It is important to correctly distribute the territory on the garden plot. This is due to the peculiarities of plants, because there are crops that are combined with each other, and there are those that can interfere with the growth of a neighbor. So, in order to get a good harvest of melons and gourds, it is worth figuring out whether it is possible to plant watermelons and melons together.

Selection of varieties and planting of watermelons

Watermelon is a melon crop, an annual plant from the pumpkin family. It has a sweet, aromatic, juicy flesh of pink or red color (sometimes you can find yellow or white watermelon), with black small seeds. It is desirable to sow it in the ground, since the seedlings usually do not take root well. It is important to choose the right variety. The choice depends on:

  • growing region,
  • climatic conditions,
  • places of growth.

For example, Skorik and Ogonyok varieties are suitable for Siberia and the northern regions. They are early maturing (the first watermelons appear within 60 days after germination), unpretentious and frost-resistant. They can even be planted in open ground.

When the soil is warmed up enough and the temperature is about 15 degrees, the seeds are planted in holes in 2 pieces.

Planting abuses

Planting abuses

Important! The distance between the holes should be about 1 meter, as watermelons grow strongly. In a greenhouse or greenhouse, the distance can be reduced to 70 cm.

They grow watermelons and seedlings. To do this, it is better to use special peat pots, which themselves decompose in the ground. Planting watermelon seedlings should start in May. The watermelon grows quickly, it is impossible for the seedlings to outgrow, otherwise it will not take root.

Watermelon compatibility with other crops

To get a good harvest, you need to know some secrets of growing this crop, with which you can plant watermelons in the same garden, and with which you cannot. It is known that some cultures have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of each other, and some - on the contrary.

To determine whether it is possible to plant watermelons and cucumbers nearby and which neighbors of a watermelon in the garden will not interfere with its growth, it is necessary to take into account certain features.

  • The watermelon grows strongly, so it is advisable to plant it next to early maturing crops in order to have time to harvest them before the spread of watermelon lashes.
  • He does not like too moist soil, so you do not need to plant it next to moisture-loving crops.
  • He is characterized by warmth, he does not like the shadow. You cannot plant a watermelon under bushes, trees, tall plants.
  • There are some diseases and pests that can spoil the crop. To prevent this from happening, you need to plant a number of crops that scare them away.
  • It can hardly tolerate strong gusts of wind, so it would be good to plant sunflowers, corn, beans, peas around the garden.

The proximity to different plantings affects the watermelon in different ways. Almost any crop should be planted with caution next to a capricious melon berry. It can both help him in growth and development, and impede life and fruiting.

Watermelon in the garden

Watermelon in the garden

Planting next to a pumpkin

It is undesirable to plant some melons and gourds close to each other. Watermelon and pumpkin are not planted together. Since they are usually self-pollinated, they can become over-pollinated.This will lead to mutation and the crop may turn out to be very unusual in shape, color, taste (for example, green pumpkins may grow instead of orange).

Note! Seeds obtained from such mutations are unsuitable for further planting.

You can not plant watermelons and zucchini and other crops of the pumpkin family.

Planting next to cucumbers

Due to over-pollination, they also cannot be planted next to cucumbers. Fruits in such a neighborhood will grow savory, will be devoid of aroma, and may be deformed.

Planting next to potatoes

Melons "take" a lot of nutrients from the soil, so it is not recommended to plant them next to root crops: potatoes, carrots, beets, radishes. These crops can die or produce poor harvests. In addition, potatoes can shade watermelons, tall bushes will close the creeping shoots. Also, both are susceptible to the same diseases and are affected by the same pests, therefore, if one culture becomes infected, the disease will be transmitted to the other.

Potatoes are not the best neighbor for a watermelon

Potatoes are not the best neighbor for a watermelon

Planting next to tomatoes

Tomatoes are very good neighbors for melons. Planting a watermelon in a tomato greenhouse has a beneficial effect on the growth of both crops.

  • These plants are compact and will not interfere with the watermelon;
  • they scare away aphids, moths, sawflies (pests that can destroy the ovary). In addition, tomatoes are not root vegetables, so they will not be harmed by watermelons.

They also coexist well with peppers due to their short stature and similar care conditions.

Some flower crops have a beneficial effect on the growth, development and fruiting of watermelons. For example, marigolds, nasturtiums, phacelia. They can be grown in circles or grooves.

What you can't plant next to watermelons

As mentioned, watermelons are not planted with cucumbers, zucchini and pumpkins. It is not recommended to grow watermelons near any root vegetables.

Important! Melons and gourds "suck" almost all the useful minerals from the soil. Therefore, they need to be planted every year in a new place, and the old one must be planted with crops that neutralize and restore the soil, for example, peas, sunflowers, corn. You can simply give the land a "rest" or sow it with phacelia.

