How often to water watermelons and melons in the greenhouse and open field

Even a novice gardener can grow a watermelon or melon in a summer cottage. Although these plants are adapted to the southern regions, in central Russia they also reap a decent harvest, growing watermelons and melons in greenhouses.

Melons crops are unpretentious in care, but there are features of their irrigation. Consider how often and correctly to water watermelons and melons.

How to tell if melons and watermelons need watering

In each growing season, there are several signs that determine that plants need water:

• seeds do not germinate well;
• seedlings develop slowly;
• the bush looks weak: it has thin stems and a weak root system;
• leaves and whips dry, wither and curl;
• a small number of ovaries are formed;
• the fruits are deformed, their size does not correspond to the norms.

How often to water the watermelons

Watermelon need timely and correct watering throughout the entire period of active growing season. There are several factors that affect the intensity and frequency of irrigation. These include:

1. Soil composition and structure. Sandy loam, sandy and medium-heavy soil, due to its looseness, does not retain moisture for a long time, so it will need to be moistened more often. Clay soil retains moisture for a long time in the upper layers, so 1-2 waterings per week are enough.
2. Groundwater location... The closer they are, the less often watering occurs.
3. The quality of agricultural activities... The more often you loosen and mulch the soil, the more evenly the moisture will be distributed and the less often irrigation is required.
4. The phase of growth and development of melons. The frequency and intensity of irrigation change in different periods of the growing season.

Only warm water is used to irrigate these crops. The optimum temperature for watermelons is + 20… + 22 ° C, for melons - + 22… + 25 ° C. If the water is cold, the root system will start to rot.

It is recommended to water the planted watermelon seeds daily, then less often - 3 times a week. After planting in the ground, 2-3 moistens per week are enough for watermelons, carried out at the root. When fruits begin to set and ripen, irrigation is made even more rare, but plentiful - 10-12 liters of water. By the time of harvesting, watering is practically stopped, preventing the soil from completely drying out.

How often to water melons

Watering melons is a little different from watering watermelons. Seedlings need daily moisture. After planting in the ground, irrigation is carried out as needed. Water is poured into each hole, keeping the soil moist.

Before the flowers appear, 2-3 liters of water are poured under each bush, in the flowering phase - 5-7 liters. When fruits begin to set, irrigation is reduced to 1-2 times a week. Water in the amount of 10–12 liters is poured into the grooves created between the plants. Melons are not watered shortly before harvest.

Frequency and rules for watering watermelons and melons in a greenhouse

In most regions of Russia, climatic conditions are not very suitable for growing watermelons and melons in the open field, so many summer residents plant melons in greenhouses.

Reference. Since watermelons and melons need space, the greenhouse itself should be at least 2m high. The holes are located at a distance of 1 m from each other.

Despite good drought tolerance, these crops need abundant watering. To get a good harvest, it is important to adhere to the following irrigation rules:

1. In the first days after planting, the seedlings are watered every other day. In the first 5 days of flowering, irrigation is stopped to form female flowers, during the ripening period, the fruits are watered as needed (up to 1-2 times a week), but abundantly. By the time of harvest, watering is practically stopped.
2. When watering, water should not get on the core and leaves.
3. The humidity in the greenhouse should not exceed 50%, so the room is often ventilated.
4. The soil should be moistened up to 70 cm deep.

After watering, the plants are fertilized with mineral fertilizers and the soil is loosened so that the root system receives nutrients and moisture.

In the open field

In general, the frequency and rules of irrigation are similar to those of greenhouses. There is one main difference: watering depends on the weather conditions. If the weather is cloudy and it is raining, additional moistening of the soil is not required. Irrigate melons with warm water in the morning or evening.

Watering frequency of watermelons and melons in the seedling stage

The taste of the future harvest depends on the correct moisture in each phase of plant development.

Transplant field

The planted seedlings need moistened soil, so irrigation is carried out every 2-3 days, spending up to 3-5 liters of water per plant. If the soil is wet at the time of the next watering, reduce the frequency.

In flowering stage

In the early days of flower formation, it is recommended to exclude watering. Then it is enough to irrigate the melons 1-2 times a week, pouring up to 7 liters of water under one plant.

Attention! Often gardeners make a mistake during this period by over-watering watermelons and melons. This leads to the formation of barren flowers and the fall of flowers.

At the fruiting stage

When the ovaries are formed and the fruits begin to grow and develop, it is enough to irrigate the crops once a week, pouring at least 10 liters under one plant. It is very important to prevent water from getting on parts of the bush, especially the fruits, so that rot does not develop.

Watering frequency in hot and rainy weather

In the heat, watermelons and melons need more frequent moistening, so irrigation is carried out 2 times a day: early morning and evening. It is recommended that greenhouse plants provide adequate ventilation so that it is not too humid and fungal diseases do not begin to develop.

In cloudy and rainy weather, the frequency of irrigation is reduced or completely stopped. After a downpour and a thunderstorm, melons are watered in a week.

Irrigation frequency with drip irrigation

Recently, instead of manual (with a watering can or a bucket under a bush) irrigation and from a hose, summer residents have been using the drip method of irrigating melons and gourds. Its advantages:

• energy, time and water consumption are saved;
• the soil is not eroded under the bush;
• water does not get onto parts of the plant;
• fertilizers are applied simultaneously with watering.

Such systems are bought in a store or built independently, supplying hoses to each bush. Irrigation is carried out as needed. Experienced gardeners turn on the system daily, morning or evening, for about an hour. This gives each plant up to 1-2 liters of water.

Read also:

How to make delicious and simple watermelon rind jam.

The most delicious recipes for salting whole watermelons in a barrel for the winter.

Features of growing watermelons in Siberia in the open field: step by step instructions.

Conclusion

The yield of watermelons and melons largely depends on proper irrigation. In accordance with the vegetative phase, the frequency and intensity of irrigation is determined: young seedlings are moistened every 2-3 days, and during the development of fruits, irrigation is minimized, but water consumption is increased.

When watering, it is important to consider where the plant is planted (in a greenhouse or open ground) and what weather and climatic conditions in the region.