Sunshet Agrosuccess - protecting plants from sunburn and drought. Square watermelons. Forms for growing square watermelons How to make a square watermelon

Ornamental crops often coexist with edible beauty, which allows you to diversify as much as possible landscape design and create unique compositions. The edible exotic presented in this article is a relatively new culture that combines an attractive appearance and excellent flavors. The square watermelon first appeared many years ago as a result of the experiments of an ordinary breeder. The gardener simply laid the ovaries of the berries during their formation in plastic square containers. As it grew and developed, the cubic watermelon took on the required shape. Subsequently Plastic container was removed, and the berry continued to delight the eye with its unusual shape until the moment of full ripening. Students from Japan were impressed with the idea. And as a result of many years of research and experimentation, special grade Kaku Melo. Currently, this is the only variety that does not require unnecessary gestures and tricks with plastic containers to get berries square shape.

You can see cubic watermelons in the photo below, and also learn how to grow them with your own hands on personal plot in any region of the country:

How to grow and use quadrant watermelons (with photo)

There is a certain technology by which the cultivation of watermelon is carried out, its strict observance will allow you to get guaranteed high yields. The berry has a unique chemical composition The pulp is rich in vitamins and minerals. In the summer heat it valuable source liquids with high nutritional value. Everyone knows about these properties of watermelon. But few people thought about how this melon culture can be used in decorative purposes. How to grow square watermelons with our own hands - we will tell further, but for now, look at this unusual culture in the photo in landscape design:

The cultivation process begins with the selection of a variety. It is selected taking into account the characteristics of the climatic zone. Currently, there are varieties that are resistant to adverse climatic conditions- they are suitable for cultivation in open ground even in Siberia and the Urals. These are "Krimstar", "Suga baby", "Pink Champagne", "Spark" and many others.

Practiced exclusively seedling method cultivation. Otherwise get even minimum yield there is no chance left. Sowing for seedlings is done in early March. Pre-seeds are soaked for 2-3 days in a nutrient solution with the addition of growth stimulants. After soaking, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator for 48 hours. top shelf. This is the stage of stratification.

Sowing is carried out in well-structured soil with a high content of organic matter. About half of the soil volume is humus or compost. Sand and soddy (deciduous) earth are added to it in equal proportions. The reaction of the soil should be neutral, with an acidic reaction, lime or wood ash. The soil is calcined in the oven for 3 hours. Then pour boiling water with the addition of potassium permanganate. After cooling, it can be laid out in peat pots and 2 seeds can be planted in each to a depth of 1 cm.

There are certain sowing tricks:

watermelon seedlings have a very fragile root system and do not tolerate transplanting and picking;
boarding takes place at peat cups, filled only half;
after the start of rapid growth, the soil is gradually poured to the edges of the pot;
if both seeds are included, then one seedling is removed.

After sowing, the containers are covered plastic wrap(it is advisable to put them in bags and tie tightly) to save required level soil moisture. It is desirable to place the pots where the temperature remains above 25 degrees Celsius for a day. Seedlings appear in about 7 - 10 days. Then follows active growth and development.

During the period of growing seedlings of square watermelon, you need to make liquid fertilizers once a week. mineral supplements, since culture has a rapid growth, it needs a large number of nutrients. The surface of the soil is loosened once a week to a depth of 1 cm. This increases the air permeability of the soil. Seedlings should not be kept on windowsills, which are very cool at night. This can cause root rot disease.

Growing an ornamental square watermelon in open ground is possible after the threat has completely passed. return frosts. Sometimes temporary film shelters are used. The planting dates for seedlings in the ground usually fall at the end of May or the beginning of June. At this time, the seedlings are already blooming and require preliminary hardening. To this end, they are taken out into the open air daily for 2-3 hours.

In open ground it is necessary to create favorable conditions for development. The crop should be planted only on a previously prepared bed with biofuel laying. This is usually removed upper layer soil (about 30 cm or a shovel bayonet). Then old hay, straw, dry branches, cardboard, paper, cotton rags are laid in the trench. Fresh grass is laid on biofuel with a layer of up to 10 cm. Everything is covered with soil. It is necessary to shed the bed with boiling water and cover with tarpaulin for 7 days. All this will start the process of "burning" of biofuel, giving great amount carbon dioxide, stimulating the growth of decorative cubic watermelon in open ground.

