Growing a watermelon at home: secrets of success

Is it possible to grow a watermelon at home?

Growing a watermelon in an apartment is not an easy task, but it is possible. The main difficulties are the lack of light and limited space, but you will get an environmentally friendly fruit and a lot of pleasure from the process.

Which varieties are suitable? It is better to choose compact and early ripening ones:

• "Ogonyok" (small sweet fruits, resistant to temperature changes),

• "Sugar baby" (miniature, ripens in 70-80 days),

• "Gift of the sun" (yellow-skinned, grows well in containers).

Ordinary store-bought watermelons for open ground in a pot will not ripen - they need too much space and sun.

How to get seeds for planting

For growing watermelon at home, special varieties adapted to limited space are best suited. Their seeds can be purchased in garden stores - pay attention to the notes "for balcony growing" or "compact varieties".

If you want to experiment, you can also get seeds from a store-bought watermelon:

1. Choose a fully ripe fruit (pay attention to the yellow spot on the side and the dry tail)

2. Remove the seeds from the middle of the fruit, wash them from the pulp

3. Dry for 2-3 days on a paper napkin

4. Store in a paper bag until planting

Important: hybrids will not produce good offspring - it is better to take varietal watermelons. 

The best varieties of watermelons for growing at home

Variety	Ripening period (days)	Fruit weight (kg)	Features	Suitable for balcony?
Spark	70-85	1.5-2.5	Unpretentious, sweet, cold-resistant	Yes
Sugar baby	75-80	1-2	Compact, very sweet	Yes
Gift of the sun	80-90	2-3	Yellow flesh, unusual taste	Yes (but requires space)
Crimson Sweet	70-80	3-4	Classic taste, but requires space	No (too large)
Romanza F1	65-75	1-1.5	Ultra-early, suitable for pots	Yes

Notes:

1. For a windowsill, it is better to take varieties with fruits up to 2 kg.
2. Hybrids are usually more productive, but their seeds do not retain their properties.
3. The shorter the ripening period, the higher the chances of success in an apartment.

What do you need to grow a watermelon at home?

To successfully grow watermelons at home, you will need to prepare the right conditions. The main requirements are sufficient space, high-quality soil and good lighting.

Necessary materials:

• A pot with a capacity of at least 15-20 liters (it is better to take wide containers)

• Light fertile soil (a mixture of garden soil, humus and sand 2:1:1)

• Drainage (expanded clay or pebbles in a layer of 3-5 cm)

• Fertilizers (complex mineral and organic)

• Supports for vines (wooden pegs or trellis)

• Phytolamp (for additional lighting in cloudy days)

It is important to choose the sunniest place in the apartment - a southern or southeastern windowsill is ideal. Watermelons require at least 8-10 hours of bright light per day. If there is a lack of natural light, be sure to use phytolamps.

Germinating watermelon seeds

Correct germination of seeds is an important stage on which the success of the entire cultivation depends. Watermelon seeds have a dense shell, so they require preliminary preparation before planting.

Step-by-step germination process:

1. Soak the seeds for 20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection

2. Rinse with clean water and wrap in damp gauze

3. Place in a warm place (+25 ... + 30 ° C) for 2-3 days

4. Maintain the gauze constantlydamp

5. After sprouts appear (2-3 mm), plant in the ground

The first shoots appear 5-10 days after planting. The optimal temperature for germination is +25...+28°C. At lower temperatures (+18...+20°C), the process can take up to 2 weeks. It is important not to allow the soil to dry out during this period.

Planting watermelon sprouts in the ground

When the sprouted seeds have their first true leaf (approximately 7-10 days after germination), they can be transplanted into permanent pots. At this point, the root system is already developed enough for transplantation.

Planting technology:

1. Fill the prepared containers with soil, leaving 3-4 cm to the edge

2. Make a depression in the center with a diameter of 10-12 cm

3. Carefully transfer the sprout with a lump of earth

4. Deepen to the cotyledon leaves

5. Water with warm, settled water (+25 ... +28 ° C)

The optimal planting scheme is one bush per 15-20 liter pot. When growing several plants, the distance between them should be at least 50 cm. The first 2-3 days after transplanting, keep the plants in partial shade for better adaptation.

Caring for watermelon sprouts

After transplanting, young plants require special attention. Watermelons are sensitive to watering and fertilizing, and to form fruits, they need proper bush formation.

Basic care rules:

• Watering:moderate, only with warm water (+25 ... +30 ° C). The soil should be moist, but not waterlogged. During the ripening period of fruits, watering is reduced to increase sugar content.

