How to grow a watermelon at home from a seed: step-by-step instructions. How to grow a watermelon at home from a seed. Is it possible to grow a watermelon from watermelon seeds?

A long vine, with carved leaves and hanging, huge fruits by home standards - this is what a watermelon might look like at home . It is usually grown in summer, when there is plenty of light and warmth. And today, growing watermelon at home on a windowsill is not a fantasy at all, because with proper care you can get a decent harvest. How to grow watermelon at home - read the article.

Conditions for growing watermelon

How the watermelon will grow and whether it will produce edible fruits depends on the choice of soil, fertilizing, watering, temperature and light conditions and the choice of location.

It is preferable to grow watermelon on the south side. The more sun the better. Direct sunlight is only good for him.

The ideal place at home would be a warm, sunny loggia or balcony. You can plant plants on southern, western and eastern windows; northern windows are absolutely not suitable for them.

In fact, growing a watermelon on the balcony is not so difficult, you just need to comply with the necessary conditions.

Daylight hours for successfully growing watermelon are 12–14 hours. In the evenings, LED, fluorescent lighting or phytolamps are turned on. On cloudy days, the lamps are left on all day.

Temperature

Watermelons are grown at high temperatures of 25-30 °C during the day and at least 18 °C at night. It is especially necessary to monitor the thermometer during the formation of the ovary.

Regarding watering, the opinions of plant growers differ greatly. Some prefer regular and even abundant watering, others speak of severely limiting it and stopping it completely during ripening, citing the fact that water is not needed to increase sugar content. In any case, the seedlings are watered in the usual way, and watering the plant in the second stage of its life depends on a number of conditions, including experience.

The soil is prepared loose and fertile with a neutral reaction: 1 part each of turf soil, sand, humus, plus one tenth of ground wood ash. To disinfect the soil, steam it in a water bath for 1.5–2 hours, keep it in the microwave for 10–20 minutes, and pour boiling water over it.

Fertilizing begins when the plant has 3 true leaves. Plants are watered with water and then with complex mineral fertilizers (Kemira, etc.), diluted according to the instructions. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in them at this stage may well be shifted towards nitrogen, but it is better that they are equal. At the stage of ovary formation, they are fed again - there should be more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. After 2-3 weeks - the third time.

Not all watermelons growing in open ground are suitable for growing at home. There are varieties that bear fruit indoors, such as Ogonyok, Crimson Sweet, Ultra Early, Sugar Baby, Sibiryak, Gift of the Sun, Kai F1, Cinderella, Gift to the North F1. They have good taste, do not need a lot of light, are early ripening, and disease resistant.

The seeds of these varieties have good germination, and if they are purchased from trusted suppliers and the brand is reliable, then almost all of them will germinate. Before planting, they are kept for 10–15 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate at a temperature of 50–55 °C. Then they are placed in a damp cloth (sand, etc.) until they hatch, after which they are planted 2 in seedling cups, burying them 2 cm into the soil. You can plant them directly in the cups.

An interesting, but optional, technique is stratification when germinating seeds in a humid environment, stimulating processes in the seed: they are kept for 12 hours on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator at a temperature of +6°C, then another 12 hours at room temperature. Repeat the process 2-3 times.

2 weeks after the sprouts appear, weak shoots are discarded and one of the strongest ones is left in each glass.

It is undesirable to plant watermelon seeds immediately in large containers: a large mass of undeveloped soil easily turns sour, and the seedlings may die. They are replanted after a month, the plants are moved to a permanent place along with a lump of earth, so as not to injure the roots.

Seedlings can be planted in open ground and get a good harvest in the garden. Pre-hardening: for a week, take the seedlings out into the open air for a short time every day.

After transplanting the seedlings into pots, rapid root growth begins. It grows long, with well-developed lateral roots, so choose large containers - 5–15 liters.

Pinching is done over 3-4 leaves, the side branches are directed vertically or sent horizontally. They can also be grown with one vine; in this case, flowers and fruits will appear faster.

Flowering (after 30–50 days) and fruiting of watermelon depends on the variety, which can be early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. It is interesting that, depending on the timing of flowering, flowers appear in different leaf axils: in early ripening ones - in 4-11 leaf axils, with an average period - in 15-18, late - in 20-25. You can grow any variety at home, but given the heat-loving and light-loving nature, preference is given to early varieties.

To obtain the fruit, flowers are pollinated artificially. Watermelon has 2 types of flowers - male and female, which appear on both the main and side shoots. Male flowers (developed stamens, thin stalk) pollinate female flowers (developed pistil, thick stalk) and wait for the fruit to set. The enlargement of the female flower stalk means that the small watermelon has begun to grow. When the lashes are arranged vertically, it becomes necessary to attach it to prevent breakage.

You should not leave more than 2 watermelons on the branches in the house if you want to enjoy the delicious pulp. The shoots are pinched after the formation of the fruit so that the forces are spent on its ripening, and not on growth.

From planting to the end of the growing season, an average of 3 months passes. It is difficult to grow a fruit larger than 1 kg at home. Wait until the watermelon ripens and perhaps it will taste better than store-bought ones. Let us remember that a ripe fruit has a glossy bark, a dried stalk, and no hairs. When knocking, a ringing sound is heard.

But even if you follow all the care rules, there is no guarantee that you can get a large watermelon on your windowsill or balcony. And yet, growing such an exotic plant will bring a lot of pleasure and new skills in growing unique plants at home.

Similar articles:

It’s probably rare to meet a person who doesn’t like watermelons. However, not all of us have a plot to grow our favorite fruits and vegetables. This is the main reason why people are interested in how to grow watermelon at home.

Not everyone knows, but you can grow watermelons without using seedlings, but immediately in a permanent place. As a rule, seedlings are used to later transplant plants into a greenhouse. This is done so that the berries have time to ripen. And if we are talking about growing a fruit at home, then this stage can be safely skipped.

