It turns out that watermelons in Siberia can be grown even in open ground. To do this, you must follow the recommendations of breeders and choose varieties specially bred for the northern regions. Siberia will require early maturing species, which include "Siberian", "Siberian Lights", "Svit", "Spark", "Ultraearly".
Watermelons are grown in seedlings in Siberia. Since the plant is thermophilic, it is planted on raised beds, which have been prepared since autumn. Seedlings are grown a month before they are transferred to the ground. First prepare the seeds by soaking them in hot water (60°C). After the liquid has cooled to room temperature, the seeds must be removed and immersed for disinfection for a quarter of an hour in a solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%). You can also dip them in potassium permanganate.
Watermelon seeds are planted in prepared cups or other containers filled with soil, which is taken as any vegetable mixture soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Usually sowing instructionscontained in the seed packet. Before the shoots of watermelon seeds, it is advisable to put the cups in a warm place, for example, on a battery. Sprouts should appear in three days.
When the sun comes up
no, seedlings should be hardened off daily, taking them out to the terrace or balcony. In the early days, this is done for half an hour, increasing the duration of the walk by 10 minutes every day. This will allow the plant to get used to the sun's rays.
While the seedlings are developing at home, holes should be prepared on the site in a warm garden. Humus, ash and sand are added to them in proportions of 2/1/1. Everything must be mixed well, spilled with water and closed each hole with glass to warm the soil.
To get watermelons in Siberia, it is necessary to transfer the seedlings to the beds from June 10, planting one plant in each hole. The interval between sprouts should be about 80 centimeters, between rows - one and a half meters. At first, in order to protect against possible frosts on the soil, the entire ridge is covered with non-woven material. Watering when planting is done only with warm water.
A week later, watermelons should be fed with liquid mullein, diluted with water at a concentration of 1 to 10. Since dry hot summers rarely occur in Siberia, the berry is watered to a minimum. She does not like a lot of moisture. In August, moisturizing is completely stopped after top dressing is applied at the beginning of the month. To stimulate the plant, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are added to the soil.
Growing watermelons in Siberia,it is very important to carry out the formation of stems in a timely manner. To do this, no more than three stems should be left on one plant, and all other stepchildren must be pinched. If this is not done, then the nutrients and water will disperse through all the ovaries, as a result, the watermelon will go into the tops, and the fruits will not ripen.
To avoid rotting of berries, it is necessary to put a plank under each fruit formation. As the berry grows, it should be carefully turned over to the other side. Those watermelons that do not have time to ripen can be s alted.
