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Growing a sweet melon somewhere in the Moscow region is the ultimate dream of every self-respecting summer resident. And in other regions, many dream of a rich harvest of honey-juicy fruits that emit a dizzying aroma. But melon is a very controversial crop. Growing from time immemorial in hot semi-desert areas, it is, however, very sensitive to water. If you water melons incorrectly, there may be no harvest at all, or the fruits will be of unsatisfactory quality.
How demanding is a melon when it comes to watering?
Anyone who has ever tried melon cannot but agree that it is a very juicy fruit. Its fruits are mostly liquid. Therefore, without sufficient water, it makes no sense to expect a good harvest from melon. Professional melon growers know this especially well. Indeed, in the south, in ordinary plots without irrigation, the yield of melon of the same variety is usually two times lower than those where a system of additional irrigation is used.
On the other hand, with excess moisture, especially in conditions of insufficiently high temperatures, the root system of a melon is easily susceptible to various diseases, simply put, it rots. But even in the south, in the heat, too much watering can cause the fruits to lose most of their aroma and sugar content and turn out to be tasteless, simply watery.
Therefore, when growing melon, it is especially important to comply with all care features and requirements for watering technology.
Rules for watering melons from sowing to harvest ripening
Melon is usually classified as a member of the pumpkin family. But unlike its closest relatives, watermelon and pumpkin, its root system is much less developed. The main tap root goes to a depth of about 70-100 cm. There are also about 10-12 lateral roots, up to 2-3 m long, located mainly in the upper layers of the soil, at a depth of no more than 30-40 cm. It is due to their nutrition and The main crop of the plant is formed.
Typically, the watering regime for melons and the volume of water used for these purposes is determined by the phase of plant development and current weather conditions. But there are general rules for watering, the same for all conditions:
- Water the melons with exceptionally warm water heated to + 22-26 °C. Cold water can significantly slow down the growth and development of plants, and also cause the spread of root and stem rot.
- Since it is easiest to heat water in the sun, it is customary to water melons in the evening, after the sun has begun to set. On particularly hot days, it would be a good idea to water them twice a day: in the morning and in the evening.Attention! The main thing is not to water in the midst of the midday heat, in the bright sun, to prevent the leaves from being burned.
- Melons, unlike most garden plants, do not like high humidity at all. Therefore, it is better to completely exclude the option of irrigation using sprinkling.
- On average, depending on the stage of formation of melon plants, from 3 to 8 liters of water are used for irrigation per bush.
- When watering, it is necessary to prevent moisture from entering the root collar of plants, especially during the initial period of growth. This can cause it to rot. Typically, a small space (15-20 cm in diameter) around the root collar of young plants is filled with coarse sand.
- After each heavy watering and especially after heavy rain, it is advisable to feed the melons.
From planting to emergence
Melons can be grown either by direct sowing of seeds in the ground (mainly in the southern regions) or by using seedlings at home. In favorable conditions (high temperature and humidity), melons in the initial period are characterized by a high intensity of growth processes. Moreover, the root system grows and develops much faster than the above-ground part. So the seeds can germinate within 2-3 days, and seedlings appear only on the 8-9th day. During all these days, the root grows and develops intensively. By the time shoots emerge, it can reach a length of 15-20 cm and even have several lateral branches.
But if the seeds were placed in well-moistened soil and covered with glass or polyethylene on top to maintain moisture (in open ground with plastic bottles without a bottom), then the melon plants do not require any additional watering before germination.
How to water young plants
As soon as the first true leaf appears on the emerging melon shoots, the plants are watered for the first time.Of course, if the weather is hot, dry and sunny, you should not allow the top layer of soil to dry out during this period. This applies to both open ground and seedlings grown in separate pots.
Young melon plants form the root system most intensively in the first month of life. The leaves will grow quite slowly during this period, and therefore the melon bushes can be watered directly into the hole located next to the root with a thin stream of warm water.
