Watering melons in open ground

When and how often to water

To achieve a high yield, melons grown outdoors need adequate water. However, don't overdo it. Once the pumpkins reach a sufficient size, water them less frequently, eventually stopping altogether, to ensure the fruit remains juicy and flavorful. Before watering your melon beds, pay attention to the water temperature: it should be warm, heated by the sun's rays, otherwise the plants may develop root rot. Water in the evening, after the sun has set, to prevent leaf burn.

To ensure that each plant receives exactly the amount of moisture it needs, watering is done in a hole near the bush, avoiding moisture getting on the melon's root system. The intensity and frequency of watering directly depend on the prevailing weather conditions and the plant's developmental stage. In hot weather, the soil in the garden bed should be watered much more frequently, at least twice a day, but with the arrival of rain, it's best to avoid watering altogether.

Watering seedlings

The root system of young plants just emerging from sown seeds is the most vulnerable, so they require extra attention. Such a seedling can easily die even from a short-term drought or even slightly overwatered soil. At this stage, melons require abundant, daily watering.

Stage of ovary formation

Although the melons have already grown and become a little stronger, they still need your attention – after all, they are not yet adult plants.

To understand how to properly water the beds, focus on the condition of the soil surface - it should not dry out, but remain slightly moist.

Now it is very important, in addition to properly organized watering, to provide melons with additional care - weeding out weeds that take away nutrients and life-giving moisture from melons, and lightly loosening the spaces between the rows.

Before ripening

Now that the plants are fully formed and strong, watering can be reduced slightly. This melon's root system is quite extensive and extends approximately 10 meters deep, so it will certainly obtain the necessary moisture. Experienced gardeners agree that at this stage, watering the beds once a week is sufficient, and once the fruits reach the desired size, watering can be stopped altogether. It's also important to grow the melons in an open, sunny location—only then will the pumpkins be tasty, sweet, and aromatic.

Irrigation technology

• When watering melons in open ground, it is better to use warm water, heated to +22 degrees - thanks to this, moisture evaporates more slowly, and therefore the soil remains moist longer;
• Depending on the stage of development of the bushes, each one should use from 3 to 7 liters of water;
• as soon as the melons bloom, the intervals between waterings and the amount of water are reduced;
• Do not allow moisture to get onto the root collar - this can cause the plant to rot;
• The crop does not like sprinkling - unlike most garden and vegetable plants, melons do not tolerate high air humidity, so it is better to water them in holes (when the plants are very small) or in furrows (if the rows have already been formed).

This fragrant and sweet melon is so complex and capricious. Getting a good harvest of these sunny pumpkins requires a lot of work. But the result, believe me, is worth the effort: when you cut into the tanned side of a melon you've grown yourself and the sweet honey aroma tickles the nostrils of everyone in the household, you know you'll be planting melons in your garden again and again, just to enjoy this divine taste and indescribable aroma!

Video: How to Water Melons

This video will show you how to properly water melons.