How to feed a watermelon in a greenhouse
Content:
This culture contains a lot of useful substances for the human body. And also watermelon is just delicious, especially in hot summer, when you want to cool down. In order to get a decent and tasty harvest, you need to make some effort and know about the rules of cultivation. At every stage of the plant's life, it is necessary to periodically supply watermelons with nutrients. So your plantings will receive additional strength, which is necessary for the formation of fruits. In this article, we will tell you how to feed a watermelon, as well as the nuances of this procedure.
How to feed watermelons and how to apply fertilizers
If you want to get fruits of large size and high quality, then you need to carefully consider the recommendations for the use of certain feedings for watermelons. As a rule, this should include organic and mineral fertilizers. They are introduced at different periods: during digging, before sowing, with direct sowing, as well as several times feeding are applied during the growing season.
How to feed watermelons in the fall. In the autumn, during the digging of the site, gardeners fertilize the soil, as a rule, with humus or manure. In the same period, the soil is flavored with potassium dressings and superphosphate.
Before sowing and during the sowing itself, add the amount of dressings that were not enough during digging. During the growing season, certain nutrition is also introduced.
In order for your seedlings to be strong and strong, you need to feed them from time to time. This period is not too long and it will be enough to feed your young plants twice.
For these purposes, many farmers use poultry droppings. Before you start using it, you need to prepare it. For this, a solution is made in a ratio of one to ten, and after that the seedlings are watered.
Among organic feedings, a mullein solution in the same proportion is also well suited.
If you apply fertilizers based on mineral elements, then it is best to give preference to such fertilizing as urea. It must be diluted with water before use, according to the instructions. These dressings contain a fairly large amount of nitrogen, which is so necessary for the growing plant.
How to feed watermelons for the first time. The first time fertilizers are applied when a pair of real leaves has formed. The next time the plants are fed in a couple of weeks of planting them in greenhouse conditions or in an open area.
Among natural dressings, many experienced farmers use wood ash to fertilize seedlings. It is usually diluted with water. There is one tablespoon of ash per bucket. Seedling plants are watered with this solution.
When you have planted your seedlings in an open area or in a greenhouse, nutrients need to be added again after 10-15 days. In order not to harm the plants, you need to know exactly what your watermelons need at this stage of development. Ammonium nitrate is commonly used. In one bucket of water, you need to dilute about 20 grams of this drug, then the plantings are watered at the root. One plant usually accounts for two liters of solution.
You can not use mineral supplements, but use organic food. For example, many gardeners use a solution of mullein or chicken droppings.In the first case, the proportion is one to ten, and in the second one to twenty. Double superphosphate (30 grams) and potassium chloride (15 grams) are additionally added to one bucket of such a mixture.
Then all this is thoroughly mixed and each plant is watered. Consumption is one to two liters per bush.
In order for watermelons to receive the proper amount of nutrients, you can use an infusion from the herb. A separate container holds water and grass. This mixture must be insisted for two weeks. During this time, the infusion will begin to ferment, and the necessary elements for feeding the watermelons will become part of your solution.
To add even more nutrients, chicken manure or wood ash is sometimes added. After the infusion has fermented, you need to dilute it with water. The proportion is observed in one to ten. For each plant, approximately one liter of infusion is consumed.
How to feed watermelons using folk remedies. Folk fertilization methods are very popular among farmers. They can also be used during plant transplantation. Yeast can be used for this. So, your watermelons will become stronger, and the transplant procedure will go unnoticed for them. To prepare a yeast-based top dressing, you must follow the following scheme of actions:
- dry yeast is purchased in an amount of 100 grams, then about three liters of water are added;
- sugar is poured into this solution (one teaspoon);
- you need to infuse the mixture for about a week;
- before use, such an infusion must be diluted with water, a proportion of one to ten.
During fertilization, one liter of this fertilizing is consumed per plant.
How to feed watermelons at the flowering stage. When your watermelon plantings began to bloom, then it should be borne in mind that at this stage, the consumption of nutrients has become more intense. For this reason, feeding on time is an important element of proper agricultural technology for a given crop.
