Watermelon appeared four thousand years ago in Ancient Egypt. In those days, it was grown for valuable oil. Delicious honey (nardek) was prepared from this oil. Today, watermelon is loved for its juicy pulp and consumed in its pure form. In cooking, watermelon pulp is used to prepare various desserts, salads, main dishes and sauces. Watermelon dishes are on the menu in many fine, luxurious restaurants.

The pulp of a watermelon consists of 80% water, which is why watermelon is considered an absolutely product and has practically no contraindications for use.

The pulp also contains highly digestible natural sugars, most of which are glucose and fructose. In addition to this, watermelon is also rich in vitamins B1, B2, C, PP, folic acid, carotene, potassium, magnesium, iron, sodium, calcium and phosphorus.

We present to your attention a selection of unusual recipes from this appetizing, juicy and healthy berry.

Salad "Festive watermelon"

Do you think that sweet watermelon incompatible with something salty? In vain. This salad will prove you wrong. You can combine a variety of products, getting an original and unique taste.

For this salad you will need:

• watermelon pulp - 1 kg;
• feta cheese - 200 g;
• mint leaves - a few pieces;
• Provence oil - 2 tablespoons;
• lime - 1 pc.

Cooking salad "Festive watermelon".

1. Peel the pulp of the watermelon from the seeds and cut into medium cubes.
2. Cut the cheese into cubes and add to the watermelon.
3. Tear the mint leaves with your hands and add to the salad.
4. Dress the salad with oil and lime juice.
5. Serve chilled.

Salad "Watermelon Slice"

This is an incredibly tasty and healthy salad. If you stick to it, then replace mayonnaise with yogurt or sour cream in the recipe, and the salad will become even more dietary. An unusual and colorful watermelon slice will undoubtedly please your guests, relatives and friends.

For this salad you will need:

• chicken fillet - 200 g;
• hard cheese - 100 g;
• pitted olives - 50 g;
• mayonnaise - 2 tablespoons;
• cucumber - 1 pc.;
• tomatoes - 2 pcs.

Preparing a salad "Watermelon Slice".

1. Boil the chicken fillet, cool and finely chop.
2. Grate the cheese on a coarse grater.
3. Cut most of the olives into rings.
4. Combine meat, cheese, olives and mix well.
5. Spread the resulting mixture on a shallow dish, giving it the shape of a watermelon slice. Leave to soak.
6. Coarsely grate the watermelon and finely chop the tomatoes.
7. Cut the remaining olives into quarters.
8. Put tomatoes, cheese, cucumbers and olives on the finished slice, giving the appearance of a real watermelon slice.
9. Salad is ready and ready to serve.

Salad: chicken with watermelon

This original salad will certainly become your favorite. Bold combination chicken meat, cheese and sweet watermelon pulp are harmoniously combined and give a unique taste.

For this salad you will need:

• chicken fillet - 400 g;
• watermelon pulp - 400 g;
• feta cheese - 100 g;
• red onion - 1 pc.;
• tomato - 1 pc.;
• arugula - 1 bunch,
• sesame - 2 tablespoons;
• soy sauce - 3 tablespoons;
• olive oil - 1 tbsp;
• balsamic vinegar - 1 tbsp.

Cooking salad "Summer".

1. Cut the chicken fillet into thin and long strips and marinate in soy sauce for 30-60 minutes.
2. Fry marinated meat until tender.
3. Dry the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan.
4. Wash the arugula, dry and tear with your hands.
5. Onion cut into half rings.
6. Peel the pulp of the watermelon and cut into cubes.
7. Cut the tomato into thin slices.
8. Combine all ingredients and stir.
9. Add cheese on top of the salad, season it olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Creative Fruit Salad: Watermelon Fish

A very important attribute of modern holiday table is a beautifully decorated dish. Interestingly served dishes allow you to take a different look at even the most ordinary products, causing joy and delight, both in children and adults.

For this salad, you will need any fruits and berries that you like. The best combination obtained with this set of products: watermelon, grapes, cherries, pineapple, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines.

We are preparing a creative salad "Fish-watermelon".

1. Wash the watermelon thoroughly under running water.
2. On the peel of a watermelon waterproof marker you need to draw a diagram future figure. Designate the eyes, mouth, fins of the fish, and draw a lid on the back of the "watermelon fish".
3. Carefully cut out the marked areas with a knife.
4. Scoop out the flesh of the watermelon with an ice cream scoop.
5. Put the watermelon balls and all other fruits into the formed cavity of the watermelon.
6. Serve chilled.

watermelon popsicle

A healthy alternative to the classic popsicle. You can eat such ice cream and not worry about the figure. Watermelon popsicle is perfect for, quenches thirst and cheers up.