Melon growing

Melon growing

Is it possible to plant watermelons and melons nearby

It turns out that they perfectly coexist Melon - this is an annual melon crop. Despite the fact that this plant is related to watermelon, they grow beautifully nearby, but you need to remember that they grow very much, so they need a large area.

Culture goes well with melons. This is due to a number of features:

  • These melons come from hot countries, so both cultures love sun and warmth. They should only be watered during periods of extreme heat and drought.
  • The plantings need the same care.
  • They are the same for their purpose: food, medicine, animal feed. Both cultures are sweet. Pollination practically does not occur.

Important! Exposure to the same diseases is one of the disadvantages of their compatibility. If one culture gets sick, the other gets infected.

How to properly grow watermelons and melons nearby

Melon in the garden

Melon in the garden

First you need to prepare the seeds. It is best to use those left over from the last harvest. If there are no such seeds, you will need to dry ordinary seeds at a temperature of 35 degrees for several days.

Melons are planted to a depth of about 5 cm. Both crops love sandy and sandy loam soil, so if the soil is not like that, it is better to start preparing it in the fall. For this, about 5 kg are brought into the ground. manure, superphosphate, ammonium sulfate, potassium salt.

Care consists in loosening at least 5 times over the summer (the first time - when the sprouts appear and grow stronger). Top dressing should be carried out at least 2 times: the first - when several leaves are formed on the plant. The next time feeding is done during the flowering period.

Crops are very prolific so they cannot be placed close to each other. The scourge can intertwine.

Both those, and others love feeding with manure and bird droppings. Prepare it like this: insist 1 glass of fertilizer in 10 liters of water, strain.The area with melons and gourds is watered with this solution.

Attention! In no case should you often water melons. This will lead to decay of both roots and fruits. Watering is necessary on average 2 times a week.

If the fruits are grown in the northern region, you need to direct the roots not to depth, but in breadth. Since these crops came from hot arid countries, they are adapted to extract water by growing roots as deep as possible. In the northern regions, the roots will simply rot at depth. Therefore, they do not water at the root, but around, along the grooves.

Melon and watermelon are good neighbors

Melon and watermelon are good neighbors

The ripeness of the fruit can be determined by specific characteristics. If the berry is ripe, it has a pleasant sweet aroma, bright color. The fruits lose white bloom, the pattern on the bark becomes clearer, the tail of the fruit dries up, the sound when tapped is dull. On average, early maturing melons ripen in 90 days.

Growing tips

To get a good harvest, it is important to follow the rules for growing melons and gourds. They are quite unpretentious with proper care.

  • Do not make cuts on the seeds! This will lead to low germination.
  • It is important to cover young plants. The best temperature for watermelons and melons is about 27 degrees during the day and about 18 degrees at night. For the period of frost, cover with a liter bottle with a cut off neck, and on top - with a five-liter bottle. The second bottle can be removed later.
  • Despite the fact that watermelons and melons are heat-loving and sun-loving crops, their fruits must be protected from too bright sun. To do this, you can plant greens next to them (except for parsley) or you can simply cover the fruits with burdock leaves.
  • To prevent the fruits from rotting, in contact with the ground, you need to put a board or tile under each. From time to time, it is important to turn the fruits over so that they ripen evenly from all sides. It is better to do this in sunny times. In the rain, melons should be covered.
  • There should be no high humidity in the greenhouse. It is necessary to constantly ventilate it, otherwise the fruits will grow slowly, diseases and rot will develop.
  • Melons must be "pinched". As soon as 3-4 (maximum - 5) tennis-ball-sized ovaries are formed, all the rest are removed. This is necessary because a larger number of fruits will still not have time to ripen (especially in Siberia and the northern regions), but the stem will spend extra energy on them. Shoots above the ovary are removed after the next 3 leaves.
  • For the best yield, it is best to grow melons in a greenhouse. If it is not there, you can use a greenhouse or film shelters. They will also be needed in case of cool weather, especially at night.
  • It is recommended to tie the ovaries in the greenhouse. When they grow to the size of an orange, they need to be laid in a net (its size should be given the fact that the fruit will grow), and tied to a support. It is necessary to tie tightly, as the fetus will be heavy.
  • Fruits (especially ripening ones) are very fond of pecking by crows, so it is important to install a scarecrow in time.

For almost any plant problem, biological growth promoters such as Epin can be used. It helps with diseases, slowing down the growth and development of plants, increasing yields.

So, having figured out whether it is possible to plant watermelons and melons together and observing the rules of agricultural technology, you can really get a good harvest. Watermelon is compatible with other plants in the garden, as long as they do not shade the whips and do not take away the nutrients needed by the melon berry.