Basic steps to grow the most delicious watermelon on the planet

You should start by purchasing a large enough container, because watermelon has an extensive root system. A box measuring 50x50x30 cm is perfect for this. You can make it yourself, for example, from wooden boards. If this is not possible, then you can always take a basin or bucket. If the selected container is transparent, then it makes sense to wrap it in a dark-colored cloth. This measure is necessary to ensure that the roots do not dry out and turn green. The container must be filled with fertile soil with microelements.

You can purchase it at any garden or hardware store. Fortunately, nowadays even in some supermarkets you can find similar products, if, of course, they have a garden department. Thirty days before you plan to plant a watermelon, you will need to lime the soil. This is necessary so that the acidity is about 6 pH.

Before planting the seeds, they must first be soaked for about ten minutes in water at a temperature of more than 100C. You need to keep it until the seeds begin to hatch, after which they can be planted. Please note that under no circumstances should you separate the seeds.

How many seeds should I plant?

You don’t need much, because they can all rise. But three seeds would be the best option. It should be planted to a depth of about three centimeters. After the sprouts appear, you need to choose the strongest one and leave it.

Plant placement

The best place is by the window

There is no better place than the windowsill. You can, of course, just place it near a window, but the plant must receive enough light. However, do not forget that the frame cannot be left open, otherwise there is a risk of freezing the heat-loving plant. The best temperature for ripening is between +25 and +30 degrees. Until the fruit is formed, the plant will be considered a seedling. At night, the optimal temperature will be about +18 degrees. When you notice that the fruits begin to set, you should not sharply lower the room temperature. Leave it also at least +25 degrees. In addition, it should be remembered that humidity is destructive for watermelons. You need to remember that watering should be moderate; you should not overwater.

After three months you can harvest

Typically, if watermelons are grown in a greenhouse, it takes about three months. If we are talking about growing watermelon at home, then most likely it will take a little longer. If we are talking about growing at a time of year when there is less than twelve hours of daylight, then fluorescent lamps should be used. This is necessary to highlight the watermelon. Try to ensure that your lighting is clearly directed. Let it illuminate the plant as much as possible. In addition, you should use special reflective surfaces. Moreover, you should place them around the watermelon.

Vitamins and minerals for the plant

Like any other living creature, watermelon needs feeding. Try to do this according to a certain pattern. The most common method is primary fertilizing with phosphorus and nitrogen. Moreover, this is done in equal quantities. After you see fruit set, you should think about using a fertilizer that contains a large amount of potassium. And at this moment it is necessary to ensure that the fertilizing does not contain as much nitrogen as at the initial stage.

It makes sense to install a support in the container with which you can secure the shoots of your watermelon. The main stem, as a rule, is attached at a height of about one hundred centimeters. The side shoots are attached somewhat differently: they are pinched so that several leaves remain above the flower with the ovary.

Once you notice that the fruits have formed, there is no need to leave everything. Two are enough, all the rest need to be pinched off, because there will be no point in them. They will only take away all the juices and nutrients. If you leave more than two fruits, they will all remain small. When you see that the fruit has reached a size of about ten centimeters in diameter, it must be placed in gauze or mesh, after which it should be tied to a support. This is done to make it more durable.

By the way, when you grow watermelon at home, you should remember that it will not reach such a huge size as when planted in a greenhouse. However, the big advantage would be thinner skin. Typically, when growing a watermelon at home, you can get a fruit weighing about a kilogram.

If you don’t know which variety you should give preference to, then stop at seeds of varieties such as “Kakho”, “Ogonyok” or “Sibiryak”. These varieties are the most unpretentious for growing at home.

If the first time you fail to grow the kind of watermelon you wanted, or if you don’t succeed at all, then don’t be too upset. Try again, just the next time you land you will need to take into account the mistakes you made and not repeat them again. Juicy and sweet watermelons to you!

Thanks to modern technologies, growing berries and vegetables is no longer a fantasy. To understand how to grow watermelon at home, you need to familiarize yourself in advance with some nuances that will allow you to harvest an ecological and tasty harvest after some time.

How to select and plant seeds

First of all, you need to select the material for planting. Not every variety of watermelon can be grown at home. The seeds of delicious watermelon from the market or store are not suitable for this purpose, because this variety is grown in open areas in spring and summer. For the same reasons, varieties that are grown in dachas will not yet be suitable.

But there are hybrids that are resistant to lack of light, early ripening, and do not require special care. The following varieties are considered excellent: Ogonyok, Kaho, Sibiryak, Volgar, Gift of the Sun. They germinate very well, are tenacious, and the fruits have a sweet taste.

After purchasing, planting material must be selected before growing watermelon at home. Small and damaged seeds are excluded immediately. Large seeds are placed in a glass container containing a solution of table salt. It is done like this: 5 g of salt per 0.1 liter of water. Seeds that have sunk to the bottom must be removed, washed in water, and dried. It is these seeds that are needed for planting.

Then they are soaked in a humate solution (0.5 g per 1 liter of water). This is done as follows: gauze is wetted, in which the seeds are left for a day. This will increase germination and reduce stress. You can also leave the seeds in gauze moistened with plain water until they begin to hatch.
Then the seeds need to be planted in small plastic cups, 4-5 seeds each, the earth should be slightly compacted in them.

Watering should be done in such a way that the soil is always moist. For seedlings to appear, the temperature must be about 25°C. Then shoots will begin to appear after 1 week. If the temperature is below 13°C, then seedlings may not be expected.

Cups should be in a well-lit and warm place. There is no need to allow drafts. After 2-3 weeks, you need to leave 1 seedling in each glass.

Caring for watermelons

As soon as the 3rd leaf appears, the plants are moved into containers with a volume of 5 to 15 liters. They should contain a mixture of soil for seedlings and perlite in a 2:1 ratio. The plant should be watered frequently, but not abundantly, so that the water does not stagnate. The soil must be fertilized every 2 weeks. Liquid fertilizers for vegetables are suitable here. You need to add 1 tsp to 1 liter of water. fertilizers This solution can only be used for 1 watering.

When the 6th leaf grows, the plant is pinched above the 4th leaf. The plant needs enough light. If the lighting is insufficient, then the use of additional LED or energy-saving lamps will be required.