To make watermelon popsicle, you only need watermelon.

Cooking Eskimo.

1. Cut the watermelon into triangular pieces.
2. Insert an ice cream stick into each wedge.
3. Send the popsicle to freezer for 2-3 hours.

watermelon cocktail

This refreshing watermelon smoothie is especially good on a hot summer day.

For a cocktail you will need:

• frozen watermelon - 2 slices;
• milk - 1 glass;
• sugar - 2 tbsp.

Preparing a watermelon cocktail.

1. Blend all the ingredients in a blender until the consistency of a milkshake is formed.
2. Serve chilled.

Candied watermelon rind

In the summer, during the season of watermelons, you can stock up on candied watermelon in reserve. Candied fruits keep for a long time and are easy to prepare. You can use them just like that, and add them to pastries or a variety of desserts.

For homemade candied fruits you will need:

• watermelon peels - 300 g;
• sugar - 300 g;
• lemon - 1 pc.;
• water - 200 ml.

Cooking candied fruits from watermelon peel.

1. Remove the green skin from the watermelon and cut into pieces of any shape.
2. Boil the sliced ​​peels in boiling water for 5-7 minutes. Then drain the water.
3. Combine water and sugar and boil for 2 minutes until syrupy.
4. Grate the lemon zest.
5. Transfer watermelon peels to syrup and add lemon zest to them.
6. Put the syrup with crusts on the fire and boil for 5-7 minutes. Then set aside to cool.
7. Put the cooled crusts back on the fire and boil for 5-7 minutes, and again set aside to cool. Do this procedure 10 times. The crusts should become transparent.
8. Put the boiled watermelon peels on a baking sheet and put in the oven to dry at 60 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

Home salting: watermelon with salt

This unpretentious and simple recipe is sure to come in handy for a hostess whose family loves pickled watermelons. Watermelons are very tasty.

For salting three-liter jar will be needed.

Among the many gardeners and owners household plots, planting vegetables, fruits and berries for their own needs is quite an ordinary occupation.

Particularly popular in last years gourds, but not everyone knows how to grow watermelons correctly so that they are juicy, tasty, and the harvest pleases with abundance. There are many rules and recommendations regarding melons that should be followed in order to get a good harvest.

The rules for growing berries are quite simple: you need to choose suitable grade, prepare the soil, seeds or seedlings, plant and grow them according to the rules.

Let's consider each of the points in detail.

Choosing a variety of watermelons

Currently, more than 50 varieties of watermelons are grown in Russia, and their number is regularly increasing. All varieties are divided geographically into the following types:

• Transcaucasian;
• Western European;
• Russians;
• Central Asian;
• Indian.

The list is by no means complete, as there are a dozen more species of these berries. All watermelons grown on the territory of our country belong to the Russian variety. Sometimes Transcaucasian and Central Asian species are also grown.

Attention! When choosing a watermelon for planting, pay attention to its ripening period, the resistance of watermelons to drought and frost, especially if you live in middle lane.

Watermelons with medium and late deadline ripening, relevant for regions with a warm climate. Early varieties grow well in central Russia.

The most popular varieties of watermelons in our country include the following varieties.

1. Watermelon "Spark"- an early ripe variety that feels great in the non-black earth region. Ripening period from 70 to 90 days. Fruit small size, round shape thin-skinned, dark green. The weight of the berries is about 3 kilograms. The fruits are juicy, tender, sweet, bright red.
   Seeds are sown from late April to early May. perfect time for planting seedlings from late May to early June.
2. Watermelon Crimson Smith- ideal for regions with a short hot summer. Ripening time is approximately 60-70 days. Small watermelon, weighing up to 3 kilograms. The pulp is tasty, juicy, rich red color.
   The variety is resistant to various diseases. In particular, to anthracnose and powdery mildew.
3. Watermelon "Producer"- relatively new variety suitable for warm climate regions. It has first class taste. Able to be stored for a long time, resistant to transportation over long distances.

All varieties of watermelons belonging to Russian varieties are grown in almost all regions of our country. When choosing a watermelon for growing, pay attention to the recommendations for each particular variety, follow all the rules and recommendations for growing them.

Soil preparation for growing watermelons

Before planting seeds or seedlings, we prepare the soil in advance. It is recommended to do this in the fall, using mineral and organic fertilizers. We evenly scatter them over the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe proposed sowing of berries, then carefully dig up the soil.

