We grow a delicious harvest on our own: how a melon grows in a greenhouse, open field and at home

Melon is a thermophilic culture; it is grown in sunny and spacious beds. They are planted both in greenhouses and in open ground. Some grow melons at home - on a windowsill or balcony. This process is simple, the main thing is to observe the regime of watering, fertilizers and fertilizing.

In the article, we will consider in detail how melon grows in different conditions and how to get a rich and tasty harvest.

Botanical description and features of melon cultivation

Melon is a melon culture of the pumpkin family. The root system is strong and well-developed, the stem is dense and stiff. It is grown mainly in warm regions in soils with neutral acidity and nutrient composition.

In soils with high acidity, melons develop slowly. The climate for growth must be dry and warm.

How melon grows and blooms

Melon grows on average from 80 to 120 days, depending on the variety. The fruits grow in size, become firm and elastic. The flowers are large, bright yellow in color. Flowering begins in late June and ends in mid-July. During flowering and harvesting, the melon gives off a pleasant and sweet aroma.

Interesting... The melon was brought to Russia in the 15th century. Initially, it was intended only for the royal greenhouses, but over time, sweet and honey melon began to be grown by peasants on their lands.

Choosing a variety

The choice of a variety depends on the region, purpose, shelf life. Some varieties are suitable for fresh consumption, others for processing and long-term storage. Some melons are decorative, they decorate the garden. There are also "medicinal" varieties - with a high content of vitamins, minerals and other useful elements.

Varieties for Bashkortostan, Urals and Siberia

Bashkiria is famous for its fertile and nutritious lands, warm climate - varieties that are demanding on the composition of the soil grow well there. For example, Collective farmer 753. A mid-season variety ripens in 90-100 days from the moment the first shoots appear.

They are planted with seedlings in a greenhouse or open field. Fruits are round, weighing up to 2 kg. The color is rich yellow, the flesh is light beige. There are few seeds, the taste is juicy and sweet, the aroma is pleasant. It is universal in use - summer salads are prepared from the fruits and consumed fresh.

Important! Melons Cinderella and Amber are also suitable for planting in Bashkortostan. The fruits are famous for their high taste and marketability, long-term fruiting and long shelf life.

In the Urals and Siberia, there are cold and short summers, sharp climate changes and frequent rains. Melons with early ripening are needed for planting in these regions.

The following varieties are suitable:

1. Ethiopian. The variety is mid-season, the growing season is 80-85 days. Bushes are compact, lashes are long and powerful. Fruits are round, elongated, yellow-orange color. The peel is rough, has a weak segmentation. Fruit weight varies from 5 to 7 kg, the pulp is white, juicy and sweet.Ethiopian is unpretentious in care, suitable for growing on an industrial scale.
2. Amal. The harvest ripens in 70-80 days. Amal is distinguished by high immunity to diseases and pests, and shows a stable yield from year to year. Fruits are round-elongated, miniature, average weight - 2 kg. The rind is honey-yellow, dense, the flesh is golden-pink, juicy and sweet. The harvest is stored for a long time. The Amal variety is versatile in use: suitable for making compotes, jam, jam and jelly.

Melon varieties for central Russia and Ukraine

The middle zone of Russia and Ukraine are territories with a temperate and warm climate. Melons are grown here on an industrial scale - they are planted in fields and farms. The varieties are taken mid-season and late-ripening, unpretentious and resistant to common diseases and pests.

Among them are:

1. Golden. The melon is bright orange, ripens in 90-95 days from the moment the first shoots appear. Fruits are miniature, weighing 1 kg. The pulp is sweet and juicy, with a pale pink hue. The rind is smooth, thin. Golden is used for fresh consumption.
2. Torpedo. A popular variety, ripens in 120-130 days, depending on the region and growing conditions. The shape is elongated, pointed to the tips. The color is yellow-orange with weak segmentation. The pulp is light beige, the seeds are large. The taste is sweet and honeyed, with a pleasant aroma. The torpedo is stored for 1-2 months without losing its taste and marketability.
3. Wintering. Ripening period is 95 days, the weight of the fruit varies from 2 to 5 kg. The peel is yellow, of medium thickness. The pulp is light, oily, few seeds. Zimovka has a traditional taste - very sweet and pleasant. The variety is unpretentious in care, has an average immunity to diseases and pests of the culture.

Growing methods

Sweet and juicy melons are grown in many different ways. Let's consider in detail the most popular ones.

Planting melon seeds in open ground

Growing and caring in the open field in the country or in the garden is an interesting process. Melons are planted outdoors in warm regions. For planting, choose varieties with powerful and spreading plants. The planting scheme depends on the variety, the standard is 60x80.

The best precursors for melons are tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage. It is not recommended to plant after a pumpkin or watermelon. After planting seeds in open ground, they are covered with polyethylene or thin glass to protect them from possible frost. Remove protection after a week.

Important! Before planting, the seeds are checked for germination - they are placed in a jar of saline and stirred clockwise. Those seeds that have sunk to the bottom are selected for planting.

Planting melon seedlings in the ground

Seedlings are prepared at the end of March. Before planting, it is hardened - for a week, it is placed in a freezer for 1-2 hours.

The seedling method is used in regions with unfavorable weather conditions. Plants adapt more quickly to climate peculiarities and are immune to diseases and insect pests.