Plant pollination and fruit appearance

In most cases, watermelons begin to bloom 30-50 days after germination.

Flowers require pollination to produce an ovary.

To do this, you must first find male flowers that have a thin stalk. Such flowers will need to be carefully picked; they will need to be used to pollinate female flowers by touching the stamens to the pistils.

After a certain period of time, the petals will noticeably wither and the stalk will enlarge, which over time will become a fruit. As the vines grow, they will need to be pinched to stop their growth.

A few weeks before the fruits are fully ripened, watering should be minimized, stimulating the appearance of sugar in the berries. When the grown fruits are ripe, you can harvest.

How to grow watermelons in the country (video)

About the beneficial properties of watermelon

This berry contains a lot of sugar (about 12%). It is quite easily absorbed by the body and, unlike refined sugar, is beneficial.

Watermelon juice has a diuretic effect, so it can thoroughly flush the kidneys and ureters. Thanks to it, salts dissolve and are washed out of the body. Watermelon juice is considered beneficial for people suffering from kidney disease. Watermelon juice is also useful for people with diabetes, cystitis, and atherosclerosis.

Now you know about growing watermelon at home. We wish you a good harvest!

Planting watermelon seedlings in open ground (video)

Gallery: watermelon at home (15 photos)

Increasingly, field and garden crops are being planted on windowsills and balconies at home, because you really want to grow your favorite fruit, vegetable or berry yourself. No one is surprised by the desire to grow peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries and aromatic crops in an apartment, but you don’t often see a watermelon. However, it is quite possible to grow this giant berry at home from a seed. Moreover, the taste of such a watermelon can be excellent, although you should not expect a large size, because even with good feeding it is unrealistic to provide the required amount of nutrients.

Selecting a variety and sowing seeds

Watermelon is usually grown from the seed as an annual crop with a short growing season. If you plan to grow watermelon at home, then special attention should be paid to the choice of variety, taking into account the characteristics of indoor growing.

Watermelon is a heat-loving and light-loving crop. If it is easy to ensure a high temperature in the house, then a sufficient level of lighting, especially if it is grown in the autumn-winter period, becomes a significant problem. Therefore, when choosing a variety, special attention should be paid to varieties and hybrids that are resistant to low light levels. In addition, you need to pay attention to the timing of ripening. It is best to grow early varieties at home, from which you can taste the first fruits within 3 months.

Advice! In winter, watermelon will feel quite good on the windowsill near the central heating radiators, especially since low air humidity has a positive effect on growth.

It is best to grow the following varieties and hybrids on a windowsill or loggia:

• Volgar;
• Gift to the sun;
• Ogonyok;
• Rose of the Southeast;
• Siberian;
• Stokes.

For sowing, it is necessary to select large seeds without visible damage. It is better to remove all small and underdeveloped seeds immediately. Selected seeds should be soaked in 5% sodium chloride solution to separate the empty seeds. After this, be sure to wash the seeds, dry them slightly and use them for sowing. After good seeds have been selected, it is worth thinking about how to grow a full-fledged watermelon at home from a seed.

Features of home care

A characteristic feature of watermelon is its rapid growth and powerful, well-developed root system. In just 1-1.5 months, the seed will turn into a flowering plant. To grow such a vegetative mass, a large amount of nutrients is needed. At home, it is almost impossible to fully provide all the needs of the plant, but to make the task easier, when choosing a container for planting, you should give preference to a spacious and capacious container.

Growing watermelon seedlings at home is not much different from other pumpkin crops. You can sow the seeds in small pots or seedling cassettes, several at a time, and after the first true leaves appear, remove the weaker plants. A strong seedling must be transplanted into a bucket or other container with a volume of at least 10 liters with a nutritious loose substrate. It is necessary to water moderately but often. Several times a month, it is recommended to fertilize the wet soil with fertilizers along with watering or immediately after it.

Advice! In order not to bother with seedling cassettes, you can immediately plant the seeds in a suitable container, but at first, until the root system masters the earthen ball, you need to carefully monitor watering.

An important factor for successfully growing watermelon is light. The duration of daylight should be at least 12 hours a day with a high enough intensity so that the grown watermelon can accumulate enough sugars. It is best to place a pot of watermelon on a south-facing window, but even with this location you should not rely solely on sunlight, especially when growing in autumn-winter or early spring. At this time, there are not only short daylight hours, but also a large number of cloudy days. Therefore, it is recommended to provide the plant with additional lighting with fluorescent lamps.

Plants with six true leaves can be pinched to encourage branching of the main stem. It is necessary to provide support for the vines, and to prepare nets for future berries in which they can be suspended from a trellis, but which will not interfere with the filling of the fruit. If space is limited, it is worth periodically pinching the side shoots to give the plant a compact shape.

Flowering and fruit formation

Long, well-developed lashes are not a guarantee of a good harvest. In most cases, growing watermelon at home is impossible without artificial pollination. Two types of flowers are formed on the lashes - male and female. The latter can be distinguished by their rounded stalk, which after pollination will grow into a berry. In the field, bees transfer pollen from male flowers to female flowers. In indoor conditions, where the occasional bee is rare, you will have to transfer the pollen with a brush or simply pick a male flower and apply it to the stigma of a female flower.

Watermelons grown indoors rarely exceed 600-800 g, but this does not detract from the merits of the berry. With a good level of lighting, such a fruit will be no less sweet than that brought from the southern regions, and in winter it will become a real exotic, designed to give bright and sweet memories of summer.

A long vine, with carved leaves and hanging, huge fruits by home standards - this is what a watermelon might look like at home . It is usually grown in summer, when there is plenty of light and warmth. And today, growing watermelon at home on a windowsill is not a fantasy at all, because with proper care you can get a decent harvest. How to grow watermelon at home - read the article.

Conditions for growing watermelon

How the watermelon will grow and whether it will produce edible fruits depends on the choice of soil, fertilizing, watering, temperature and light conditions and the choice of location.

It is preferable to grow watermelon on the south side. The more sun the better. Direct sunlight is only good for him.

The ideal place at home would be a warm, sunny loggia or balcony. You can plant plants on southern, western and eastern windows; northern windows are absolutely not suitable for them.

