How to grow Watermelons in Containers | diy garden

How to grow watermelons in containers? Cultivating watermelons in pots is a great way for an amateur gardener with limited space to grow these refreshing fruits on their own. Whether you are gardening on the balcony or just looking for a better way to use your limited space, growing watermelons in containers is feasible and fun. Container preparation For your venture to be successful you need good preparation that begins before you even plant your watermelon seeds. Start by selecting the containers. You should choose containers large enough to allow your watermelons to thrive. Watermelons grow fast and require a lot of space and water so it is advisable to use containers 20 liters or larger. You can use commercially available pots or make improvised pots, e.g. barrels. In any case, make sure that the containers have several drain holes. Fill the containers with a light mix of soil to buy from nurseries. Do not use soil from your garden. This will quickly squeeze into the container and make it difficult to grow watermelons. Place the containers beforehand in a sunny place so you don't have to move them later. Sowing Once the pots are ready you should start sowing. You should choose a variety of watermelon that can grow in containers. The compact varieties that make small fruits are the right ones. You should sow the seeds when the soil and ambient temperatures are at least 21 degrees Celsius. Before sowing, soak the seeds in water for at least half an hour. If some of them float it means they are useless and will not sprout. Throw them away. Plant the remaining seeds in a bed or in pots with sowing soil at a depth of 3 to 5 cm by placing fruit to for seeds in each hole in each pot. Water well. After 7 to 10 days the seeds will germinate and the seedlings will appear. The time of planting depends on the temperature, humidity and depth of planting. The soil should be constantly moist during the vegetation period. Transplantation Two weeks after sowing, check the pots or holes that the seeds have sprouted, remove the weakest seedlings and hold the seedlings in each hole or pot. Kill the vibrant plants. You will let them grow there until they are overcast. Keep watering regularly. Support Once you have finished transplanting your watermelons into the pots, you will need to provide some support to the plants. Watermelons need a lot of space and you do not have them so grow them in containers. You can give them the space they need upstairs. Watermelons are basically climbing plants, so you can help them climb by placing vertical triangular support example reeds or some kind of pergola in the pots. With strings, loosely attach the plants to the supports. Fertilization If you grow your watermelons in containers in an urban area or on a high balcony, you may find that there are not enough insect pollinators to pollinate the flowers. Watermelons You can fertilize them manually by transferring pollen from male flowers to females. As soon as the first fruits appear on your watermelon, you will need to give the plant extra support for the fruit as well. Use a flexible, flexible material, such as a pantyhose or shopping net, to create a hammock under the fruit. As the watermelon fruit grows, the hammock will stretch to fit and support the larger fruit. Watermelon containers should be watered daily at temperatures below 27 degrees Celsius and twice daily above this temperature. You can lubricate with water-soluble fertilizer once a week, or with a slow-release fertilizer once a month.