Do melons need to be tied up when grown in a greenhouse?

Greenhouse conditions make it possible to grow melons and gourds even where the climate is not at all favorable for this. Knowing how to properly tie up melons in a greenhouse and what kind of care you need to provide to plants, you will eventually be able to get a harvest of fragrant, sunny fruits.

Benefits of growing melons in a greenhouse

Melon is a thermophilic crop, so the higher the growing temperature, the more likely it is to get fully ripe sweet fruits. The use of a polycarbonate greenhouse contributes to this.

Cellular polycarbonate has excellent thermal insulation properties. During the day, the building is well warmed up by the sun, at night it is possible to organize additional heating using a stove, a heater, heated bricks or flasks with hot water. In a polycarbonate greenhouse, plants are protected from adverse weather conditions - rain, squall wind, hail.

The advantages of greenhouse melon cultivation:

• when planted in a greenhouse, the chances of fruit ripening increase;
• it is easier to care for the culture in the building;
• plants are less sick and less likely to be affected by pests;
• the use of a greenhouse allows melons to be grown in almost any region;
• fruits ripened indoors are sweeter and more flavorful.

However, this method has its drawbacks. The organization of additional lighting and the installation of thermal equipment require significant costs. In a greenhouse, melons cannot be pollinated in a natural way - the procedure for pollination of plants is completely assigned to the gardener.

Preparatory work

Melon seeds collected 3-4 seasons ago are suitable for planting. When using fresh planting material, plants can only please with the rapid growth of greenery.

The seeds are calibrated in salt water and then hardened by alternately keeping them near the radiator and in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.

After that, sowing is carried out in individual containers with a diameter of 10 cm. While the seedlings are growing, the summer resident will have time to start preparing the greenhouse and soil.

Preparing the greenhouse for planting seedlings

After winter, it is necessary to carefully inspect the greenhouse and prepare it for planting in the current season, making the necessary work. Before planting melons, you need to close up all the cracks: drafts are destructive for a thermophilic culture.

If the greenhouse has not been cleaned since autumn, it is done in the spring. In order to prevent fungal diseases, it is recommended to treat the inner surfaces with fungicides. Inside the building, you need to install sources of heat and light, as well as prepare trellises, to which melons will later be tied.

The trellis structure is easy to make yourself. Metal posts or beams are used as supports. In addition, you need to stock up on fruit nets and garters in advance.

Soil disinfection, fertilization

In a confined space, acidification and depletion of the soil occurs rather quickly. You can check the acidity level using litmus paper. The optimum pH for this crop is 7–8.5. If necessary, chalk, limestone, ash are added to the ground. An additional plus of using ash is that it increases the sugar content of the fruit.

The earth must be carefully dug up and loosened. As a fertilizer for melons, organic matter should be chosen:

• bird droppings;
• rotted manure;
• compost;
• humus;
• peat.

The release of chemical elements from these fertilizers occurs gradually, which means that the culture will be provided with nutrition for a long time. In the process of decomposition of organic fertilizers, heat is released, which is so necessary for young plants.

As a result of using organic matter, the structure and microbiological composition of the soil is improved. Beneficial soil bacteria make the soil looser, and oxygen access to the roots is improved. For 1 sq. square meter is consumed 2 kg of organic fertilizers. They are scattered over the surface, poured with hot water and sprinkled on top with a layer of soil.

It is better to disinfect the soil with the use of biological preparations, using, for example, "Baktofit", "Baikal". Previously, the earth can be spilled with boiling water.

If in the previous season the plants in the greenhouse were affected by a fungus, you will have to resort to more serious measures and carry out chemical disinfection. In this case, formalin, potassium permanganate, and sulfur-based preparations are used for soil cultivation.

Planting seedlings in a greenhouse

Melons are planted on a bed at an interval of 50 cm, the row spacing should be from 70 to 100 cm. Pre-seedlings in cups are spilled with water - this will make it easier to remove the plants from the containers. Seedlings must be taken out carefully to avoid damage to the root system.

When planting, the root collar of plants is placed just above the soil level, then it will be possible to reduce the risk of rot in the lower part of the stem.

Having planted melons, lightly compact the soil near each of them, and then sprinkle the root zone with a layer of sand. After planting, it is recommended to cover the seedlings with damp paper: this way the seedlings will quickly take root in a new place.

Care for melons after planting

For a full-fledged growing season, plants must be provided with optimal conditions for growing them:

• During the rooting period of melons, the temperature in the greenhouse should not fall below + 25 ° C.
• In good weather, arrange daily ventilation.
• When the seedlings take root, the temperature can be reduced by 5 ° C, however, night temperatures should not fall below + 15 ° C.
• Watering should be regular, but moderate, the culture does not tolerate waterlogging. The water should be preheated.
• When irrigating the soil, it is advisable to avoid moisture getting on the stems and leaves. The best solution would be to organize drip irrigation. If this is not possible, melons are poured from a watering can under the root.
• The air humidity is maintained at 60%.
• For the full growth and development of a melon, a 14-hour daylight is required, so you will definitely need LED lamps or fluorescent lamps to organize the backlight. An excellent option would be to use phytolamps that emit the entire spectrum of rays necessary for plants.

Once every 1–1.5 weeks, plants are fertilized with mineral complexes. You can use ammophoska, nitroammophoska and other fertilizers. Add 10 g of the drug to 10 liters of water, this amount of solution is enough for 2 plants.

From the moment of flowering, they stop applying nitrogen fertilizers. During this period, melons are fed with a superphosphate solution (40 g per 10 L of water).

When the fruits begin to ripen, ash is brought into the garden. Fertilizer can be used dry or in the form of a solution (a liter can of ash for 10 liters of water, leave for 4–5 hours).

If insects' access to the greenhouse is blocked, artificial pollination of plants is carried out, transferring pollen from male (larger) flowers to female flowers. The pollen taken from one male flower is enough to pollinate four female flowers.

Bush shaping and garter

Melons growing in the greenhouse must be shaped, otherwise the bushes will fill all the free space. Also, you should not allow the leaves to touch the ground. Violation of this rule can provoke an outbreak of a fungal disease.When forming, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of crop growth so that the yield meets expectations.

The main stem with two shoots is left on each plant, all other shoots must be removed. No more than 6 ovaries on one lash can fully mature.

The melon trellis should be a U-shaped structure 2 m high with a wire frame. Strong ropes are tied vertically to the wire or a net is pulled. It is to them that the lashes of plants will be tied as they grow.

When the stem reaches the top of the trellis, it is pinched. It is necessary to fix the lashes so that they are located vertically. In the process of growth, the shoots are wrapped around the ropes of trellises or passed through a suspended net, directing them up.

Melons are tied a week after planting in the greenhouse: first, they are given time to adapt.

The main stem is twisted in a spiral around the support, the fruiting shoots are tied to a net or to vertically stretched ropes.

After the small melons become the size of an apple, they are placed in nylon nets and hung from the trellis. The garter will reduce the load on the plant, as well as protect the fruits from diseases, while allowing them to develop freely.

Harvesting

The main sign of melon maturity will be a change in its color. The fruits will turn sunny yellow and begin to emit a characteristic melon aroma. If you press your finger on the point opposite the stalk, the crust of the ripe melon will sag. Depending on the variety, the fruits ripen in the greenhouse after 45-60 days.

Harvest not at the same time. The fruit is removed as it ripens.

In the middle lane, fruiting dates fall in mid-August. In the Urals, the ripening of the culture occurs around October.

Mid-early varieties are considered most suitable for growing in the Moscow region:

• "Gribovskaya soil",
• "Golden",
• "Collective farmer",
• "Kazachka 244",
• "Amber".

Fully ripe melons are easily separated from the stem. Fruits can be picked even at the stage of incomplete ripeness, but then their taste will be worse.

When growing melons in a greenhouse, they must be tied to a vertical trellis. Such a garter will protect plants and fruits from damage, facilitate care, and contribute to better ripening of the crop. If you create all the necessary conditions for the melons in the greenhouse, their taste will certainly delight.