In fact, growing a watermelon on the balcony is not so difficult, you just need to comply with the necessary conditions.

Daylight hours for successfully growing watermelon are 12–14 hours. In the evenings, LED, fluorescent lighting or phytolamps are turned on. On cloudy days, the lamps are left on all day.

Temperature

Watermelons are grown at high temperatures of 25-30 °C during the day and at least 18 °C at night. It is especially necessary to monitor the thermometer during the formation of the ovary.

Regarding watering, the opinions of plant growers differ greatly. Some prefer regular and even abundant watering, others speak of severely limiting it and stopping it completely during ripening, citing the fact that water is not needed to increase sugar content. In any case, the seedlings are watered in the usual way, and watering the plant in the second stage of its life depends on a number of conditions, including experience.

The soil is prepared loose and fertile with a neutral reaction: 1 part each of turf soil, sand, humus, plus one tenth of ground wood ash. To disinfect the soil, steam it in a water bath for 1.5–2 hours, keep it in the microwave for 10–20 minutes, and pour boiling water over it.

Fertilizing begins when the plant has 3 true leaves. Plants are watered with water and then with complex mineral fertilizers (Kemira, etc.), diluted according to the instructions. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in them at this stage may well be shifted towards nitrogen, but it is better that they are equal. At the stage of ovary formation, they are fed again - there should be more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. After 2-3 weeks - the third time.

Not all watermelons growing in open ground are suitable for growing at home. There are varieties that bear fruit indoors, such as Ogonyok, Crimson Sweet, Ultra Early, Sugar Baby, Sibiryak, Gift of the Sun, Kai F1, Cinderella, Gift to the North F1. They have good taste, do not need a lot of light, are early ripening, and disease resistant.

The seeds of these varieties have good germination, and if they are purchased from trusted suppliers and the brand is reliable, then almost all of them will germinate. Before planting, they are kept for 10–15 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate at a temperature of 50–55 °C. Then they are placed in a damp cloth (sand, etc.) until they hatch, after which they are planted 2 in seedling cups, burying them 2 cm into the soil. You can plant them directly in the cups.

An interesting, but optional, technique is stratification when germinating seeds in a humid environment, stimulating processes in the seed: they are kept for 12 hours on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator at a temperature of +6°C, then another 12 hours at room temperature. Repeat the process 2-3 times.

2 weeks after the sprouts appear, weak shoots are discarded and one of the strongest ones is left in each glass.

It is undesirable to plant watermelon seeds immediately in large containers: a large mass of undeveloped soil easily turns sour, and the seedlings may die. They are replanted after a month, the plants are moved to a permanent place along with a lump of earth, so as not to injure the roots.

Seedlings can be planted in open ground and get a good harvest in the garden. Pre-hardening: for a week, take the seedlings out into the open air for a short time every day.

After transplanting the seedlings into pots, rapid root growth begins. It grows long, with well-developed lateral roots, so choose large containers - 5–15 liters.

Pinching is done over 3-4 leaves, the side branches are directed vertically or sent horizontally. They can also be grown with one vine; in this case, flowers and fruits will appear faster.

Flowering (after 30–50 days) and fruiting of watermelon depends on the variety, which can be early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. It is interesting that, depending on the timing of flowering, flowers appear in different leaf axils: in early ripening ones - in 4-11 leaf axils, with an average period - in 15-18, late - in 20-25. You can grow any variety at home, but given the heat-loving and light-loving nature, preference is given to early varieties.

To obtain the fruit, flowers are pollinated artificially. Watermelon has 2 types of flowers - male and female, which appear on both the main and side shoots. Male flowers (developed stamens, thin stalk) pollinate female flowers (developed pistil, thick stalk) and wait for the fruit to set. The enlargement of the female flower stalk means that the small watermelon has begun to grow. When the lashes are arranged vertically, it becomes necessary to attach it to prevent breakage.

You should not leave more than 2 watermelons on the branches in the house if you want to enjoy the delicious pulp. The shoots are pinched after the formation of the fruit so that the forces are spent on its ripening, and not on growth.

From planting to the end of the growing season, an average of 3 months passes. It is difficult to grow a fruit larger than 1 kg at home. Wait until the watermelon ripens and perhaps it will taste better than store-bought ones. Let us remember that a ripe fruit has a glossy bark, a dried stalk, and no hairs. When knocking, a ringing sound is heard.

But even if you follow all the care rules, there is no guarantee that you can get a large watermelon on your windowsill or balcony. And yet, growing such an exotic plant will bring a lot of pleasure and new skills in growing unique plants at home.

Similar articles:

Thanks to modern technologies, growing berries and vegetables is no longer a fantasy. To understand how to grow watermelon at home, you need to familiarize yourself in advance with some nuances that will allow you to harvest an ecological and tasty harvest after some time.

How to select and plant seeds

First of all, you need to select the material for planting. Not every variety of watermelon can be grown at home. The seeds of delicious watermelon from the market or store are not suitable for this purpose, because this variety is grown in open areas in spring and summer. For the same reasons, varieties that are grown in dachas will not yet be suitable.

But there are hybrids that are resistant to lack of light, early ripening, and do not require special care. The following varieties are considered excellent: Ogonyok, Kaho, Sibiryak, Volgar, Gift of the Sun. They germinate very well, are tenacious, and the fruits have a sweet taste.

After purchasing, planting material must be selected before growing watermelon at home. Small and damaged seeds are excluded immediately. Large seeds are placed in a glass container containing a solution of table salt. It is done like this: 5 g of salt per 0.1 liter of water. Seeds that have sunk to the bottom must be removed, washed in water, and dried. It is these seeds that are needed for planting.

Then they are soaked in a humate solution (0.5 g per 1 liter of water). This is done as follows: gauze is wetted, in which the seeds are left for a day. This will increase germination and reduce stress. You can also leave the seeds in gauze moistened with plain water until they begin to hatch.
Then the seeds need to be planted in small plastic cups, 4-5 seeds each, the earth should be slightly compacted in them.

