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| photo by yakup tug |
1. Pick the appropriate type.
There are numerous varieties of lettuce available, including:
Sugar Baby: A diminutive, sugary kind.
Crimson Sweet is a large, traditional watermelon variety.
The color Charleston Gray is distinguished by its oblong form.
Seedlessness is more difficult to cultivate, but ultimately more satisfying.
2. Plotting the Season
Watermelons need warm weather, often between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Before planting, be sure frost is no longer a threat. In broad sunlight, watermelons do best.
Germination cannot take place until the soil temperature reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Find the Perfect Spot
An ideal day for a watermelon is six to eight hours of direct sunshine is ideal for a watermelon.
Allow lots of room (about 6 feet) between watermelon plants because of how spread out they are.
Soil That Drains Well: For optimal results, use sandy, loamy soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.8.
4. Getting the Dirt Ready
Improve soil nutrient content and drainage by working organic matter into soil before planting.
The watermelon is a heavy feeder, so it needs fertilizer. Just before you plant, apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) to the soil.
5. Sowing the seeds
Direct Sowing: Planting watermelons in the ground is their preferred method of cultivation.
Sow seeds about 1 inch deep.
For planting seeds, the recommended spacing is 2–3 feet between rows spaced 6–8 feet apart.
Planting in small mounds (hills) may also aid with drainage and speed up soil warming.
6. Fertilizing
For the best results, water thoroughly once or twice weekly, and more often during dry periods.
To keep plants disease-free, avoid waterlogging: Plant in soil that drains properly and don't let the leaves get moist.
To keep soil wet and prevent weeds, use organic mulch, such as straw.
7. Mulching to Retain Moisture.
To speed up development in the spring, you may use black plastic mulch to warm the soil.
Nitrogen Fertilization
8. Early: To promote vine development, use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer at the start of the growing season.
Sodium and Potassium In the future, as blooms start to emerge, you should switch to a fertilizer that is more balanced or has greater levels of potassium and phosphorus to encourage fruiting.
9. Pollination
Pollination by Hand: If needed, you may manually transfer pollen from blooms to other flowers. Having this on hand is critical when bees are in short supply.
Crucial Bees: Planting flowers in close proximity or erecting a beehive are excellent ways to attract pollinators.
10. Managing Pests and Diseases
Beetles, aphids, and squash bugs are common garden pests.
Powdery mildew and fusarium wilt are two diseases that may affect watermelons. Rotate your crops every year, and plant disease-resistant varieties.
11. Days to Harvest: Watermelons usually require about 70 to 90 days to reach maturity.
Warning Signals:
The tendril that is next to the fruit dries out and becomes brown.
When ripe, watermelons change color from white to a creamy yellow on the bottom.
Tapping a watermelon makes its hollow sound.
As time goes by, the rind will be harder to scrape with a fingernail.
The wait for the luscious, juicy watermelon fruits is well worth it!worth it!