Features of growing melons in the Moscow region in the open field
Melon is considered a thermophilic melons and gourds, so gardeners of the Moscow region rarely try to grow it in the beds of their site.
The climate of the Moscow region is significantly different from the hot and dry climate of Central Asia - the homeland of Asian melons. However, if you take into account all the features, create suitable conditions and choose the right variety, growing melons in the Moscow region in the open field will be quite a feasible measure.
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What varieties of melons are best grown in the suburbs
Summer near Moscow is short and capricious, late varieties of southern melons do not have time to ripen: they do not have enough time, little sun and heat. But categorically refuse cultivation melons in this region are optional, the main thing is to correctly approach the choice of the variety.
Basic requirements for the variety:
- short ripening period (early and mid-early);
- cold-resistant;
- zoned to this climatic zone.
Popular varieties for the Moscow region - novelties and time-tested and long-term experience of gardeners of culture:
- Collective farmer - the most popular variety in the Moscow region, cultivated since 1939. Bright yellow, small, round fruits ripen in all weather conditions. Weight up to 1 kg.
- Aikido - early ripening zoned variety of compact spherical shape, has excellent taste. It overripens quickly, it is important to remove it on time. Weight up to 2 kg.
- Altai - cold-resistant variety, ripens a little later than Kolkhoznitsa. Oblong fruits are covered with a fine mesh, weight up to 2.5 kg.
- Scythian Gold F1 - mid-early fruitful hybrid. The peel of the fruit is bright yellow, dense, thin, with a pronounced mesh, the flesh is yellow-cream. Each plant ripens up to 3 round melons weighing 1 kg.
- Tamanskaya - an early ripe variety. The fruit is medium in size, oval in shape, with a bright yellow smooth rind. Weight up to 1 kg.
This is an incomplete list of varieties and hybrids that breeders offer for cultivation in the Moscow region - in fact, there are much more of them.
The best seed material is produced by companies whose fields are located in the Moscow region. Such seeds are zoned, ideal for planting and successful cultivation. For example, SeDeK offers the following varieties and hybrids: Alina, Pineapple, Kanarechnaya, Princess Ekaterina F1, Princess Diana F1.
Advantages and disadvantages of growing outdoors
The disadvantage of growing outdoors is that this demanding plant can suffer from various weather factors: lack of sunlight and heat, excess moisture, etc.
The advantage is a less costly method than greenhouse cultivation. It is not difficult to grow a melon in a garden in a successful warm summer - care for it is minimal, watering is rare.
When is the best time to plant
Seedlings are grown in soluble peat pots... So the tender roots of the seedlings are not damaged when transplanted into the ground, and it does not get sick.
Seeds are sown no earlier than April 15, and the seedlings are transplanted into the ground in the last days of May - early June.
Important! The transplantation period must not be delayed - seedlings older than 25-30 days will not produce high-quality fruit-bearing plants.
In the Moscow region in May, the probability of cold snaps and recurrent frosts remains; when disembarking at this time, the garden bed must be covered for the night.
Preparing for landing
The success of melon cultivation depends on proper preparation.
Seeds
Seeds are sequentially prepared:
- Disinfect by keeping for half an hour in a warm solution of "Fitosporin" or potassium permanganate.
- Germinated in wet gauze.
- Stratify by alternating cold and warm.
For sowing, seeds are used that are 3-4 years old. When sowing fresh seeds, there is a risk of getting a plant on which there will be only male flowers and not a single fruitful female.
Sprouted seeds are sown in peat cassettes or cups, deepening by 2 cm. Shoots will appear in 5 days.
Seedling
Seedlings need a temperature above + 20 ° C for development, good lighting and regular moderate watering.
At two weeks of age, it is fed with mineral fertilizers, and 10 days before the intended transplant, it is taken out into the air for hardening.
Soil preparation
It is customary to plant the melon in the place where it used to grow: onions, garlic, tomatoes, herbs, legumes, cabbage and eggplants. You can not grow melon for several years in one place, as well as after any pumpkin and carrots.
Only well-lit and wind-protected areas with light, fertilized soil with neutral acidity are suitable for melon beds.
Fertilize the soil with potassium sulfate, superphosphate, sifted wood ash, apply organic fertilizers - compost and rotted manure.
Council. Planting melons under a mulching film makes it easier to care for them and retains the heat necessary for growth.
Landing scheme and technology
For the plants to take root, the soil must be + 15 ... + 18 ° С. And so that they develop correctly - above + 20 ° С.
Melons require room for growth and development, for each bush is allocated at least 1 m².
10-15 g of nitrophosphate and rotted compost are added to the holes, the soil is moistened.