Watering should be done in such a way that the soil is always moist. For seedlings to appear, the temperature must be about 25°C. Then shoots will begin to appear after 1 week. If the temperature is below 13°C, then seedlings may not be expected.

Cups should be in a well-lit and warm place. There is no need to allow drafts. After 2-3 weeks, you need to leave 1 seedling in each glass.

Caring for watermelons

As soon as the 3rd leaf appears, the plants are moved into containers with a volume of 5 to 15 liters. They should contain a mixture of soil for seedlings and perlite in a 2:1 ratio. The plant should be watered frequently, but not abundantly, so that the water does not stagnate. The soil must be fertilized every 2 weeks. Liquid fertilizers for vegetables are suitable here. You need to add 1 tsp to 1 liter of water. fertilizers This solution can only be used for 1 watering.

When the 6th leaf grows, the plant is pinched above the 4th leaf. The plant needs enough light. If the lighting is insufficient, then the use of additional LED or energy-saving lamps will be required.

Plant pollination and fruit appearance

In most cases, watermelons begin to bloom 30-50 days after germination.

Flowers require pollination to produce an ovary.

To do this, you must first find male flowers that have a thin stalk. Such flowers will need to be carefully picked; they will need to be used to pollinate female flowers by touching the stamens to the pistils.

After a certain period of time, the petals will noticeably wither and the stalk will enlarge, which over time will become a fruit. As the vines grow, they will need to be pinched to stop their growth.

A few weeks before the fruits are fully ripened, watering should be minimized, stimulating the appearance of sugar in the berries. When the grown fruits are ripe, you can harvest.

How to grow watermelons in the country (video)

About the beneficial properties of watermelon

This berry contains a lot of sugar (about 12%). It is quite easily absorbed by the body and, unlike refined sugar, is beneficial.

Watermelon juice has a diuretic effect, so it can thoroughly flush the kidneys and ureters. Thanks to it, salts dissolve and are washed out of the body. Watermelon juice is considered beneficial for people suffering from kidney disease. Watermelon juice is also useful for people with diabetes, cystitis, and atherosclerosis.

Now you know about growing watermelon at home. We wish you a good harvest!

Planting watermelon seedlings in open ground (video)

Gallery: watermelon at home (15 photos)

Many people love watermelons. But watermelons appear on the market only during a certain season.

What to do if you want to enjoy the juicy pulp at another time of the year? There is a way out - to grow watermelon from seeds at home.

True, not everyone has a plot of land where they can put a greenhouse and grow watermelons. But everyone has a windowsill or balcony, and this is quite enough to grow this plant at home.

Preparatory work

When growing watermelons at home, you can safely skip the stage of planting seedlings, which is necessary if you plan to transplant the plant outdoors. At home, planting occurs immediately in a large container in which the watermelon will grow until fully ripe.

The first thing you need to do to plant a watermelon is to purchase or build your own planting box. If you can't find a box, then a basin, bucket or flower pot will also work perfectly.

The main thing is that the volume is large enough for the root system. It is not advisable to use a transparent container - the roots of the watermelon are sensitive and can dry out.

It is better to use store-bought soil rich in microelements as soil. The soil must be enriched with lime fertilizers, since growing watermelons requires an acidity of 6pH.

Important to remember: The volume of the growing container must be at least 10-15 liters!

Seeds, as in many other crops, need to be soaked before planting. It is necessary to keep in water until the seeds hatch.

How to plant a watermelon correctly

The net will help the heavy fruit stay on the vine

3-4 seeds are usually planted in one container; planting is done to a depth of about 3 centimeters. But this does not mean that they will all grow in the same container. Of those seeds that sprout, you should leave only one, the healthiest looking sprout.

Watermelon is a plant that needs a lot of light. Therefore, an excellent solution would be to place the seedlings on the windowsill.

If you plant seedlings in the winter season, then you must take care of additional lighting, since under natural conditions the plant receives light for 12 hours.

Remember that this plant is heat-loving and freezing it is very easy. Therefore, if you choose a window sill on the balcony, you need to make sure that the temperature there is suitable. The ideal temperature for the growth of this crop is +25-30 degrees during the day and about 17-18 degrees Celsius at night.

Despite the fact that watermelon fruits are very juicy, excessive moisture is very harmful to this plant. So does overwatering.

Plant care

Fruits attached to a support receive more light

As the plant grows, fertilizers must be added to the soil. The feeding diet must include nitrogen and phosphorus, and after the fruits are formed, also potassium.

It is necessary to place a support in the container with the seedlings along which the vine will grow. When the lash reaches a length of about a meter, it must be pinched. While the watermelon is growing, the soil must be constantly loosened.

You cannot leave more than two fruits on one vine. All excess fruit must be cut off. It is better to secure the left fruits on a support using a net.

It is important to know: After introducing potassium into the feed, the amount of nitrogen must be significantly reduced.

Harvesting

At home, fruits rarely exceed a weight of one kilogram. But their peel is much thinner.

It takes about 3-3.5 months for the fruit to fully ripen. However, there are also more early ripening and early varieties, which have a ripening period of 60-80 days.

The ripeness of the fruit can be easily determined: if the peel is shiny, the stalk is dry, and the sound when struck is dull, then the fruit is ripe.

If you didn't manage to grow a watermelon at home the first time, don't worry. You just need to make another try, taking into account the recommended varieties for growing in your region and reviews from amateur gardeners.

Below, we invite you to watch a video about how watermelons grow on a windowsill:

ratings, average:

It has become common practice for gardeners to grow watermelon. The process is simple, but it has certain difficulties that need to be taken into account when growing (the plant may die before flowering begins, the fruits do not always grow tasty, and so on). More information about how to grow a watermelon with your own hands will be discussed in this article.

How to grow a watermelon

Variety selection

The issue of choosing a variety should be approached with special responsibility. For the central part of the Russian Federation, it is advisable to choose only early-ripening varieties, and there is no need to chase huge fruits in this matter - such watermelons realize their potential 100% only when grown in the south of the country. Be sure to read the description of the variety on the packaging - information about the duration of ripening is indicated there (plant ovaries should ripen as quickly as possible).

Choosing a watermelon variety

On a note! You can neglect some qualities when choosing a variety. First of all, it is large-fruited and transportable. Also, do not pay attention to the color and shape of the fruit - this is only necessary in cases where you grow watermelons not for yourself, but for sale.

The most common varieties of watermelon:

• "Kai"
• "Sugar Baby";
• "Ataman F1";
• "Ultra-early";
• "Stokes";
• "Spark";
• "Moscow Charleston F1";
• "Yarilo";
• "Crimstar F1";
• "Leader";
• "Pink champagne F1";
• "Gift to the North F1".

This is only a small part of the varieties that can be grown not only in the south of the country, but most often people choose them. Having decided on the variety of watermelon, you can start growing it.

There are many different varieties of watermelons

How to grow watermelon in open ground

Not everyone knows, but watermelons can be grown without seedlings, but with seeds, already in a permanent place. Often, seedlings are used only for further replanting in greenhouses so that the watermelon can ripen. But if you are growing watermelon in your garden plot, then you can safely skip the stage with seedlings and sow the seeds.

Growing watermelon seedlings

The planting process is divided into several preparatory stages to obtain a good harvest. Let's consider each of them separately.

Preparation of seed material

Having chosen the appropriate variety, wrap the seeds in a cloth bandage and place them on a shallow plate, pouring a pre-prepared solution of potassium permanganate. The solution should be light pink and warm. After this, the saucer with the seeds should be placed in a plastic bag and tied, taking in a little air. Transfer the plate with the seed to a warm room (at least +20°C). Change the solution daily and ventilate the bag. After 2-3 days, the seeds should hatch, after which they will be ready for planting in the ground.

Seeds of watermelon

Soil preparation

It is very important to prepare the land before planting a watermelon. This is an integral part of growing, without which you are unlikely to be able to get a good harvest. The prepared soil should provide the plants with nutrients throughout the entire growth period, it should be protected from strong winds, and also well lit.

Preparing the soil for planting

Clearing and leveling

Watermelon, as well as other melons, requires loose, fertile and light soil. It’s great if your suburban area has sandy loam or sandy soil, which you enriched with rotted humus in the autumn. If we talk about suitable predecessors of watermelons, then these are, of course, tomatoes, potatoes, cruciferous vegetables, and legumes.

For best results, it is advisable to prepare the beds in advance and fertilize the soil. To do this, for 1 sq. m of plot you need to add 20 g of potassium fertilizers, 40 g of superphosphate and 30 g of ammonium sulfate. This combination of mineral fertilizers will significantly accelerate the growth of watermelon, as a result of which you will be able to enjoy juicy and sweet fruits a little earlier.

Fertilizer application

Sowing watermelon seeds

The process of planting watermelon seeds is simple and practically no different from planting any other crop.

Table. Step-by-step instructions for sowing watermelon seeds.

Step one	Start sowing watermelon seeds in early May as it is a very heat-loving plant. Otherwise, if you do this earlier, the plant will greatly slow down in development. Take out pre-prepared seed material that has already sprouted.
Step two	You should also have a planting mixture ready, consisting of rotted humus, ash, mineral fertilizers and peat (the composition may vary, since there are many different recipes for preparing the mixture).
Step three	Dig a large hole for the watermelon and fill it with a small amount of water.
Step four	Pour the prepared mixture of fertilizers and humus into the hole. Gently level with a hoe and water.
Step five	Place at least 5 seeds in the hole (5 cm deep) and cover it all with soil. The layer of soil should be approximately 4 cm thick. Carefully compact the soil so that the seeds are not blown away by the wind or are injured. Repeat the procedure for each well.

Hole for watermelons in open ground

Important! At first, you need to sow 5-6 seeds in each hole, but over time, when they begin to develop, leave one plant in the hole.

Aftercare

Without providing proper care, including fertilizing and watering, it is impossible to grow a watermelon in the garden. The juiciness of the fruit directly depends on the level of humidity, but you shouldn’t overdo it, because you won’t be able to enjoy the sugar pulp of sweet berries, which everyone loves so much. Conventionally, subsequent care can be divided into 4 stages: watering, fertilizing, pruning vines and exterminating pests. Let's consider each of them separately.

Watering

When growing watermelons in a summer cottage, it is advisable to use drip irrigation systems. This will allow for regular fertilizing of crops.

The best option is drip irrigation

For the most correct and accurate application of fertilizers, an agrochemical soil analysis is simply necessary.

Watermelons need abundant but infrequent watering, especially during hot periods when there is a lack of natural moisture - remember this! For comfortable growth of watermelons, the soil moisture level should be at least 80%. If the site is located on sandy soil, then the beds will need to be watered more often due to poor moisture retention. Water clayey soils and black soil less often. Once the berries begin to ripen and become plump, reduce the amount of watering, and after a few weeks, stop them altogether.

Top dressing

Feeding watermelons grown in a summer cottage consists of three procedures, each of which must be performed subject to certain conditions: at least 2 liters of liquid fertilizers must be per plant. After 7 days from the moment of planting the seeds, it is necessary to regularly water the plants with a special solution prepared with your own hands (all ingredients and their proportions were described above).

Watermelons need to be fertilized in a timely manner

After the vines on the plants actively begin to grow, you need to fertilize the watermelons a second time, but this time the amount of potassium and phosphorus fertilizers should be half as much. When the formation of the ovaries begins, you need to carry out another feeding, only with a different composition. Mix 10 liters of water, 35 g of potassium salts, 10 g of superphosphate and 20 g of ammonium sulfate.

Apply the prepared nutrient mixture into previously prepared furrows, which should be at a distance of 15 cm from the plant bushes. The amount of nitrogen fertilizers should be reduced due to the likelihood of their accumulation in the pulp of watermelons. In addition, such measures can provoke the ripening of the plant, and not the accumulation of green mass.

Fertilizer for watermelons, melons and pumpkins

Trimming lashes

During the short and insufficiently warm summer, some watermelon fruits do not have time to ripen, although the bush still spends energy on them, which could be distributed to other berries that actually ripen. Therefore, there should be no more than 5 watermelons on each plant. Remove everything unnecessary.

Scheme of watermelon formation

Important! When growing watermelons, you need to remember that female flowers form on the main vine of the plant - you cannot touch them, but remove the side vines. Compliance with all recommendations will allow you to get a harvest in the second half of August.

Pollination of watermelon flowers

Pest Control

The melon aphid, which appears in June, can cause many problems for watermelons. Living on the underside of the leaves, it sucks all the vital juices from the plant, causing the leaves to wrinkle and dry. During the summer, aphids can produce 2-3 generations. At first, the pests live only on weeds, but with the onset of June, the females move to watermelons, remaining there until the beginning of autumn. The melon aphid lays its eggs on weeds, which overwinter there.

Melon or cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii)

To protect watermelons from aphids, it is advisable to regularly weed the beds from various weeds, as well as mow the areas located next to the watermelons being grown. If you notice pests, immediately treat the plants with a special decoction or infusion made from celandine, garlic or onion peels. If these remedies do not help and the foliage system of the plants is severely damaged, then strong chemicals can be used - for example, INTA-VIR, Karbofos, Iskra.

"Karbofos"

In addition to aphids, watermelons can be subject to various diseases, such as sclerotinia, bacteriosis, verdigris, various types of rot, and so on. For treatment, you need to prepare a decoction of horsetail. To do this, pour 1 liter of water into 1 tbsp. l. plants and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. As an alternative, you can use another remedy - milk mixed with iodine. If the plants have been severely affected, use "Kuprosat" or "Oxychloride". The development of Fusarium wilt can cause the plant to die within a few days. The spread of infection occurs through plant debris, seeds or soil.

We fight diseases in watermelons

To prevent watermelon from developing diseases, it is advisable to treat the seeds with a Baktofit solution for 3 hours before planting. If some plants are nevertheless damaged by the disease, then they need to be destroyed in order to protect healthy ones from infection, which, in turn, need to be fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.

"Baktofit"

Harvesting

Fruit harvesting is the final stage in the process of growing watermelons. It is not recommended to rush with this matter, because many fruits that have reached large sizes are still unripe. Ripe tomatoes can be identified by the change in color of the fruit; when growing zucchini and cucumbers, it is important not to be late in harvesting, otherwise the vegetables may lose their beneficial properties. But when should you pick watermelons? When planting early ripening varieties, you can get a harvest no earlier than mid-August. Mass harvesting is not carried out during this period; the ripeness of the berries must be determined by external signs. First of all, look at the bract and tendrils - if they are dry, then the watermelon can be harvested. Also, when you lightly tap the berry with your fingers, dull sounds should be heard. The combination of these signs indicates the ripeness of the fruit.

Checking the ripeness of watermelon

If you are growing watermelons for further transportation and storage, it is better to pick the berries a couple of days before ripening. They will then ripen by being kept in a warm and dry environment. At the same time, watermelons will not lose their qualities.

Self-grown watermelons don't get boring!

Video - Growing watermelons with seedlings

I decided, after all, to check the plausibility of such an idea and began to implement it. Here's how it happened and what ended up happening.

The process of growing melons on your own balcony

I divided growing watermelon on the balcony into 3 steps:

Step No. 1: Preparatory work and sowing seeds

1. The first thing to do was get watermelon seeds. Fortunately, the specialized store had a huge selection of this product, from which I chose several varieties in the hope that at least some of them would eventually bear fruit. And here, in fact, is the assortment offered by sellers:

• Variety "Arizona":

• Variety "Photon":

• Emperor's Hat variety:

• Variety "Chill":

• Variety "Lezheboka honey":

1. Purchased seeds soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, leaving them for half an hour;

1. Then wrapped them in a dampened rag and put it in a warm place for several days;

Be sure to wet the cloth periodically to prevent the seeds from drying out, as this will lead to their death.

1. While waiting for the sprouts to appear, I I bought half-liter plastic glasses and filled them with peat, creating with this method excellent places for planting erupted samples;

1. Cleaned up the balcony, removing everything unnecessary. In fact, after that I had nothing left there at all; I completely freed up space for melons;

1. DIY seeds with sprouts planted in prepared plastic containers, which he then placed in the loggia in the sun. By this time it was already mid-May, and the weather was quite stable;
2. Leaves began to appear on the stems, and when their number began to reach four, I I planted the melons, which were beginning their life journey, in different five-liter containers;

Step #2: Bee profession

I directed the growing stems to the window and walls of the loggia in order to gain as much free space as possible for easy care of the plants. By mid-June, the first flowers began to appear, and then a problem arose: my balcony is glazed, and, therefore, the bees would not be able to complete the pollination necessary for the further development of the ovaries. So I had to do the bee work myself:

1. First of all I found male flowers, which are distinguished by the presence of a thin elegant leg at the base;

1. Plucked a few and removed the petals from them;
2. I found female specimens with small ovaries instead of legs and rubbed them with prepared men's. That is, he did what a bee had to do when flying from flower to flower, namely: delivered the pollen to its destination;

1. This is the procedure I did this for several days, until I discovered an increase in miniature fruits under the female inflorescences, which is a sign of successful pollination.

This is how you can do without bees, although, of course, this whole event adds hassle.

Step #3: Care and care

In the future, until the very moment of receiving ripened fruits, the plants must be taken care of and looked after. For me it came down to performing the following operations:

1. After the pollination took effect, I began to regularly water the soil under the watermelons. I continued to do this until the plant’s fruit gained its size. Then you need to stop moistening the soil and wait a couple of weeks until the object is completely ripe;

Just try to prevent moisture from accumulating on the melon leaves themselves. In combination with the sun, it causes deformation in vegetation, which negatively affects the result of all your work.

1. Every week loosened the soil with small rakes. The root system of watermelons loves plenty of air;

When loosening, there is no need to go very deep with the tool, as there is a high risk of damaging the roots of the plant.

1. Installed strips along the wall of the balcony and its parapet, to which he tied the ends of the growing melon vines with twine. As an alternative, you can tie it to the window sill;

1. A dozen leaves are enough for the normal development of a given representative of the flora, so I cut off the extra ones, thereby directing the energy of growth into the fetus. The ultimate goal, after all, is to obtain sweet red pulp, and not abundant jungle filling;
2. When the watermelons have already noticeably begun to gain in size, for those that have formed at the bottom, placed planks to prevent them from rotting due to direct contact with the ground, and for those that appeared from the upper ovaries, I attached horizontal crossbar with string bags so that they do not break off under their own weight;

No matter how great the temptation may be to speed up the ripening process of watermelon with the help of chemical additives, I categorically do not recommend doing this, since the health of your loved ones will be at risk.

1. I tapped the saturated fruits, whose stem had already dried up, and if there was a loud knock, I tore them off. Everyone at home was pleased with such a sweet miracle.

Conclusion

Is it possible to grow watermelons on your own balcony among the concrete “jungle” of the metropolis? The answer is completely affirmative, and we can safely say that the legend is true. Just three conventional steps prevent you from having sweet fruits of your own production appear on the table. The main thing is to be patient and show extra care to the plants.

The video in this article contains a certain amount of information that is directly related to the topic discussed. If you have additional questions about this material, please state their essence in the comments.

September 13, 2016

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

- heat-loving berry. It loves sandy, fertile soil and does not tolerate sudden temperature changes. Therefore, it was quite difficult to grow it until breeders developed varieties adapted to almost any climatic conditions. Now you can grow watermelons in any corner of the world, the main thing is to choose the right variety.

Preparing seedlings

Watermelon seeds have a very dense shell; if you plant them in the soil right away, some of the seeds may not hatch. To grow seedlings, watermelon seeds must be soaked in water. When they open, you can plant them in the ground. Immediately after planting, the seeds must be watered and placed on the windowsill so that the seedlings receive as much sunlight as possible.

The seedling must develop a developed root system, so the seeds need to be planted in a high container.

The soil should be sandy and fertile. A mixture of sand and humus in equal quantities is ideal for growing watermelons.

Transplantation into open ground

The plant will need to be planted in the ground as soon as the first leaf is formed. It is necessary to dig a hole to the size of the container with seedlings and transplant the watermelon into it.

When transplanting, be very careful not to damage the main root of the seedling. If you accidentally tear off part of the main root, the seedling will not be able to form a large berry and will dry out at a certain stage of growth.

After transplanting, you need to form a small “trunk” circle with a diameter of 1 m around the seedling so that all the water instantly flows to the roots. After this, it must be mulched.

When growing watermelon from a seed, the root of the plant reaches 2 m, and when growing watermelon from seedlings, the root is only 50 cm, so the seedling must be watered generously twice a day with warm water so that the leaves do not curl.

Feeding and pollination

After a week of abundant watering, it will begin to grow quickly and will need nutrients. At this time it is necessary to start fertilizing. The ideal top dressing is a herbal infusion or yeast solution. You need to fertilize every 10-15 days.

If you want to get the harvest as early as possible, you will have to pollinate the flowers by hand. To guarantee an ovary, one female flower must be pollinated by three male ones.

Berry formation

When the berries form and grow rapidly, you will need to water the melons abundantly. As soon as the watermelon stops growing, watering must be stopped, otherwise the berry will not be sweet. At this stage, you need to add wood ash to the fertilizing, which will help the berries gain sweetness. The berry has an “ear” and a “tendril”; they are located under the lash. As soon as they dry, the watermelon is ripe.

You don’t have to grow seedlings, but just sow them directly to a permanent place. Based on the fact that the plant needs to have a powerful and branched root system for better nutrition, you can choose a plastic bucket of up to 10 liters as a container. The soil needs to be highly fertile, with humus and all mineral elements, including a set of microelements. The soil must be prepared a month before sowing, limed to an acidity of 6.0-6.5 pH.

Sowing is done in the middle of the container, to a depth of 3 cm, with two or even three seeds. After germination, you can leave one (larger) plant. To initially test the culture indoors, you need to grow no more than two plants. You can place them on a wide windowsill or in front of a window. The frame should be tight so that cold air does not enter the plants. The bottom of the bucket needs to be perforated and placed on a tray to drain excess water if this happens from watering. The light-permeable walls of the vessel must be wrapped in something black, preventing the roots approaching the walls from turning green.

In greenhouse conditions, it takes about 3 months to get the first watermelon fruits. Half of this period is spent on the growth of the vegetative mass of the plant, the second half on the growth and ripening of the fruit from the moment of setting. This period can be adhered to in the room.

Before the day is 12 hours long, the watermelon needs additional lighting. To do this, use fluorescent lamps mounted to the window and reflectors for volumetric lighting. By nature, watermelon has a thin stem and even thinner shoots, as well as small leaves. Nutrition with full abundance and balance of elements can slightly enlarge these organs. At first, plants need nitrogen and phosphorus in equal measure, while fruits need a lot of potassium and little nitrogen. In accordance with this pattern, feeding is given. Potassium and phosphorus increase the sugar content of fruits, nitrogen - reduces it.

On some support, the stem can be grown 1 m or slightly higher, then pinched. The side shoots are pinched, leaving a few leaves above the flower with the ovary. You should not leave more than two fruits on the plant. Hand pollination is carried out using at least three barren flowers.

Once the fruit reaches the size of an orange, it is placed in a net, which is tied to a frame. The fruit of a greenhouse watermelon is usually thin-skinned, but small - 600-800 g.

E. Feofilov, hon. agronomist of Russia, Newspaper "GARDENER" No. 49, 2009.

Growing watermelons in an apartment

Is it possible to grow watermelon at home? Can. And perhaps you will succeed, and six months after the seeds germinate, you will be able to enjoy your own watermelons or just sit in the shade of a green watermelon “tree.”

First you need to grow seedlings. We plant 20-30 ripe watermelon seeds in humus in some container and place them in a place in the apartment with sufficient natural light. In winter, artificial lighting will also be required. We plant the resulting seedlings in a tub or large tank. Humus is required. Regular watering.