If someone now decides that a square watermelon is a mutant fruit that genetic engineers have worked on, then he is mistaken. Anyone can grow a square watermelon if they really want to. Just think: watermelon will not only be unusual shape, but also to get rid of its eternal property of rolling somewhere like a bun.

What you will need:
watermelon seed
garden bed
sun
square plastic mold
water for irrigation
Almost everyone loves watermelon. This sweet and juicy melon culture is well known to us since childhood. The taste of watermelon pulp is delicate and refreshing, we always associate with summer time and rest. But, maybe you are tired of round watermelons? Then it's time to experiment with growing a square watermelon.
1. So, no super special conditions are required to grow a square watermelon. The same bed, the same watering and enhanced sun, as for all melons. Choose those varieties of watermelon that are adapted to your needs. climate zone.
The most important thing is to choose a square shape for growing. Here is what you need to follow following conditions: the form must be of the appropriate size, not less than 20x20 cm, let in light and air. The size of the mold determines the size of the fruit in the end, good light transmission allows the fruit to ripen, because we want a ripe watermelon, and the possibility of ventilation is necessary so that the fruit does not rot.
Also consider, the more rigid the shape, the more correct the contours of the fruit will be. Perfect option- a plastic transparent container in which frequent holes are drilled in the upper part. Make the container collapsible so you can use it more than once. In the upper part there should be a hole for the "tail" of the watermelon, with which it is attached to the vine.
2. We start with growing seedlings. We germinate a watermelon seed, grow a watermelon seedling up to 5 strong leaves in a seedling pot, then plant it in a prepared garden bed for the most sunny place. The land should be well fertilized with humus or manure. If the nights are cool in your area, then we cover the seedlings, creating the effect of a greenhouse. Watering in sufficient quantity cold water and wait for the formation of ovaries.
3. After flowering, the ovaries of future watermelons are formed. When the fruit is about the size of an apple, place it in a plastic box. We follow the watering, the soil should be moist. Watermelon ripens approximately 90-100 days after planting in the ground. As the fruit grows, it will fill the square container and take on its shape. It remains only to disassemble the container and surprise your friends with an unusual fruit.
In the same way, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins and other vegetables can be shaped. Try experimenting!

Square watermelons were invented by the Japanese about forty years ago. More precisely, not square, but cubic. No, they did not receive the Nobel Prize in Biology for their discovery. And selection has nothing to do with it. The tricksters guessed to enclose the growing watermelon in a transparent container, so that, growing, the fruit would take its shape. So you can grow not only square watermelons, but also cylindrical zucchini, and eggplant in the shape of a tetrahedron, if such a need arises.

What was the need for an unusual form? The fault is the high cost of retail space in How are these two things related? Yes, very simple.

The overcrowding of Japanese megacities has caused the high cost of not only housing, but also any premises - industrial, office, retail. The owners of shops selling vegetables and fruits were forced to pay high prices, and in such conditions the shops had a small area to be affordable for poor tenants. And you can’t place a lot of goods in a small area, but ordinary watermelons, round shape, tend to occupy large amounts of space precisely because of their non-compact configuration. Importing watermelons every day is not a cheap occupation: its cost is low. So the Japanese farmers decided to provide a service to the fruit merchants.

They took and came up with such a form that they could be easily stored, occupied less space, and even did not ride on the counter.

The practicality and foresight of Japanese melon growers went so far that they grew square watermelons of such dimensions that they could easily fit on the shelves of Japanese refrigerators! The novelty immediately fell in love (and in form) with the domestic Japanese consumer. And although the cost of growing them was somewhat higher (due to the need to place them in transparent boxes), and the store price was three to four times higher than the price of ordinary products, square watermelons quickly gained popularity among the population. Many farmers from other countries began to adopt the "best practices" of the Japanese and also began to grow curly watermelons.