Until the plant develops two or three true leaves, watering one melon is unlikely to require more than 0.5-1 liters of water. But in each case an individual approach is required, since watering rates are highly dependent on weather conditions, especially when it comes to open ground. It is equally important not to overdry and not to overfill the soil under the melons. Watering young melons should be regular and constantly monitored.
Watering melons during flowering and ovary formation
Perhaps this is the most important and difficult period in the development of melons in terms of watering features.
The plants are still quite young, so regular and fairly abundant watering is more important than ever. Each plant requires at least 3 liters of water per procedure.
With the appearance of the very first flowers, watering must be temporarily suspended. The fact is that the first melon flowers to appear are male flowers, which are usually collected in inflorescences of several pieces. And only after a few days do female flowers bloom - solitary, located mainly on the side shoots of the first order.Temporarily reducing watering during the appearance of male flowers will stimulate the formation of female ones. When the mass appearance of female flowers begins, watering is resumed.
From this moment until the ovaries form, watering the melons should again be regular and abundant. It is necessary to constantly monitor the soil moisture level. It should not dry out more than 5-6 cm in depth. And after the procedure, the soil should be soaked to a depth of 40-60 cm.
It is extremely undesirable to water melon plants at the root during this period. It is best to make small grooves between the rows and fill them with water.
During this period, it is also important to promptly remove all excess vegetation around the bushes, the roots of which can take away moisture from the melons. Loosening after watering also promotes better absorption of moisture by the roots and prevents water from stagnating.
How to water melons during the period of fruit growth and ripening
From the moment the ovaries form, the time comes for the most abundant watering of the melon. They should not be too frequent, but the soil should be well moistened. At one time, one melon bush can take from 5 to 8 liters of warm water. Watering should be done, as in the previous period, into the grooves running along the row spacing.
Much depends on weather conditions. Of course, during the rainy season, melons should be watered to a minimum or this procedure should be postponed altogether.
But as the fruits grow and fill, watering is gradually reduced. About a month before the melon fruits are fully ripened, it is best to stop watering altogether. This will allow them to gain the maximum amount of sugars. In addition, the preservation properties of melon fruits increase. There is no need to worry too much about the plants, even if the weather is dry and hot.Roots at a depth of about a meter will always find the moisture they need.
It is important to remember that all operations to reduce or increase watering should occur gradually. Because the most common mistake novice gardeners make is overwatering plants after a fairly long drought. This can cause melon fruits to begin to crack and rot. It is especially important to observe the correct watering regime in the period after the formation of ovaries.
Benefits of drip irrigation
Drip irrigation, of course, is a universal and most convenient watering system for melons. First of all, it allows you to regulate and control the amount of water supplied for irrigation each time. This is especially true for those regions where there are problems with the standards of water used.
It is also important that with drip irrigation, water only wets the soil, without affecting or disturbing the leaves and root collar of the bushes.
In addition, automatic drip irrigation will help you not to forget about the next procedure and will save time and energy for other garden tasks.
Combining watering with fertilizing
It is very convenient to combine fertilizing with watering, primarily because time and effort are saved and the plants do not receive an excess of fertilizers.
The first fertilizing is usually carried out by adding crystallon, kemira or ammonium nitrate to the water for irrigation approximately 8-10 days after mass germination. Typically, the instructions for these complex fertilizers contain dry matter consumption rates per 10 liters of water. Liquid consumption when watering should be standard.
In the budding and flowering phase, a second addition to the water for irrigation of fertilizers can be made.During this period, it is best to use organic matter. It is diluted in a ratio of 1:10 or 1:15, depending on the condition of the plants.
After about 3 weeks, when the formed ovaries begin to grow, the last feeding of the melons is carried out. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are used mainly, diluting 50 and 20 g in 10 liters of warm water, respectively.
Conclusion
Learning how to properly water melons during different periods of the growing season is not a difficult task. But the result will be fruits grown on your own plot of excellent taste and enchanting aroma.