We loosen the soil in the spring, to the depth of sowing, pour 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ammophoska or nitrophoska, thoroughly mixing the fertilizer with the ground.

To minimize the acidity of the soil and improve the growth of watermelons, we use magnesium, calcium, potassium. These elements are included in eggshell and wood ash. It is recommended to prepare them in advance.

Watermelons can be planted with seeds or seedlings. In any case, it is necessary to stratify the seeds in order to select the most quality material for landing.

• To identify the strongest seeds, dip them in salt water. Those watermelon seeds that have risen to the surface are safely thrown away, and those that have sunk to the bottom are used for planting.
• To disinfect the seeds, before sowing, leave them for a week in the sun or warm them up at a temperature of +55 degrees for 3-4 hours.
• To strengthen future sprouts and speed up the germination process, soak the seeds for a day in warm water and only then plant them in the ground.

Sowing watermelon seeds

When planting watermelon seeds, we must take into account the features climate zone. The temperature of the soil at a depth of 10 centimeters should be + 12- + 14 ° С.

• In Western and northern regions countries, seeds are planted from May 15.
• In the southern part of the forest-steppe since May 6.
• In the steppe regions since April 28.

Watermelon seeds should not be planted earlier, as they will simply rot in cool soil. Before planting, we must warm up the ground.

We put no more than 5 watermelon seeds in the hole and sprinkle them with earth. The distance between the holes is not less than 0.7 -1.0 meters, and between the rows is approximately 1.5 meters. It is recommended to cover the sowing with a film or agrofibre before emergence.

When weeds appear, they must be weeded immediately.

When tying leaves on seedlings, one of the strongest plants is left in each hole.

Wanting to get early harvest or living in the northern regions, we plant not seeds, but seedlings of watermelons. For its cultivation we use pots or cropped plastic bottles.

Soil for seedlings - a mixture consisting of humus, soddy soil and river sand. It is recommended to add a little wood ash to the mixture.

Having planted the seeds, we leave them for 10 days in a dark place with a temperature not lower than + 25ºС. After this time, we rearrange the pots with seedlings for 20 days in a place with good lighting.

The last step is hardening. It takes 5 days and implies a daily decrease in temperature for seedlings for several hours. If the watermelon variety is resistant to cold, hardening is not necessary. Plant seedlings in open ground after the end of frost.

One of the most important factors in obtaining bountiful harvest watermelons - right choice places for planting seeds or seedlings. The site must be protected from the wind, and located in the sun.

Good predecessors for watermelons are tomatoes, potatoes, beans, radishes or cabbages.

The soil for watermelons is fertile, loose and light. Sandy or sandy soil is fertilized in advance with rotted organic matter or humus.

In pre-moistened holes, we plant no more than 2 plants. Their leaves should remain above the ground. The distance between the holes is from 1.0 to 1.5 meters. We cover the seedlings with foil and water for a week. warm water.

Good watering and timely feeding of watermelons is the key to a good harvest. Water is responsible for the juiciness of fruits, but remember that it should be in moderation. Watering seedlings abundantly and often, it is difficult to achieve the desired taste of the fruit.

Watering

Follow the following watering scheme for berries:

• Before the flowering of watermelons, water them moderately, and after - more abundantly.
• In extreme heat, water the watermelons infrequently, but plentifully. Soil moisture - not less than 85%.
• With sandy, poorly retaining moisture soil, the plant is watered more often than with clay or black soil.
• When the fruits ripen, we reduce the number of waterings, and gradually, completely stop.

top dressing

Plant nutrition is carried out in 3 stages. Each requires about 2 liters of liquid fertilizer.

1. The first dressing of seedlings is carried out a week after planting. Add ammonium sulfate, superphosphate and potassium salt to a 10-liter container with water.
2. The second feeding is carried out during active growth watermelons. The solution used is the same as in the first procedure, but the amount of fertilizer is reduced.
3. The last feeding procedure is performed at the time of the formation of the ovaries. The solution is poured into pre-prepared furrows, at a distance of 15-20 centimeters from the plants.

Watermelon care and harvest

Watermelon seedling care includes the following procedures:

• Loosening the soil;
• Top dressing and watering;
• Disease and pest control;
• Weed removal;
• Frost protection for ovaries.

It is necessary to loosen the soil after planting seedlings, after rains and watering to a depth of 7 centimeters. With frequent winds, sprinkle the stems with soil or fix them with wire pins.