It is best to use fertilizers for these purposes, which contain the proper amount potassium... Without this element, your plants will not bloom very well. To do this, you can use magnesium nitrate (2 kilograms is diluted in 200 liters of water), Kelik Potassium (0.5 liters of the drug is consumed per 100 liters of water).
A drug such as Nutrivant Plus is also very popular. It is stirred at a ratio of 2 kilograms per 200 liters of water.
It is worth noting that at this stage it is very important for plants magnesium... If this element is not enough, then spots may appear on the foliage of plants. And after that, the leaf plates will begin to die off. If there is not enough magnesium for plants, then there is a risk that the fruit ovaries will not form well.
How to feed watermelons in summer. Too hot weather is undesirable for watermelons. Also, this culture does not respond very well to the wind. Under such conditions, it becomes insufficient for watermelons calcium... To correct the deficiency of this element, you can fertilize your plantings with Calcinite (800 grams of the drug is consumed per 100 liters of water). You can purchase the drug Speedfol Amino, intended for periods of flowering and fruiting. It is consumed in the amount of 200 milliliters per 200 liters of water.
When ovaries form on plants, they often suffer from a lack of such an element as boron... This must be corrected without fail. For this, boric acid is used (5 grams, 5 liters of water). This top dressing is applied foliarly by spraying the plants.
To restock items such as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, you also need to use the necessary fertilizing, since these elements are spent on the formation of fruits. For this purpose, you can prepare a solution that includes superphosphate (10 grams), potassium salt (35 grams) and ammonium sulfate (24 grams).
The above components must be mixed well in water (10 liters). This solution is used for watering watermelons. There are two liters per plant.
How to feed watermelons during the formation of fruits. When watermelons move to the next stage in their life, and the fruits begin to form, a certain amount of fertilizer becomes vital for the plants. Since the bushes spend a lot of strength and energy on this procedure.
At the stage of fruit formation, it is necessary to make additional fertilizing with an interval of 10-15 days. Complex fertilizers are good for this. For example, you can use Terraflex, Master, Nutriflex, Novofert, Kristallon. Such dressings should be used with caution, after carefully studying the instructions in which it is written when and in what quantity to apply the drug.
How to feed watermelons to improve growth. If you see that the plant is lagging behind in terms of growth, or the leaf plates are too small and with a yellow tint, and the stem is weak, then you need to use ammonium nitrate. Three tablespoons of the drug are used per bucket of water. One plant consumes from one to two liters.
The nutrients are especially actively used by plants when the fruits begin to grow and fill. For a decent harvest, you need to feed your watermelon plantings.
Once a week, Uniflor Micro is used on watermelon plantings. In ten liters of water, for this you need to dilute a couple of teaspoons of such a drug. Also, such a mixture is added weekly: superphosphate (one tablespoon) + azofoska (one tablespoon) + potassium sulfate (one teaspoon).
There is also a good complex fertilizer Terraflex Universal. It is suitable during the period when the fruits of the watermelons begin to pour. In order not to be mistaken with the correct dosage, read the instructions before using the drug. In addition, many farmers also add calcium nitrate. To ensure that the quality characteristics of your watermelons are not affected, you need to stop feeding and watering the plants before the fruits begin to ripen.
Nutrient deficiency
During the cultivation of this culture, from time to time, you can observe a lack of any elements. It is important to correctly recognize what exactly your plantings are lacking in order to fix the problem in a timely manner. The easiest way to determine the deficiency of a particular element is by the appearance of plant foliage. The fact is that the lack of any element is displayed on the leaf plates in the form of spots or a certain color.
As a rule, the deficiency of certain nutrients is corrected by root and foliar application of various fertilizers. The composition must be carefully studied before buying. Such preparations can be purchased at garden stores, or you can prepare yourself. The general appearance of the plants can also tell you a lot.
Lack of nitrogen
Nitrogen is actively involved in such an important process as photosynthesis. Lack of nitrogen becomes very noticeable in the appearance of watermelon plantings. Such bushes begin to grow much more slowly, the shoots become too thin and short, the inflorescences also become smaller. In addition, the foliage also becomes smaller.
The leaves become few, and if they are present, they acquire a narrow shape. Also, the leaves acquire a pale green color, the saturation in color disappears. The veins in the lower part of the leaf plates are of a yellowish tone, which eventually spreads to the entire leaf. After that, the leaves located in the upper part of the bushes also brighten.
Lack of phosphorus
Usually, there is quite a lot of phosphorus in the composition of the soil. However, at the same time, a large amount of this element is located in an inaccessible form for crops. As for melons and gourds, phosphorus is simply vital for normal growth and development.
Phosphorus is actively involved in metabolic processes at the cell level. Its lack can be determined by some signs:
- the root system begins to develop poorly,
- foliage becomes small and dark green in color with a blue tint.
- the main leaves acquire a yellowish tone, and brown spots appear between the veins in the leaf plates, which become larger and larger.
After the above symptoms of phosphorus deficiency have become visible on the lower foliage, all this appears on the foliage, which is located in the upper part of the plant. As the foliage dries up, black color begins to prevail. At the same time, the bushes grow too slowly. The ovaries are formed later than usual. The leaves that form are too small in size.
Lack of potassium
The presence of this element in the required quantity during the period of watermelon filling is especially important. If there is not enough potassium, then the foliage turns green with a bluish tone, becomes dull. A light-colored contour is formed along the perimeter of the sheet plate. At the same time, the leaves begin to turn yellow from the upper part of the plant, in appearance they may resemble sunburn. At the edges, the leaves take on a wrinkled and twisted shape. The main shoot of the plant grows thin and withers.
Watermelon bushes become weak and susceptible to attacks of fungal diseases. If there is a lack of potassium during flowering, the buds sometimes do not form at all. If your watermelon plantings do not have enough potassium, then this will have a bad effect on the quality of your fruits.
Lack of calcium
When there is not enough calcium for plants, this becomes noticeable in the state of young leaves. They acquire a light color, and eventually die completely. At the edges, the leaves become brown, the flowers are increasingly infertile. In this case, the ovaries, which have already formed, often fall off. If there is not enough calcium during the period of fruit formation, then this greatly affects their quality. They are small in size and not very tasty. When calcium is too low, the absorption of other nutrients by the plant becomes difficult.
Lack of magnesium
As a rule, this problem is faced by farmers who grow their crops in regions where the humidity is too high. Among the signs of a lack of this element, chlorosis of plant foliage is observed.
At the edges, the leaves turn purple, red or yellow. Leaf veins have the same signs. After a certain amount of time, the foliage is covered with multi-colored blotches. After that, the cells of the leaf plates die off. All processes, as a rule, go on as usual: the ovaries are formed, there is pollination, but most often the diseased plant will not be able to give a full harvest.
How to feed watermelons in a greenhouse: mineral fertilizers
To get decent harvests of watermelons, you need to have an idea of the dressings that are used in such plantings. For the normal growth and development of watermelons, certain elements are needed that help them in this. So that plants do not experience hunger for certain substances, it is necessary to make mineral fertilizers from time to time, as well as organic matter. This should be done at different stages of plant development.
Top dressing based on minerals, which have the main micro and macro elements, are introduced at different stages of the life of watermelons:
- during the main processing,
- in the spring before the watermelons are sown,
- during sowing itself.
In addition, such fertilizers are applied by different methods (root and leaf) during the growing season.
It should be borne in mind that fertilizing based on minerals is applied after the soil has been moistened. Thus, your feeding will give the maximum result. After the fertilizers have been applied to the soil, it must be loosened immediately.
In order to obtain good results in terms of yields in open ground or greenhouses, organics and minerals are applied throughout the growing cycle. In this case, both liquid and solid fertilizers are used. Let's consider the main ones.
How to feed watermelons for growth - Urea (urea)
This drug is the most popular of those that contain nitrogen. Urea can influence the growth and development rate of watermelons, photosynthesis also improves. However, it is important to keep the correct dosages, as too much nitrogen can harm your watermelon plantings.
If there is too much nitrogen, then the bushes begin to grow, the green mass is actively formed. Moreover, all the nutrition goes only into this process. Foliage, as well as shoots, will form in a large number, however, flowers and ovaries will form poorly. And this, in turn, will have a bad effect on the quality and quantity of the crop. At the same time, the fruits that have formed will not be tasty, and their appearance will not be marketable.
Urea is added three times during the growing season of the culture. In this case, an interval of 3-4 weeks must be observed. First, the drug is applied a month after the plants have been planted in a greenhouse or in open ground. Typically, fertilizer consumption is 10 to 12 grams per square meter. This dressing is usually applied during autumn processing or at the beginning of spring. The part that is missing is brought in between the rows during irrigation and further loosening of the soil.
How to feed watermelons: the use of ammonia
The composition of this drug contains ammonia, which also has a beneficial effect on the growth and development of melons and gourds. There are nitrogen compounds in ammonia that have a positive effect on the formation of foliage and stems.
As a rule, ammonia is used as a top dressing only in extreme situations, when the plant dies and there are no other effective ways to "revive" it.
Before using ammonia, you need to prepare a solution. There are about three tablespoons of alcohol per bucket of water. Next, you need to thoroughly mix such a mixture and water the plantings. It is important to ensure that the top dressing does not fall on the surface of foliage and shoots.
Ammonium sulfate
This top dressing differs from other nitrogen-containing fertilizers in that it contains sulfur (about 24%), which also has a beneficial effect on the development of melons and gourds.
At the same time, nitrogen and sulfur are readily available to plants. In addition, among the advantages of this fertilizer can be called a low cost, in contrast to the same urea or ammonium nitrate. It is a safe fertilizer.
The above components help to make the fruit harvest abundant, and also have a positive effect on metabolic processes at the cellular level. Sulfur influences better absorption of other nutrients.
This fertilizer shows the best results on soils with a neutral and slightly alkaline reaction. In addition, the use of other dressings becomes more effective.
Such top dressing can become the main fertilizer, and also be used for foliage applications. For watermelons, this is an excellent fertilizer. It has the best effect on watermelons if applied by irrigation.
How to feed watermelons: Diammofoska
This top dressing has a set of necessary elements. It contains potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen. Appearance is pink granules. In addition to the above components, Diammofoska has a small amount of calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, sulfur.
This dressing is used for many crops, not only for melons. It has the necessary balance of nutrients that are required for plant development. Among the advantages are several main ones:
- the composition of Diammofoska is balanced as much as possible, therefore it is used for feeding various crops of the garden and vegetable garden.
- it can be used on almost any soil, which also speaks of its versatility.
- the introduction of this fertilizer has a good effect on the quality characteristics of the crop, and also improves the immunity of plants.
- fruits that have been obtained from plants will be better stored.
- the elements contained in the fertilizer are not able to be transferred to the composition of the watermelons themselves.
In addition to the above advantages, diammofoska acts quite quickly. This is due to the fact that the contained nitrogen has the form of ammonium.
As a rule, this fertilizer is used dry for watermelon plantings; it is not diluted in water. This is due to the fact that phosphorus, which is present in the composition, is not able to dissolve well in water. Experienced farmers recommend applying diammofosk a month after the plants have been planted in a greenhouse or in open ground. As a rule, from 10 to 15 grams of top dressing is consumed per one meter of area.
Superphosphate
This fertilizer contains a fairly large amount of phosphorus. Superphosphate is of different types. It can be simple, double, in the form of granules and ammoniated. In some varieties of this fertilizer, other elements are also present. Sometimes they are also rich in boron, magnesium, molybdenum.
Among the big advantages of such feeding is that it dissolves well in water. After the introduction of superphosphate has been carried out, your dressings can freely use the phosphorus, which they need so much for normal fruiting.
How to feed watermelons. The benefits of potassium chloride
Potassium is quite an important element in the life of any culture. The plant will only be grateful to you if you additionally feed it with potassium during the growing season. Most often, among the dressings that contain potassium, it is potassium chloride that is used.
Thanks to this fertilizer, your watermelons will feel better and more confident even under the most favorable growing conditions. In addition, the immunity of watermelons will be stronger, and they will be less likely to be attacked by various diseases and harmful insects.
It should be noted that the introduction of this top dressing will also have a beneficial effect on the root system of melons and gourds. This fertilizer contains about 65% of such elements as chlorine and potassium. They dissolve very well in water. Over time, chlorine is removed from the soil through rainfall.
The better to feed watermelons. Ammonium nitrate
This fertilizer is quite popular among gardeners and gardeners. This saltpeter contains about 34% nitrogen, which is easily extracted by plants. Many farmers still prefer not to use this top dressing on melons.
This is due to the fact that a certain amount of nitrate compounds accumulates in the fruits, which can harm the body. At the same time, it is not a secret for many that an excess of nitrates in the fruits of melons and gourds is found in the event that ammonium nitrate was used in too large quantities. If the dose indicated in the instructions is respected, then nitrates in watermelons do not accumulate, and accordingly, it does not harm a person.
Terraflex
Today, there are many complex feedings for various crops, which contain all the necessary elements for nutrition. Terraflex belongs to such fertilizers. If you use this top dressing on watermelon plantings, it will have a beneficial effect on your harvest, as well as on the immunity of your plants.
The fact is that all the elements necessary for the normal growth and development of plants are contained in the balance in one preparation.
This dressing is available in powder form, before use it must be diluted in water. There should be no sediment, the powder should completely dissolve in water.
Terraflex can be used in different ways. It is often used during drip irrigation of plants, and it is also possible to irrigate plantings with a root method with such a preparation. In addition, this fertilizer is also suitable for spraying over foliage. It should be noted that this preparation does not burn the leaf plates of plants.
There are several varieties of Terraflex.
When growing seedlings, as a rule, farmers use Terraflex Start. If you want to water and feed the plants with the drip method at the same time, then it is better to purchase Terraflex Universal. When the fruits are already in the ripening stage, you can feed your watermelons with Terraflex Final.
All the nutrition necessary for plants has a chelated form, which is readily available for the root and foliar system. Typically, this drug is used twice every 30 days. Before use, be sure to read the instructions.
How to feed watermelons? Fertilizer Master
This dressing is also absolutely completely ready to use. It contains a complete balance of various minerals. The form is chelated. Such complex feeding is in great demand among gardeners and gardeners.
The master contains many micro and macro elements. It comes in different types. Which one you choose depends on what kind of result you want to get in the end.
Each type of this fertilizer has a different composition, which is selected for a particular crop. In order to correctly apply this top dressing, you must follow certain action algorithms.
First you need to understand what nutrients your plants lack. Then you need to choose the right kind of this top dressing, which will include all the necessary elements. Before use, it is imperative to read the instructions. And only after that fertilization is carried out on your plantings.
A master is a fairly effective tool, the use of which gives a fairly quick result. Unlike other similar fertilizers, this fertilizer has many advantages:
- thanks to this feeding, melons and gourds begin to grow faster. The fact is that the contained nutrients are absorbed by plants quite intensively.
- The master has potassium, magnesium and nitrogen in the right quantities, which has a beneficial effect on the quality and quantity of the future harvest in the early stages.
- such feeding has a not too high concentration of salts, so the whole plant grows evenly.
- the introduction of the Master has a beneficial effect on the formation of strong foliage. In addition, the fruits themselves acquire a nice presentation.
- due to the fact that the composition contains magnesium, your watermelons will not suffer from diseases such as chlorosis.
For these reasons, this drug is very popular among gardeners and gardeners.
How to feed watermelons: Green-Go preparation
This fertilizer was obtained thanks to Italian scientists in 2010. It contains in soy a complex of all nutrients necessary for the normal growth and development of melons and gourds. It dissolves well in water.
The composition of Green-Go is perfectly balanced, it contains more phosphorus than similar preparations. All trace elements have an accessible form, of which there are also more. This top dressing is capable of acidifying the soil. Fertilizer consumption is quite economical.
In addition to the above advantages, this drug contains nitrogen in the amide form. This allows plants to quickly assimilate the necessary elements during foliar processing.
The drug shows the best results if it is used during drip irrigation. Together with drops of water, the watermelon plantings receive the necessary batteries.To prepare the necessary solution for processing, you need to dilute 1.5 kilograms of top dressing in 1000 liters of water. Watermelons are watered with a drip method in the morning and evening hours.
Nutrivant Plus
This drug was obtained in Israel. It is intended for various cultivated plants growing in open ground conditions, as well as in greenhouse conditions. Among the characteristics of this complex fertilizer, the fact is noted that the nutrients are quite well able to fix on the leaf plates, while acting at the same time for a rather long time. The composition has all the necessary nutrients that melons and gourds require.
Fertilizer is produced as a concentrate in liquid form. It is intended for foliar application. Among similar means, such fertilizer has many advantages:
- such feeding is considered environmentally friendly, there are many certificates that confirm this fact.
- this solution in a concentrated form dissolves well in water, and is also evenly distributed on the leaves of plantings.
- the use of this tool is not prohibited to combine with other fertilizers, as well as pesticide agents.
- the use of this complex fertilizer has a beneficial effect on the amount of the crop, it increases by 15%.
As you can see, there are quite a few advantages of this tool, however, among the main ones, experienced farmers call the fact that the nutrients are fixed well and stay on the surface of the leaves for a long time thanks to a special element. For this reason, it is not necessary to make such foliar dressings too often. The product is practically not removed due to precipitation and spills.
Although the fertilizer is combined with other agents and pesticide preparations, it is not recommended to use it in conjunction with calcium mixtures, as well as preparations that contain elements such as aluminum and iron. Before applying this fertilizer, it is necessary to prepare a mixture. In what proportions to use top dressing depends on which crop you are using it for.
As for watermelons, it is better to choose a type of fertilizer that has the following elements: nitrogen (6%), potassium (31%), phosphorus (18%) and other trace elements. For watermelon planting, 2 kilograms of fertilizer are used per hectare of area. In this case, it is necessary to observe certain terms of introduction.
You need to fertilize the plants before bud formation begins. Then it should take about two weeks, and after that the fertilizing is applied again. When the plants begin to bloom en masse, you also need to fertilize the plants. And when the fruit set begins, usually after a couple of weeks, also fertilize your watermelons.
Further feeding is made after another fourteen days. One hectare of area is applied from 250 to 300 liters of solution.
Kelik Potassium
This fertilizer has a convenient form, it is a liquid containing 50% potassium. This drug differs from other potash fertilizers in that it is able to stimulate the absorption of potassium by the root system of plants. Thus, the risk of the plant contracting fungal infections is minimized.
In addition, the use of this drug has a beneficial effect on the metabolism of plants, which has a good effect on the quality characteristics of the fruits themselves.
Thanks to the use of this top dressing, watermelons become more drought-resistant, since the stomata of the leaf plates are closed. Leaves absorb oxygen better, plant immunity improves. They are practically not attacked by various diseases. The rhizomes of plants begin to grow better, the fruits ripen faster, and their size is able to impress even the most sophisticated farmers.As for the taste and appearance of watermelons, they also get better. In addition, the harvest becomes abundant.
This drug is used when the ovaries begin to form and continues until active fruiting. During this time, as a rule, about four applications are made. The interval should be twenty days. If you apply top dressing by foliar method, then for 100 liters of water you need to spend from 250 to 500 milliliters. If you apply top dressing by roots, then one hectare of area accounts for three to four liters of solution.
How to feed watermelons - Calcinite
This fertilizer is versatile. It is used in open ground conditions, as well as in greenhouses. It is suitable for a wide variety of crops.
Nitrogen and potassium are able to interact with plants for a long time. This is especially true when the composition of the soil is not very good. The use of this tool helps to strengthen plants at the cellular level. This has a beneficial effect on plant immunity.
This drug is a friable granules that dissolve easily in water. Among the main advantages of the drug are the following:
- Active stimulation of the development of the root system. Most crops under the influence of this drug begin to grow and develop more actively.
- Plant immunity becomes stronger. They are practically not attacked by various diseases of fungal and bacterial origin, which occur, as a rule, due to calcium deficiency.
- The keeping quality of the fruit becomes higher. Transportability is also improving.
- The yield can be increased by 15%, while the appearance and taste are also improved.
This drug is used in various ways, both by root method and by plant leaves. The latter method can be used with different irrigation systems. As for the dosage and fertilization rules, it is necessary to proceed from the initial amount of calcium in the soil, as well as from the type of crop for which this drug is used.
During drip irrigation, it is necessary to dissolve about 0.5 kilograms in one ton of water. If you make fertilizing by irrigation, then a two or three percent solution is used for this. It is necessary to dilute 4 kilograms of the drug in 100 liters of water. For one hectare of area, as a rule, there is a consumption of 25 to 40 kilograms of top dressing.
Nutrivant Drip
This tool is originally from Israel. It is a fine powder that dissolves well in water. In its composition, it can be different, with different amounts of components such as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. In addition, this drug also contains calcium and other trace elements. The form is chelated.
This tool helps to organize the necessary nutrients in a full-fledged form, which contributes to obtaining a decent harvest. At the same time, its quality characteristics increase. It should be noted that the nutrients that were introduced through this feeding are distributed over the plantings in an even manner.
If the drip irrigation method is used, then top dressing, among other things, is able to clean the droppers. In any case, nutrients in normal amounts will reach the plants, even if not very good water is used for irrigation.
If you use this drug on an ongoing basis, it can have a beneficial effect on the quality of the soil. The amount of salt decreases. At the same time, the root system functions better. As a rule, for watermelon plants, this fertilizer is used three times per season. In this case, you can choose any methods, both root and leaf dressing.
Organics in the form of fertilizers for watermelons
Such dressings are also very popular when cultivating melons and gourds, regardless of growing conditions.
All organic feeds are divided into two types: animal and plant origin. Both categories contain a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. When using organic dressings, certain dosages must also be observed.
If you choose plant fertilizing, then, as a rule, herbal infusions, ash of various tree species, humus, vermicompost are used.
How to feed watermelons - humus
It is a great remedy for a variety of cultures. It is formed during the decomposition and decomposition of residues of different origins. The best results are shown by humus formed on the basis of manure from cows, rabbits or horses.
Yeast
Many farmers use folk methods as fertilizer for their plants. Often, ammonia and yeast are used for this. For watermelons, it is best to use yeast made for baking purposes.
When the yeast enters the soil, the soil fertility rises, and the plants begin to grow more actively. In addition, this method has a good effect on the root system of plants. Feeding with yeast for melons is best done during transplanting bushes. In addition, yeast can be used when picking young plants, so the stress on the culture will be the least.
To prepare top dressing based on yeast, you must follow a certain algorithm of actions:
- Yeast in the amount of 100 grams should be poured with 3 liters of water. For a better reaction, you can add one spoonful of sugar.
- After that, the solution must be insisted for one week.
- Before use, the resulting infusion must be diluted with water. In this case, the proportion is respected 1:10.
- During watering, it is necessary to observe the dosage: one bush has one liter of such a solution.
Mullein
Many people are familiar with such fertilizer firsthand. Among the organic-based feedings, mullein is the most popular. It is an infusion based on cow dung. It is used to fertilize various crops, as its composition is rich in essential nutrients.
To prepare a mullein-based fertilizer, you need to soak the manure in water. There is one bucket of dried manure per 100 liters of water. This solution must be infused for 2 weeks. With this fertilizer, melons and gourds are watered with an interval of 2 weeks. One plant accounts for one to two liters of top dressing.
How to feed watermelons: using chicken droppings
This is also a very popular food for various crops. Chicken manure is rich in magnesium, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus. Substances contained in chicken manure are able to quickly decompose and turn into minerals, thereby opening up access to the root system of plants.
This remedy has a higher concentration than mullein. For this reason, no one uses it clean. Otherwise, the plants may get burned.
In autumn, this agent is applied dry during the main improvement of the soil. In all other periods, chicken manure is diluted with water in a certain ratio.
Dry chicken manure in the amount of one bucket must be diluted in 20 liters of water. Then, for 10 days, the solution is infused in the open air. With such a solution, it is necessary to water the soil between the rows of watermelon plantings.
Wood ash
How to feed watermelons if there is nothing at hand? Many farmers who prefer natural fertilizing choose wood ash for this purpose. There are no harmful substances in it, and it is also easily assimilated by various cultures. Wood ash is rich in phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, boron, calcium, sodium.Ash that has been applied to the soil has a beneficial effect on the overall yield. In addition, such feeding makes the immunity of plants stronger.
The advantage of such feeding is the fact that it is not necessary to prepare it in advance. It can be used dry. As a rule, ash is added during the treatment of the site before planting the plants. Watermelon plants love wood ash based feeding. It will not be superfluous to feed your seedlings with this fertilizer, so they will be stronger and take root faster.
What should not be allowed in watermelon agricultural technology
During the cultivation of melons and gourds, many novice gardeners and gardeners, for lack of proper knowledge, often make certain mistakes. And they, in turn, do not give a decent and tasty harvest. We will look at the main mistakes that are made most often:
- When fertilizing is applied. Before this, it is imperative to water the plants. So the nutrients taken from the dressings will be better absorbed by the plant. Before applying these or those fertilizers, thoroughly water your area with plantings with water. In this case, the water should be warm.
- Regardless of what weather conditions prevail on your site, about 2 liters of water should be consumed daily for each plant. At the same time, the water should not be cold, its temperature should vary from +20 to +25 degrees. If you use cold water, it will damage the root system of the plants, which means that food and moisture will be absorbed by the plants much worse.
- Many gardeners and gardeners unknowingly believe that the more fertilizer is applied, the better the effect will be. But this is not the case. The dosages indicated in the instructions should not be exceeded. This is especially true for fertilizers that contain nitrogen. Excessive feeding can cause burns, negatively affect the growth process, and even increase the level of nitrates in watermelons. The long-awaited result from fertilizers depends on many parameters. Including on what type of feeding you used, in what dosage, in what time period the feeding was carried out. In addition, soil moisture, climatic conditions, and the composition of the earth play an important role.
- Often, novice farmers believe that organic fertilizing is much safer than those that contain minerals in their composition. And for this reason, such dressings are neglected. But this is not entirely correct, since the best result can be achieved only in the case of a balance of dressings, both organic and mineral-based. If you use exclusively organic matter on your watermelon plantings, then the result of the harvest in terms of quality is unlikely to please you.
- As for the application of fertilizing by irrigation, it is best to use the drip method for this. Thus, moisture and nutrients will enter the soil at the same time. One day before harvesting is planned, it is not recommended to water the plantings.
- You should not plant watermelon plants in those beds where herbicidal substances were actively used before. Otherwise, watermelons will absorb these harmful substances and will no longer be suitable for food.
Although there are a number of rules and recommendations for growing watermelons, however, this task is within the power of even a novice farmer. It should be remembered that watermelons are successfully grown not only in warm regions. You just need to choose the right varieties.
Fertilization is an important factor in the successful cultivation of watermelons, which largely depends on many factors (type of soil, weather conditions, general planting health). However, you cannot exceed the rate of application of certain dressings, as this can have a bad effect on your long-awaited watermelon harvest.