How to Germinate Watermelon Seeds and Seedling Raising
A comprehensive analysis of how to germinate watermelon seeds and raise seedlings, as well as sharing the topic of planting watermelons at home, is presented here. Let's delve into this together.
March and April are the best times for planting watermelons, pumpkins, and other melons. I saw an online post where a gardening enthusiast accidentally spat out a seed into their pot, and to their surprise, a small watermelon grew. This was a delightful surprise. Today, I will tell you in detail how to grow watermelons on your balcony!
Seed Treatment
1. Seed Selection: Leftover watermelon seeds can be used for planting. You should choose plump and intact seeds, and avoid hybrid varieties, as they may not grow. For delicious large watermelons, it's recommended to buy seeds directly (like Black Beauty, Huang Xiaoyu, etc.). Seeds are not expensive, whether bought at the market or online.
2. Germination Promotion: The seed coat contains substances that inhibit germination, so germination promotion is necessary before planting.
3. Seedling Raising: Find a seedling box, place the young plants in it, use coconut bran soil as the substrate, and keep the box in a cool and ventilated place, making sure to keep it dry. Gradually increase light after leaves appear, otherwise they will grow into sprout-like seedlings. Once two large leaves grow, transplant them to larger pots.
Transplanting and Planting
1. Soil Selection: Use a mix of half garden soil and half peat, and add some dried chicken manure to improve fertility.
2. Pot Selection: Watermelon roots are relatively developed. You will need a large pot with a diameter of at least 30 centimeters. It can also be placed directly in a Styrofoam box or bucket for care.
3. Potting: Place a few pieces of broken bricks and small stones at the bottom of the pot to increase permeability. Fill half of the pot with soil, transplant the young plants with soil into the large pot, fill the surroundings with soil, and then water thoroughly to settle the plants.
How to Germinate Watermelon Seeds and Seedling Raising
Care and Management
1. Watering: Watermelons need a lot of water to meet their growth needs. When bottom drainage is good, water almost every day. Keep the soil slightly moist, but make sure not to accumulate water.
2. Light: Sufficient light is essential during the growing process. The more sunlight, the better the growth and the tastier the melons.
3. Trellising: Watermelons are vines, and space on the balcony is limited. When they reach a certain height, you need to set up a trellis for the watermelons, or use bamboo stakes and strings to lift the vines, allowing tendrils to wrap around them.
4. Fertilizing: During the growing period, apply a compound fertilizer once every two weeks. Self-fermented rice washing water or soybean cake fertilizer water can also be used, but avoid fertilizing before and after flowering.
Management During Fruit Setting Stage
1. Topdressing is Essential: Do not fertilize before and after pollination. When the young fruit is the size of a duck egg, watermelons enter a疯狂 fertilizing period, known as the expansion stage. Apply thin fertilizer frequently, and the fruit will grow larger.
2. Minimize Watering: During the fruit dropping process, minimize watering. Too much water makes the melon less sweet. When it sounds hollow when tapped, it means the watermelon is ripe.
The above sharing on how to germinate watermelon seeds and raise seedlings, and how to grow watermelons at home, is hoped to bring a little help to your life!