Growing watermelons using the melon method, after 3-6 strings we pinch the shoots. If frost is likely, we protect the plants with special covering material or cardboard.

The harvest season for watermelons starts at the end of August. Finding out that the fruit is ripe is quite simple: the tail will dry out and the skin will become shiny. The drawing on the berry will take on a distinct shape. It is recommended to lightly tap on the fetus. If the sound is deaf, feel free to cut the berry.

As you can see, growing a watermelon is quite simple, the procedure does not require much time and effort. Following all the recommendations and advice, the harvest of watermelons will delight you with abundance, and the taste of the fruit will be at its best.

Probably, you rarely meet a person who would not like watermelons. However, not all of us have a plot to grow our favorite fruits and vegetables. This is the main reason why people are wondering how to grow watermelon at home.

Not everyone knows, but you can grow watermelons without using seedlings, but immediately in a permanent place. As a rule, seedlings are used in order to later transplant plants into a greenhouse. Garden How to grow watermelon outdoors

This is done so that the berry has time to ripen. And if we are talking about growing a fetus at home, then this stage can be safely skipped.

Basic steps to grow the most delicious watermelon on the planet

You should start by buying a sufficiently large capacity, because the watermelon has an extensive root system. For this, a box measuring 50x50x30 cm is perfect. You can make it yourself, for example, from wooden planks. If this is not possible, then you can always take a bowl or bucket. If the selected container is transparent, then it makes sense to wrap it with a dark-colored cloth. Such a measure is necessary so that the roots do not dry out and turn green. The container must be filled with fertile soil with trace elements.

You can buy it at any garden or hardware store. Fortunately, in our time, even in some supermarkets you can find such products, if, of course, there is a garden department there. Thirty days before you plan to plant a watermelon, you will need to lime the soil. This is necessary so that the acidity is about 6 pH.

Before planting the seeds, they must first be soaked for about ten minutes in water with a temperature of more than 100C. You need to keep it until the seeds begin to peck, after which they can be planted. Please note that it is impossible to separate the seeds in any case.

How many seeds to plant?

You don't need much, because they can all ascend. But three seeds will be the most the best option. Planting should be at a depth of about three centimeters. After the sprouts appear, you need to choose the strongest and leave it.

Plant placement

The best place is by the window

Not better place than a window sill. You can, of course, just put it near the window, but at the same time the plant should receive a sufficient amount of light. However, do not forget that the frame cannot be left open, otherwise there is a risk of freezing the heat-loving plant. most the best temperature for maturation is the temperature in the range from +25 to +30 degrees. Until the fruit is formed, the plant will be considered a seedling. At night time optimum temperature will be about +18 degrees. When you notice that the fruits begin to set, you should not sharply lower room temperature. Leave it also at least +25 degrees. In addition, it should be remembered that moisture for watermelons is detrimental. It must be remembered that watering should be moderate, do not pour too much.

In three months you can harvest

As a rule, if watermelons are grown in a greenhouse, then it takes about three months. If we are talking about growing watermelon at home, then most likely it will take a little longer. If we are talking about growing at a time of the year when daylight hours are less than twelve hours, then you should use fluorescent lamps. This is necessary to highlight the watermelon. Try to keep your lighting clearly directional. Let it illuminate the plant as much as possible. In addition, special reflective surfaces should also be used. Moreover, you should place them around the watermelon.

Vitamins and minerals for the plant

Like any other living creature, watermelon needs feeding. Try to do it in a certain way. The most common method is the primary feeding with phosphorus and nitrogen. Moreover, it is done in the same quantities. After you see that the fruits are tied, you should think about using top dressing, where there is a large number of potassium. And at this moment it is necessary to ensure that there is not so much nitrogen in the top dressing as at the initial stage.

It makes sense to install a support in the container, with which you can fix the shoots of your watermelon. The main stem, as a rule, is attached at a height of about one hundred centimeters. side shoots they are attached a little differently: they are attached so that a few leaves remain above the flower with the ovary.

After you notice that the fruits have formed, you do not need to leave everything. Two is enough, all the rest need to be pinched off, because there will be no point in them. They will only take all the juices and nutrients. If you leave more than two fruits, then they will all remain small. When you see that the fetus has reached a size of about ten centimeters in diameter, then it must be placed in gauze or mesh, after which it should be tied to a support. This is done to make it more durable.

By the way, when you grow watermelon at home, you should remember that such huge sizes, as with greenhouse planting, it won't reach. However, thinner skin will be a big advantage. Usually, growing watermelon at home, you can get a fruit weighing about a kilogram.