The farmer, who was the first to come up with the idea of growing non-standard fruits, did not immediately think of patenting his invention, and long years fruits (both directly and in figurative sense) his ingenuity was used by many. True, in the end he nevertheless took out a patent, but how much money he lost over the past decades!

But, apparently, the square watermelon, whose photos adorn many exhibitions and pages of Internet portals, is a success only in Japan and the countries closest to it. In other places, where everything is in order with the size of retail space in vegetable shops, they decided to trade “the old fashioned way”. Besides, they say taste qualities square watermelon is still lower than that of a round one.

Summer residents, gardeners who are interested in all the innovations in the field of breeding new, exotic crops, could not help but pay attention to the appearance of watermelons of a non-standard square shape.
Amazing square watermelons are a remarkable achievement of Japanese experimenters. By the way, the first copy of the miracle berry saw the light more than 30 years ago.

Advantages and disadvantages of a square shape

What qualities of fruits so attract consumers? Among the advantages are the following:

The convenience of a square shape, from a pragmatic point of view, for transportation, storage. It is no secret that a round berry will move, move during transportation, it is difficult to install it motionless. Ripe watermelons burst easily, even if they are rearranged once again. This product is difficult to put back into place, rolls over, and may fall and break. Yield losses are significant. The square option certainly solves this problem.
When using the product directly in food, it is also difficult to place it on the table, on a plate, or put it in the refrigerator. FROM square fruit no difficulties arise.
The laws of the market stimulate the emergence of new forms of goods, attractive, original, exotic, able to surprise and please. A square watermelon, no doubt, surprises with its non-standard shape. As a gift or decorative element, it will amaze the imagination of guests.

For your information, this is an ordinary watermelon, its excellent taste and composition remained unchanged.
Among the shortcomings of square fruits, as the Japanese testify, one can name the fact that they ripen unevenly. Therefore, it is better to use them as an attribute, decoration at various celebrations.

Where to buy the original berry

Agricultural firms in Japan grow watermelons of an unusual shape. About 200-400 pieces are produced annually, depending on the yield. It is clear that with such a small number of copies, the product is a rarity, has a corresponding cost and needs to be pre-ordered.
For gardeners who like to experiment, we can offer another, fairly simple way to acquire a non-standard fruit. It is easy to grow it by hand.

Preparing to grow berries

Let's figure out in detail how to grow a square watermelon. As already mentioned, no significant genetic changes will have to be made, it is simply necessary to follow the correct formation of the corresponding form. A square design should be made in advance, in which the watermelon ovary is enclosed. To do this, prepare the materials:

plexiglass, plastic or polycarbonate with a thickness of more than 8 mm;
small swivel loops for fastening parts;
2 loops with fasteners;
aluminum angle for external fixation or other suitable fasteners.

The most common tools and fasteners are used: a hacksaw (or jigsaw), screwdrivers, a drill for drilling holes, screws, nuts.

Making a square shape

The form for growing a square watermelon is a cube with 6 planes - identical squares 20x20 cm. When manufacturing, consider the design features:

Four squares make up the sides of the cube. They are inseparable.
The lid and bottom must open so that the grown fruit can be removed.
A hole is cut in the lid for the tail and air circulation.
When drawing up a cube diagram, one should take into account the thickness of the material, since its ends must overlap.

Construction sequence

First, prepare 6 from the material square sheets 20x20 cm.
Using fasteners, connect the sides of the cube.
Then the lid is made. A circle with a diameter of 25 cm is drilled in the center of the square. Starting from points of the circle opposite in diameter, parallel lines are drawn to one side of the lid. After the incision is made, a wide gap is obtained.
With the help of rotary hinges, the lid and the lower plane of the cube are attached. They are equipped with loops with a clasp.
From an aluminum corner, cut into 4 parts, you will receive additional fasteners for fixing the mold walls.

Buy finished form quite difficult. Designs are sold in specialized stores in large cities. The number of form instances will be small.
If you decide to make the production of square watermelons part of your business, you will need to specially order molds.

