is very important. In order for it to be able to warm up, it is necessary to use a barrel of large volume and dark color. And to create sufficient pressure it is desirable to place it on a small elevation.
Buy a barrel for collecting water with a lid so that you can collect rainwater, as well as take care of the filtration system in advance.
Device drip irrigation system
To install a drip irrigation system, you do not need to hire specialists at all. The main thing is that everything you need is available, and installation can be done independently, even without any skills.
For a barrel it is necessary to equip a reliable platform, be sure to bring a hose to it through which water will be drawn from the water supply system or well. Then install a filter (preferably at the input and output).
Where the outlet hose will be located, make a hole of the required diameter, install plugs and a tap.
From the main hose, carry out several branches, connecting the system with nuts. If the section is large, it is recommended that a tap be installed on each branch hose. So watering will be easier to regulate.
At the end of each hose, install plugs, make holes near the plants.
Do not try to save money by buying items necessary for drip irrigation. The more reliable the design, the longer it will last. At the beginning of the season it will be necessary to install it, and at the end - to disassemble and store it.
Growing watermelons and melons on their own is not at all difficult. And so that the fruits are tasty and healthy, that they are well stored, and the plants themselves are not sick, study the recommendations for watering.
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Anatoly
Bullshit it. Directly the same “doctoral dissertation. I was visiting my brother in Volgograd. Here he grows in the country a lot of interesting things. I especially liked the big watermelon, which grew right on the doorstep. I asked about the technology for growing watermelon. He answered: “I ate a watermelon, spat out the seeds, and so we grew up ourselves. Removed unnecessary, left only this one for fun. AND EVERYTHING. Then he grew as he wanted.
Anatoly
He ate a watermelon, spat out the bones. watermelon grew. Volgograd. Read such a doctoral dissertation, especially on it to care for watermelons and melons more expensive.