If you do not know which variety should be preferred, then stop at the seeds of such varieties as "Kaho", "Spark" or "Sibiryak". These varieties are the most unpretentious for growing at home.

If the first time you fail to grow the watermelon that you wanted or does not work at all, then you should not be very upset. Try again, just next landing It will be necessary to take into account the mistakes made and not repeat them again. Juicy and sweet watermelons to you!

A long liana, with carved leaves and hanging, huge, by home standards, fruits - this is how a watermelon at home might look . It is usually grown in the summer, when there is plenty of light and heat. And today, growing a watermelon at home on a windowsill is not at all a fantasy, because with proper care you can get it decent harvest. How to grow watermelon at home - read the article.

Conditions for growing watermelon

The choice of soil, top dressing, watering, temperature and light conditions, and the choice of location determine how the watermelon will grow and whether it will produce edible fruits.

Place

It is preferable to grow watermelon on south side. The more sun, the better. Direct Sun rays are only to his advantage.

An ideal place at home, it will be warm, sunny loggia or balcony. You can plant plants on the southern, western and eastern windows, the northern ones are categorically not suitable for them.

In fact, growing a watermelon on a balcony is not so difficult, you just need to comply with the necessary conditions.

Light

light day for successful cultivation watermelon is 12-14 hours. In the evenings, turn on LED, fluorescent lighting or phytolamps. On cloudy days, the lamps are left on all day.

Temperature

Watermelons are grown in high temperatures 25-30 °C during the day and not lower than 18 °C at night. It is especially necessary to monitor the thermometer during the formation of the ovary.

Watering

Regarding watering, the opinions of plant growers differ greatly. Some prefer regular, and even abundant watering, others talk about its strong limitation and its complete cessation during ripening, arguing that water is not needed to increase sugar content. In any case, seedlings are watered in the usual way, and watering a plant in the second stage of its life depends on a number of conditions, including experience.

Plant soil and fertilizer

The soil is prepared loose and fertile with a neutral reaction: 1 part of soddy soil, sand, humus, plus one tenth of ground wood ash. For disinfection, the soil is steamed in a water bath for 1.5–2 hours, kept in microwave oven 10-20 minutes, pour boiling water.

Feeding begins when the plant has 3 true leaves. Plants are watered with water, and then complex mineral fertilizers(Kemira and others), divorced according to the instructions. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in them at this stage may well be shifted towards nitrogen, but it is better that they are equal. At the stage of formation of ovaries, they are fed again - phosphoric and potash fertilizers there should be more. After 2-3 weeks - the third time.

Planting watermelon seeds

Not all watermelons growing in open ground are suitable for growing at home. There are varieties that bear fruit indoors, such as Ogonyok, Crimson Sweet, Ultra Early, Sugar Baby, Siberian, Gift of the Sun, Kai F1, Cinderella, Gift to the North F1. They have good taste, do not need abundant light, early ripening, disease resistant.

Seeds of these varieties are characterized by good germination and if they are purchased from trusted suppliers and trademark reliable, then almost everything germinates. Before planting, they are kept for 10-15 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate at a temperature of 50-55 ° C. Then placed in damp cloth(sand, etc.) until they peck, after that they plant 2 in cups for seedlings, digging 2 cm into the ground. You can plant them immediately in cups.

Interesting, but optional, is the stratification technique when germinating seeds in a humid environment, which stimulates the processes in the seed: they are kept for 12 hours on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator at a temperature of +6 ° C, then another 12 hours at room temperature. Repeat the process 2-3 times.

Growing seedlings of watermelon

2 weeks after the emergence of sprouts, weak seedlings are discarded and one of the strongest ones is left in each cup.

It is undesirable to plant watermelon seeds immediately in large containers: a large mass of undeveloped soil easily turns sour, and seedlings may die. Transplanted in a month, the plants move to permanent place together with a clod of earth, in order not to injure the roots.

Seedlings can be planted in open ground and to get good harvest in the garden. Pre-hardening: within a week, take out the seedlings for a short time every day in the open air.

The process of growing watermelon

After transshipment of seedlings into pots, the rapid growth of the root begins. It grows long, with well-developed lateral roots, so large containers are picked up - 5-15 liters.

Pinching is done over 3-4 leaves, side branches directed vertically or launched horizontally. They also grow with one lash, in which case flowers and fruits will appear faster.