Preparing and planting seeds

Watermelon seeds are planted in early summer, sometimes in May, when it is established warm weather. Experienced melon growers who know well how to grow watermelons understand that a lot depends on the quality of the seeds. Take seed material that is zoned for your area early dates maturation. Before planting, specially treat:

Warm up for 10 days (create a temperature for dry seeds of about 55 degrees - calcination in the sun). You can just warm up the seeds near the battery since February.
Soak the seeds in water for half an hour and remove the floating ones.
After that, pour into a bowl with seeds hot water 50-60 degrees, leave to cool. Drain this water, pour new for pecking.
3 days before sowing, soak the ashes in water in a ratio of 1: 2, respectively, soak for half a day, stirring.
Dip the seeds in a dark solution of potassium permanganate, rinse, soak overnight in ready solution ash.

When sowing, focus on the ground temperature of 15 degrees above zero. The earth must be loose and fertile. Sow to a depth of 6-8 cm 10 seeds per running meter(not everyone will come up).
If low temperature indicators do not allow to sow a crop in a timely manner, it is first necessary to germinate the seeds in peat pot. During this time, the earth will warm up.
With temperature fluctuations, a square watermelon is grown in a greenhouse.

Features of caring for seedlings before placing in the form

After planting, it is necessary to regularly water the holes with water (+25 degrees). The ground for germination must be constantly moist.
After 7 days, sprouts will appear. When caring for seedlings, follow the tips:

When 5 leaves appear, it is necessary to spud, gently loosen the ground.
The main thing for watermelons is to keep it warm and dry. During rainy weather you need to cover the seedlings.
Water moderately, not directly into the hole, but next to it.
In a month, the watermelon will bloom. When the fruits reach 10 cm in diameter, pinch the main lash, remove side shoots so that the plant spends energy only on the main ovary.
Remove excess, weak plants.

Then, upon reaching 10 cm in diameter, the ovary is placed in the mold. Watermelons will gradually grow, taking the form of a cube.

Caring for fruits in shape consists in maintaining the required temperature, moderate watering (watermelon does not like waterlogging).
Berry picking takes place in August, September 3 months after planting.
It is worth adding that in the cultivation of square watermelons, the experience of a melon gardener is necessary. If the shape is larger than the watermelon, then it will not turn out square. If less, then the fruit will crack, the result will worsen.
In general, it all depends on how much the gardener knows how to grow watermelons, knows the varieties, can pick up required size for the selected form.

How to determine the degree of ripeness of fruits

For an unnaturally shaped watermelon, the definition of ripeness plays important role. They recognize, first of all, by external signs:

stalk ripe watermelon dried up;
the bark becomes softer, dull;
the part of the berry lying to the ground becomes whitish.

As for the definition of ripeness by "ringing", then such a fruit will be overripe.

Features of storing a square berry

For long storage grow late-ripening square watermelons. After collection, they are laid out in a well-ventilated place on a layer of dry straw. The laying form is a pyramid of 7-8 rows. Fence the area with fragile goods with boards.
Breeding scientists around the world, of course, continue to work on the creation of new bizarre forms of plants. The experiments concern many crops - melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, apples. Conical watermelons and cucumbers, which have a cut not round, but in the form of an asterisk, amaze the imagination of consumers.

Advantages and disadvantages of a square shape

What qualities of fruits so attract consumers? Among the advantages are the following:

The convenience of a square shape, from a pragmatic point of view, for transportation, storage. It is no secret that a round berry will move, move during transportation, it is difficult to install it motionless. Ripe watermelons burst easily, even if they are rearranged once again. This product is difficult to put back into place, rolls over, and may fall and break. Yield losses are significant. The square option certainly solves this problem.
When using the product directly in food, it is also difficult to place it on the table, on a plate, or put it in the refrigerator. With a square fruit, there are no difficulties.
The laws of the market stimulate the emergence of new forms of goods, attractive, original, exotic, able to surprise and please. A square watermelon, no doubt, surprises with its non-standard shape. As a gift or decorative element, it will amaze the imagination of guests.

