When to sow watermelons for seedlings in spring 2024 and how to care for them: the harvest is guaranteed

The seedling method of growing is optimal for northern regions, as well as for most heat-loving crops.

These include not only vegetables – nightshades, but also the well-known watermelon for every gardener. Growing it is not a problem. The problem is to collect a good harvest.

Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, told when to sow watermelons for seedlings.

Watermelons germinate well when seeds are sown in the soil, but because of this, the fruits may not have time to ripen in the short summer. The seedling method comes to the rescue. Where to start?

Variety

First, you need to choose a variety that is suitable for your climate and region.

Focus on early and weather-resistant varieties.

When to sow

Almost everywhere, watermelons are sown for seedlings in April. This can be the middle or the second half of the month - it all depends on the weather and climate.

Suitable days in spring

You can safely sow watermelon seeds from April 9 to 15, from April 18 to 23, as well as April 25 and 27-29.

It's a bad idea to sow on the 24th and 30th.

In May, favorable days are 2nd-4th, 7th, 10th-12th, 15th and 16th, 18th-22nd, 25th and 26th, 30th and 31st.

It is better not to do this on May 1, 8, 23, 27-29.

How to sow

Watermelons will like a mixture that includes peat (not acidic), turf soil, and sawdust. The ingredients are mixed in a ratio of 3:2:1, after which you can add 2 tablespoons of wood ash for each liter of soil.

Store-bought seeds are not processed, they are sown in separate containers (with a capacity of 0.5 liters with drainage holes) to a depth of 3 cm, the seedlings are well moistened and put in a warm place, they are not picked.

Watermelon seedlings should grow in a room with an air temperature of +22 during the day and +20 at night. Water moderately.

If the seedlings do not grow, you can add nitroammophoska. If the leaves turn yellow - potassium sulfate (1 tbsp. per 5 l of water).

10 days before transplanting, the seedlings are hardened off.

When to replant

You can start replanting after the watermelons have released 3-4 true leaves. This happens in about 35 days.

By the time of planting, the soil temperature should be no lower than 16-18 degrees Celsius.

Earlier we talked about how to water tomato seedlings after picking .