• Lighting: at least 10-12 hours of bright light daily. If there is insufficient natural light, use phytolamps.

• Feeding: once every 10-14 days with complex fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.

• Formation: leave 2-3 main lashes, pinch the rest. There should be no more than 2-3 fruits on one plant.

Pollination: at home, it is carried out manually. With a soft brush, pollen is transferred from male flowers (on a thin stem) to female flowers (with a thickening at the base). The best time is morning (8-10 am). After successful pollination, the ovary begins to grow rapidly.

Harvesting home-grown watermelons

You can determine the ripeness of a watermelon grown at home by several signs. The rind becomes shiny and dense, and the pattern on it is more contrasting. The tendril near the stalk dries up completely, and when lightly tapped, a dull sound is heard.

Rules for harvesting and storing:

1. Cut the fruits with a sharp knife along with 3-5 cm of the stalk

2. It is better to harvest in the morning, when the watermelons are the juiciest

3. Let them sit at room temperature for 2-3 days before eating

4. Store for no more than 2 weeks in a cool place (+10 ... +15 ° C)

5. Do not keep them in the refrigerator for more than 5 days - they lose their taste

The average ripening period after the formation of the ovary is 30-35 days. Do not overexpose the fruits on the plant - overripe watermelons lose sugar content. The first fruits are usually smaller, but sweeter than the subsequent ones.

Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced growers can face problems when growing watermelons at home. Let's look at the most common mistakes and how to solve them.

Main problems and solutions:

1. The fruits are not sweet. Reason: excessive watering during the ripening period, insufficient light or improper fertilizing.
   Solution: 2 weeks before harvesting, reduce watering, increase lighting, use potassium fertilizers.

2. The leaves are turning yellow. Reason: overwatering, lack of nutrients or root diseases.
   Solution: adjust watering, fertilize with complex fertilizer, check drainage.

3. Ovaries are falling off. Reason: insufficient pollination, stress from temperature fluctuations temperature.
   Solution: Hand pollinate in the morning, maintain a stable temperature.

4. Slow growth. Reason: Too dense a gardenunt, low temperature or a small pot.
   Solution: transplant into a lighter substrate and a spacious container, provide warmth.

5. No flowering.Reason: insufficient light or excess nitrogen fertilizers.
   Solution: increase daylight hours to 12-14 hours, reduce nitrogen fertilizing.

It is important to remember: watermelons are very sensitive to changing conditions. Inspect the plants regularly to notice problems in time. The best prevention is to follow all the rules of cultivation from the very beginning.

Is it worth growing a watermelon at home?

Growing watermelons at home is a fascinating experiment that will definitely be successful if approached correctly. Yes, it requires patience and attention to detail: from choosing the right variety to hand pollination of flowers. But imagine how nice it will be to pick your own, environmentally friendly watermelon grown on your balcony or windowsill!

Even if the first experience is not ideal - the fruits are smaller than store-bought ones, or less sweet - do not be upset. Each season you will improve your technique. The main thing is to start! Choose the right variety, prepare everything you need and follow our recommendations. Believe me, the taste of a home-made watermelon, in which you have invested your time and effort, will seem to you the sweetest in the world. And how much joy this process will bring to you and your loved ones!

Don't be afraid of difficulties - boldly take on growing, and let your home garden bring you not only a harvest, but also pleasure from the process. Who knows, maybe you will discover new secrets of growing watermelons in an apartment!

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

1. Is it possible to grow a watermelon on a windowsill?
Yes, if you choose compact varieties ("Ogonyok", "Sakharny Malysh") and provide 10-12 hours of bright light daily. Southern windows are preferable.

2. How many watermelons should be left on the plant?
Optimally 2-3 fruits. A larger number will lead to smaller size and deterioration of taste.

3. What size pot do you need?
At least 15-20 liters per plant. Wide containers are preferable to deep ones.

4. How long does a watermelon grow after the ovary?
About 30-35 days. The period depends on the variety and growing conditions.

5. How many fruits can you get from one bush?
With good care, 2-3 full-fledged watermelons. The first harvest is usually the highest quality.

6. Is it possible to do without additional lighting?
Only if the windows face south and there are enough sunny days. In other cases, phytolamps are required.

7. Why doesn't the watermelon bloom?
Main reasons: lack of light (less than 10 hours), excess nitrogen, too young plant (watermelons bloom 50-60 days after germination).