How to germinate watermelon seeds correctly and what to do next with the finished planting material

Many people associate hot and sunny summer with the taste and aroma of juicy, sweet, sugar watermelon. It is not difficult to grow it in your garden, knowing a few tricks. Thus, correct germination of seeds not only activates the process of their growth, but also contributes to an increase in germination. In this article we will reveal all the important nuances of preparing watermelon seeds for planting.

Is it necessary to germinate

Watermelon is characterized by high intensity of growth processes... At a temperature of 25-35 ° C and sufficient soil moisture, the time from planting to germination is about 10 days.

However, central Russia is not characterized by such temperature values, especially in April-May. Seedlings from non-germinated seeds will have to wait a long time.

Germination is a simple and inexpensive technique for an earlier harvest of watermelons.

Benefits of the procedure

Germination provides benefits in growing such a heat-loving culture as watermelon:

• germination will be almost one hundred percent - you can select the strongest seedlings for planting.
• seedlings appear together - it is easier to care for seedlings when all plants are at approximately the same stage of development.
• harvest time comes earlier by 1-2 weeks.

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How to germinate watermelon seeds

For disembarkation at a summer cottage, it is better to use zoned early or mid-season varieties and hybrids.

The germination procedure consists of several stages., on each of which the recommendations should be strictly adhered to.

Stage 1: check

Strong and full seeds are selected for germination free from damage and signs of deterioration (mold, stains).

To check the quality of the seed conduct a small test: 1 tbsp. l. table salt is dissolved in 0.5 cups of water, seeds are placed in the solution, those that float are thrown away. For further work, take watermelon seeds that have fallen to the bottom. They are washed with clean water and dried.

Stage 2: preparation

Preparation for germination includes several procedures:

1. Calibration... Planting material is sorted into groups by size. Germination and emergence of seedlings in each of the groups will be more friendly.
2. Etching... Disinfection is carried out with a 2% solution of potassium permanganate: 1 tsp. without top, diluted in 300 ml of water at room temperature. The seeds are placed in the solution for 20 minutes, then washed with running water. If the manufacturer of the planting material has carried out etching (there is a warning about this on the package or the seeds are painted in a bright color), this procedure should be excluded.
3. Treatment with growth stimulants... An optional procedure, but to accelerate germination and additional saturation of the sprouts with nutrients, you can use one of the drugs: potassium humate, Heteroauxin, Epin, Zircon. It is important to strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions. After treatment with stimulants, it is not necessary to rinse the seeds with clean water, it is enough to dry them.
4. Scarification - violation of the integrity of the shells to facilitate pecking of the sprout. The nose of the seed is gently grinded with fine-grain sandpaper. You need to act carefully so as not to damage the embryo.

Stage 3: germination

Prepared seeds are soaked before germination for 10 minutes in hot (45-50 ° C) water to soften the thick skin.

Lay out, leaving a distance between the bones, on wet gauze folded in several layers. The workpiece is placed in a shallow flat dish and left in a room with a temperature of 20-30 ° C. The gauze should be checked and moistened regularly. Planting material should always be on a damp substrate, but not float in water.

Reference. To reduce the rate of evaporation of moisture and create more favorable conditions for germination, the container can be covered with a film.

How many days do soaked seeds germinate?

Watermelon seeds soaked in accordance with all the rules will hatch in 5-7 days... The emergence of sprouts can be delayed if there was no preliminary soaking in hot water. Low temperatures can also slow down germination.

Germination time of germinated seeds may vary depending on the temperature and moisture of the soil. Seedlings appear on average 10 days after planting. If the weather is warm, the sprouts will rise above the ground a little earlier.

What to do if there are no seedlings

Seed material may not germinate if:

1. The seeds are old and not germinable... In this case, you need to purchase fresh ones and carry out all the procedures again.
2. Temperature conditions not observed... The seeds may not be warm enough. You need to move them to a more suitable location.
3. Scarification and soaking were not carried out in hot water. You need to wait until the sprout breaks through the thick shell.
4. Not enough moisture... Perhaps the gauze with the planting material dries up periodically, so you need to check and moisten the watermelon seeds more often.

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How to plant sprouted seeds

Once the seedlings reach 1-1.5 cm in length, they can be planted in the ground.

Watermelons are usually grown in seedlings.... If weather conditions permit, you can plant the seeds directly in open ground.

Planting seedlings

A suitable substrate for watermelons for cucumberswhich is sold in specialized stores. It is easy to prepare the soil on your own: mix in equal parts sand, sod soil and humus.

Small containers are used for growing seedlings. with a diameter of about 10 cm.

The pots are filled with soil, spill water, make a hole 3 cm deep. A seed is lowered into the depression and sprinkled with earth.

The container is covered with foil and kept at a temperature not lower than 25 ° Cuntil shoots appear. Then the film is removed and the seedlings are moved to a well-lit place. If the weather outside the window is cloudy, you need to worry about additional lighting.

Seedlings do not need to be watered abundantly... It is enough to moisten it with warm, settled water when the soil dries out 1-1.5 cm deep. Plants will benefit from fertilizing with complex fertilizer a week after germination and about a week before transplanting to a permanent place.

A week before landing in the ground sprouts are hardened, leaving in the open air during the day.

Landing in open ground

Optimal time for planting seeds in open ground - end of April or beginning of May. To protect from the cold, the bed is covered with foil. If the weather is cold and rainy, the plants are covered overnight until June.

For the development of lashes, watermelons need a large area... The distance between plants should be at least 1 m, between rows - 2 m.

Council. In order not to damage the delicate sprouts when planting, it is better to use tweezers.

Useful Tips

Experienced melon growers have many tricksto speed up germination and increase seed germination. Here are some of them:

1. Sprouting in sawdust... Soak sawdust in boiling water, cool, squeeze. Put a layer of 4-5 cm in a shallow container, spread the seeds on it, cover it with a layer of sawdust 2-3 cm on top. Cover with a bag and remove to a warm place. Sprouts appear on the fourth day.
2. Soaking in aloe juice... The seeds are soaked before germination for 12 hours in water with the addition of 1/5 of aloe juice. Such a remedy improves germination and strengthens the immunity of seedlings.
3. Hardening... When the first signs of pecking appear, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator for 12 hours, then they are warmed for the same amount of time at room temperature. The procedure is repeated 2-3 times during germination. This technique strengthens the resistance of future seedlings to adverse conditions.

Conclusion

Correctly carried out germination improves the germination of watermelons and allows you to get a harvest 1-2 weeks earlier than usual.

Preparation for germination of seeds includes sorting, disinfection and treatment with stimulants. Sprouted seeds are suitable both for growing seedlings and for sowing in open ground. Experienced melon growers never neglect pre-germination and get an excellent harvest.