Where to buy the original berry

Preparing to grow berries

plexiglass, plastic or polycarbonate with a thickness of more than 8 mm;
small swivel loops for fastening parts;
2 loops with fasteners;
aluminum angle for external fixation or other suitable fasteners.

The most common tools and fasteners are used: a hacksaw (or jigsaw), screwdrivers, a drill for drilling holes, screws, nuts.

Making a square shape

The form for growing a square watermelon is a cube with 6 planes - identical squares 20x20 cm. When manufacturing, consider the design features:

Four squares make up the sides of the cube. They are inseparable.
The lid and bottom must open so that the grown fruit can be removed.
A hole is cut in the lid for the tail and air circulation.
When drawing up a cube diagram, one should take into account the thickness of the material, since its ends must overlap.

Construction sequence

First, prepare 6 square sheets of 20x20 cm from the material.
Using fasteners, connect the sides of the cube.
Then the lid is made. A circle with a diameter of 25 cm is drilled in the center of the square. Starting from points of the circle opposite in diameter, parallel lines are drawn to one side of the lid. After the incision is made, a wide gap is obtained.
With the help of rotary hinges, the lid and the lower plane of the cube are attached. They are equipped with loops with a clasp.
From an aluminum corner, cut into 4 parts, you will receive additional fasteners for fixing the mold walls.

Buying a ready-made form is quite difficult. Designs are sold in specialized stores in large cities. The number of form instances will be small.
If you decide to make the production of square watermelons part of your business, you will need to specially order molds.

Preparing and planting seeds

Watermelon seeds are planted in early summer, sometimes in May, when warm weather sets in. Experienced melon growers who know well how to grow watermelons understand that a lot depends on the quality of the seeds. Take seed material that is zoned for your area early maturation. Before planting, specially treat:

Warm up for 10 days (create a temperature for dry seeds of about 55 degrees - calcination in the sun). You can just warm up the seeds near the battery since February.
Soak the seeds in water for half an hour and remove the floating ones.
After that, pour hot water of 50-60 degrees into a bowl with seeds, leave to cool. Drain this water, pour new for pecking.
3 days before sowing, soak the ashes in water in a ratio of 1: 2, respectively, soak for half a day, stirring.
Dip the seeds in a dark solution of potassium permanganate, rinse, soak overnight in a ready-made ash solution.

When sowing, focus on the ground temperature of 15 degrees above zero. The earth must be loose and fertile. Sow at a depth of 6-8 cm 10 seeds per linear meter (not all will sprout).
If low temperatures do not allow sowing a crop in a timely manner, it is first necessary to germinate the seeds in a peat pot. During this time, the earth will warm up.
With temperature fluctuations, a square watermelon is grown in a greenhouse.

Features of caring for seedlings before placing in the form

When 5 leaves appear, it is necessary to spud, gently loosen the ground.
The main thing for watermelons is to keep it warm and dry. During rainy weather, you will need to cover the seedlings.
Water moderately, not directly into the hole, but next to it.
In a month, the watermelon will bloom. When the fruits reach 10 cm in diameter, pinch the main lash, remove the side shoots so that the plant spends energy only on the main ovary.
Remove excess, weak plants.

How to determine the degree of ripeness of fruits

For an unnaturally shaped watermelon, the determination of ripeness plays an important role. They recognize, first of all, by external signs:

the stalk of a ripe watermelon is dried;
the bark becomes softer, dull;
the part of the berry lying to the ground becomes whitish.

As for the definition of ripeness by "ringing", then such a fruit will be overripe.

Features of storing a square berry

For long-term storage, late-ripening square watermelons are grown. After collection, they are laid out in a well-ventilated place on a layer of dry straw. The laying form is a pyramid of 7-8 rows. Fence the area with fragile goods with boards.
Breeding scientists around the world, of course, continue to work on the creation of new bizarre forms of plants. The experiments concern many crops - melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, apples. Conical watermelons and cucumbers, which have a cut not round, but in the form of an asterisk, amaze the imagination of consumers.

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