They are grown in suitable containers on a warm windowsill.

Growing melon in a greenhouse or greenhouse

This growing method is typical for the Urals or Siberia... Greenhouses protect thermophilic melons from wind, frost and rain. Before planting, the structure is disinfected with a sulfur checker, garden equipment for disinfection is wiped with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

In hot weather, greenhouses and greenhouses are ventilated - they open the vents and doors, remove the film. This is necessary to maintain the level of humidity, as its excess will lead to fungal and bacterial diseases.

Can you put a melon in a barrel

Melons are grown in metal or wooden barrels - filled with fertile soil, with a top layer of compost. The soil is tamped and poured with warm water, covered with a thick film for several days.Plant the melon with seeds or seedlings, and cover each plant with a cut plastic bottle to create a greenhouse effect.

After two weeks, the bottles are removed. They take care of the melon in a barrel according to all the rules, regularly watered and fertilized. Growing fruits is easy - no need to bend over to the ground to weed and loosen the beds.

Growing at home

How to grow melon at home? They choose compact varieties and a convenient container with drainage holes and a diameter of at least 20 cm.The plantings are placed on a wide windowsill or balcony - in a month free space will be required to tie the whips to the support.

The house should be light and warm - the melon needs light for at least 12 hours a day. With its lack, they organize backlighting with LED or fluorescent lamps.

Important! If you have pets or small children, place the plantings away from them.

Growing instructions

To get a rich and tasty harvest, follow the basic rules of agricultural technology.

Preparing melon seeds for planting

They start with disinfection - the seeds are placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or soaked in aloe juice for 20 minutes. Disinfection kills pathogenic microflora on the surface of seeds, protects against pests. After the seed is germinated, it is placed in damp gauze and removed to a warm place for 2-3 days.

Germination improves seed germination and strengthens the immune system. For healthy development of the root system, a few drops of Kornevin growth stimulator are added to the gauze.

Important! Purchase seeds only from trusted producers. When buying, pay attention to the shelf life of the material, recommendations for growing, photos on the packaging.

Correct cultivation of seedlings

Seedlings are grown in any containers - pots, boxes, glasses. The main thing is that the container is washed with a soda solution. For seedlings, use purchased or land from the garden. It is cleaned of debris, poured over with Bordeaux liquid and poured into a container.

Seedling planting scheme - 15x15. 1-2 seeds are placed in one hole, sprinkled with earth on top and poured abundantly with warm water. Melons are grown in a warm and bright place.

The soil is moistened every five days, fertilized two weeks after planting. The development of seedlings is positively affected by liquid bird droppings or nettle infusion. During the growing period, the plant is fed 2-3 times, with an interval of two weeks.

Site selection and soil preparation for planting seedlings

Seedlings are planted in an early cloudy morning in spacious beds. The earth is prepared in two stages.

The first takes place in the fall, at the end of October. The soil is dug up, cleaned of foliage and remnants of last year's plants.

The second falls in mid-March - the earth is re-dug up and fertilized with liquid manure. The beds should be located in a windless place, away from groundwater.

Plant care

How to care for plantings? Care consists of regular watering and feeding. Irrigate the beds at the root using water at room temperature. Moisten as the soil dries up, every 5-7 days. On average, 1-2 liters are consumed per bush. If the summer is dry and without rain, then the volume of liquid is increased. Stop watering two weeks before harvest.

The beds are fertilized with mineral and organic fertilizers. Urea, ammonium nitrate, potassium salt, superphosphate, wood ash are used. Top dressing is applied every 10-15 days before watering. Fertilizers protect against pests and improve melon taste.

The third stage of care is weeding and loosening the beds. The procedures protect against weeds, prevent the appearance of diseases. Regular loosening makes the soil airy and nutritious, retains moisture in the ground.

Problems with melon cultivation

Gardeners in the process of growing are faced with the need to form a bush. It is necessary in order to get more large and juicy fruits.

The plant is formed into one or two stems, removing short side shoots. The rest are tied to a support so that they do not break under the weight of melons. If the lashes are long, they are laid out on the ground and sprinkled with earth in several places.

Another problem is the appearance of pests... On melon beds, melon aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites are found. Insects feed on the sap of the plant, disrupting its metabolism and inhibiting the development of fruits.

As a preventive measure, gardeners spray the bushes with a solution of milk whey. For treatment, a solution of copper sulfate is used.

Harvesting

Harvested in August or September, depending on the timing of ripening. The ripeness of the fruit is determined by the dry stalk, yellow color, dense skin and sweet melon aroma.

Melons are plucked from the plant, laid out in the garden for 2-3 hours and wiped with a dry cloth. For long-term storage they are removed to a dry and dark basement. If the fruits are cracked, then they are consumed or processed immediately after collection.

Conclusion

Sweet melons are grown in greenhouses and hotbeds, open ground, rooms, balconies. It is recommended to plant a variety that is suitable for a specific region: for the Urals and Siberia, cold-resistant varieties with high immunity and early ripening are chosen, for the middle lane - mid-season melons.

Care consists of regular watering and fertilization. A month after planting, the plant is formed, the whips are unraveled. An obligatory stage of care is preventive measures to protect the crop from diseases and pests. The ripeness of the melon is determined by the dry stem and the sweet aroma of the fruit. A rich and sweet harvest!