Flowering (after 30-50 days) and fruiting of watermelon depends on the variety, which are early, mid-ripening and late-ripening. It is interesting that, depending on the timing of flowering, the flowers appear in different leaf axils: in early ripening - in 4-11 leaf axils, with an average term - at 15-18, late ones - at 20-25. Any variety can be grown in the house, but given the thermophilicity and light-loving nature, early varieties are preferred.

To obtain the fruit, the flowers are pollinated artificially. Watermelon has 2 types of flowers - male and female, which appear both on the main and on the side shoots. male flowers(developed stamens, thin peduncle) pollinate the female ones (developed pistil, thick peduncle) and wait for the fruit to set. Peduncle enlargement female flower means that the little watermelon has begun to grow. With a vertical arrangement of the lashes, it becomes necessary to attach it to prevent breakage.

In the house, you should not leave more than 2 watermelons on the branches if you want to enjoy delicious pulp. The shoots are pinched after the formation of the fruit so that the forces go to its maturation, and not to growth.

From planting to the end of the growing season takes an average of 3 months. At home, it is difficult to grow a fetus over 1 kg. Wait until the watermelon is ripe and maybe it will palatability will outweigh purchased ones. Recall that in a mature fruit, the bark is glossy, the stalk is dried up, without hairs. when knocking, a ringing sound is heard.

But, even following all the rules of care, there is no guarantee that you can get a large watermelon on the windowsill or balcony. And yet, the cultivation of such exotic plant will bring a lot of fun and new growing skills unique plants at home.

A lot of people love watermelon. But watermelons appear on the market only in a certain season.

What to do if you want to eat juicy pulp at another time of the year? There is a way out - to grow watermelon from seeds at home.

True, not everyone has household plot, where you can put a greenhouse and grow watermelons. But everyone has a window sill or a balcony, and this is quite enough to grow this plant at home.

Preparatory work

When growing watermelons at home, you can safely skip the planting step, which is needed if you plan to transplant the plant outdoors. At home, planting occurs immediately in a large container in which the watermelon will grow until fully ripe.

The first thing you need to do to plant a watermelon is to purchase or build your own planting box. If you can't find a crate, a basin, bucket, or flower pot will work just as well.

The main thing is that the volume is large enough for the root system. It is not advisable to use a transparent container - watermelon roots are sensitive and can dry out.

As a soil, it is better to take store soil rich in trace elements. The soil must be enriched with lime fertilizers, since acidity of 6pH is necessary for growing watermelons.

Important to remember: the volume of the growing container must be at least 10-15 liters!

Seeds, as in many other crops, must be soaked before planting. It is necessary to keep in water until the seeds hatch.

How to plant a watermelon

3-4 seeds are usually planted in one container, planting is done to a depth of about 3 centimeters. But this does not mean that they will all grow in the same container. Of those seeds that will sprout, you need to leave only one, the most healthy-looking sprout.

Watermelon is a plant that needs a lot of light. So great solution seedlings will be placed on the windowsill.

If you are planting seedlings in winter time year, then you must definitely take care of additional lighting, since under natural conditions the plant receives light for 12 hours.

Remember that this plant is thermophilic and it is very easy to freeze it. Therefore, if you have chosen a window sill on the balcony, then you need to make sure that the temperature there is suitable. The ideal temperature for the growth of this culture is + 25-30 degrees during the day and about 17-18 degrees Celsius at night.

Despite the fact that watermelon fruits are very juicy, excessive moisture very harmful to this plant. Like over watering.

plant care

During the growth of the plant, fertilizers must be added to the soil. Nitrogen and phosphorus must be included in the feeding diet, and after the formation of the fruit, also potassium.

In a container with seedlings, it is necessary to place a support along which the lash will grow. When the whip reaches a length of about a meter, it must be pinched. During the growth of watermelon, the ground must be constantly loosened.

You can not leave more than two fruits on one whip. All excess fruits must be cut off. Left fruits, it is better to fix on a support with a net.

It is important to know: after the introduction of potassium into the diet, the amount of nitrogen must be significantly reduced.

Harvesting

At home, fruits rarely exceed a weight of one kilogram. But their skin is much thinner.

It takes about 3-3.5 months for the full maturation of the fetus. However, there are more that have a aging period of 60-80 days.

The maturity of the fruit can be easily determined: if the peel is shiny, the stalk is dry, and the sound is dull when struck, then the fruit is ripe.

If you didn’t manage to grow a watermelon at home the first time, don’t be discouraged. You just need to try again, while taking into account the recommended varieties for growing in your area and feedback from amateur gardeners.

Below, we invite you to watch a video on how watermelons grow on a windowsill: