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How to grow a juicy sweet watermelon in open ground: 3 techniques that will help you get a harvest even in northern regions
01.05.2023 05:30
Breeders work wonders, creating amazing varieties that can grow where it would seem impossible. For example, modern summer residents can grow watermelons in Siberia. And they don’t even need a greenhouse.
But some cultivation features still have to be observed, because in the northern regions this huge berry is still not comfortable - little sun, cold weather, short growing season.
This article provides 3 tips to help you grow a juicy and sweet watermelon.
Step one: correct landing
The biggest problem in northern countries is low soil temperature. Even if the air temperature in May and early June is quite high, the soil is cold. This problem can be eliminated by proper planting. Green grass will be an excellent "heater". If you dig a planting hole 10 cm deeper, put 5-7 cm of green grass or weeds from the garden on its bottom, sprinkle a 3-5 cm layer of soil on top, then this green cushion will warm the soil in the root area. Also, when burning, green grass releases nitrogen, which is necessary for watermelon to build up green mass. With this type of planting, nitrogen fertilizing after planting should be excluded or reduced.
You also can't plant a watermelon in heavy soil. If you have dense black soil or clay on your plot, you'll have to dig a hole about 50x50 cm, fill it with a mixture of compost and sand, and plant the seedling. Watermelons don't tolerate heavy soils with poor oxygen access to the roots.
Reception two: potassium
The yield and sweetness of the fruit directly depends on whether the plant has enough potassium. Potassium fertilizing should be done regularly, starting from the second week after planting the seedlings in open ground. It is advisable to fertilize every 10-15 days. Any mineral fertilizer will do for this purpose, but watermelon, like all melons, responds much better to organic matter. An excellent natural fertilizer is wood ash, a glass of which should be soaked overnight in a bucket of water. In the morning, drain the settled yellowish water and fertilize the watermelon. One liter of infusion is enough for one plant, if fertilized regularly.
Method three: organize watering correctly
Watermelons need to be watered twice a week, pouring 2-3 buckets of water under the plant. It is especially important to provide regular abundant watering during the period of fruit filling, otherwise they will be small and tasteless.
But there is one subtlety. When watermelons stop growing (increasing in size), watering should be stopped completely. When the fruit has grown, it has already absorbed enough water. Now it is time to accumulate dry matter. The richness of taste and sweetness depend on its amount. If you water the plant during this period, the watermelon will be watery and tasteless.