Landing scheme:
- distance between holes –1.5 m;
- the distance between the rows is 1 m.
A bush is placed in the center of the hole and covered with soil. In this case, the root collar should remain at the soil level.
Further care
To prevent the planted melons from freezing, they make a temporary greenhouse or cover them with a film, which is dismantled with the arrival of stable heat (most often in early July).
Further care of the crop consists of watering, feeding, pinching, as well as loosening the soil in the aisles, which is carried out only until the leaves close in the rows.
Watering
Melon does not tolerate high air humidity and abundance of water in the soil. Moderate watering is needed at the beginning of the growing season, after which it is not necessary to water. Do not use cold water - it can provoke illness.
Top dressing
3-4 feeding per season is required:
- nitrogen fertilizers 2 weeks after transplanting into the ground - this contributes to active growth;
- after another 2 weeks, feeding is repeated;
- in the second half of July, spill with herbal infusion or mullein infusion;
- during the ripening of the fruits, phosphorus fertilizers are applied.
For melons to be born juicy and sweet, it is important to correctly apply nitrogen fertilizers. Part is introduced at sowing, the other - in the phase of appearance of 4-5 true leaves.
Protection against diseases and pests
Root rot affects young shoots and germinated seeds, prevention begins even before sowing. The seeds are treated with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate with a temperature of up to + 25 ° C for half an hour, after which they are washed and dried.
Fusarium wilt affects melons early and mid-season outdoors. Against this dangerous disease, prevention is also carried out with a weakly concentrated solution of the drug "Trichodermin". The first treatment is 2 weeks after planting in the ground, when the plants take root. If the plant is sick, the treatment is carried out at the root according to the instructions for the preparation.
Often, pests attack melons: aphids, spider mites, wireworms, scoops.You can fight them with bio-insecticides, which are sold in specialty stores and garden centers. The most effective drugs are "Aktofit", "Bicol", "Bitoxibacillin".
Compliance with growing technology
Typical mistakes of a melon grower in the Moscow region:
- wrong choice of variety;
- planting method directly into the ground, without seedlings;
- non-compliance with agricultural techniques.
Melon cultivation technology consists in timely sowing, proper care, competent bush formation, and disease prevention.
Bush formation
To get a good harvest, the bushes are pinched.
The first time is at the seedling stage, removing all excess over 4-5 leaves.
Melon forms the central trunk of the bush after planting in the ground. In order for the melon to bush, it is cut off after the fifth leaf, since it forms the ovary only on the lateral shoots.
It is recommended to leave one ovary on each lash, only 2-3 per bush. Then the plant will have enough strength to grow full-fledged large fruits.
During the formation of the ovaries, the non-fertile lashes are removed, and the lashes with the ovaries are cut over 3 leaves after the fruit. The cut points are treated with a mixture of sulfur, coal and lime.
The formation of lashes continues until the melons begin to ripen, while the lateral stems grow, flowering and fruit setting. The fewer fruits left to ripen, the larger they will grow.
Harvesting
Melon yield depends on the variety; in the open field, usually 1-1.5 kg of yield per 1 m² is harvested. The fruits grow small, about 1 kg, but sweet, juicy, fragrant.
How to tell if a melon is ripe
The ripeness of the melon in the garden is determined by the following criteria:
- change in the color of the crust to a typical varietal color
- the appearance of a fragrant aroma;
- drying of the stalk, easy separation of the fruit;
- the peel is not rigid, slightly springy under the fingers;
- melon, when lightly struck, makes a dull sound.
On the package with seeds, the ripening period of a particular melon variety is written. You can calculate the approximate time from it and by visual observation of the development of fruits in the garden.
Storage features
Early varieties are harvested at the stage of full ripeness and immediately used for food.
Important! Melons that are not yet fully formed will not be able to ripen during storage, they will remain tasteless and deteriorate.
Term storage melons, which are harvested at the stage of technical ripeness, on average - two weeks after harvest. It is better to store them in a cool place with low humidity.
Recommendations from experienced agronomists
Experienced gardeners advise:
- Place a spunbond or plank under the ripening melons to avoid fruit rot.
- Sometimes flip the melons from side to side in the beds. So they will be more beautiful in shape, uniform color and more likely to ripen.
- Leave a few fruits until fully ripe in the beds to get seeds. In the next season, they can grow a richer crop than purchased ones.
Conclusion
By choosing the right variety and taking into account all the characteristics of cultivation, you can grow demanding plants and harvest a good harvest of melons. Subject to agricultural technology, this capricious melon culture will ripen on time and will delight you with excellent taste.