À propos Blacktail Mountain Watermelon
The Blacktail Mountain watermelon produces dark green-skinned fruits with very juicy red flesh. Excellent for northern regions. Can be stored for up to 2 months. Insect netting is recommended in June to combat the striped cucumber beetle. Pre-germination in a warm, damp cloth is recommended before sowing. A temperature of 25°C is recommended. As soon as the sprout appears, sow in position in the garden in warmed soil. For best results, sow in individual pots at the end of April.
Growing tips for Blacktail Mountain Watermelon
Nos semences de blacktail mountain watermelon sont certifiées biologiques.
Nous utilisons des méthodes naturelles et respectueuses de l'environnement pour cultiver nos plantes, sans aucun usage de pesticides, d'herbicides ou d'engrais chimiques. En choisissant nos semences bio d'blacktail mountain watermelon, vous soutenez une approche responsable au profit de la nature.
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Our advice, your success!
Insect netting before pollination
Insect netting is recommended for all cucurbits to combat the striped cucumber beetle. Be careful, it will be necessary to remove the netting when the flowers form or opt for hand pollination.
Seed pre-germination; simple and effective
For optimal germination, we suggest pre-germinating in a warm, moist cloth before sowing. A temperature of 25°C gives the best results. As soon as the sprout appears, you can sow in a warmed-up position in the garden.
Indoor sowing; fragile roots
Cucurbits have very fragile roots. If you start your cucurbit seedlings indoors, be sure not to damage the roots when transplanting them into the ground. Using a biodegradable pot is recommended.
Watermelon
Watermelon
There's no point in expecting to grow large, 10-kg watermelons like those you see in grocery stores in northern regions. However, many modern watermelon cultivars mature in northern regions in as little as 75 days from transplanting. Small in size, mostly round, sometimes oblong, they have a watery, very sweet, red, sometimes yellow flesh. Their skin is smooth, shiny, marbled, or streaked with two shades of green. Watermelon requires heat. However, its root system allows it to withstand drought well.
Yves Gagnon
Melon growing conditions
Due to their African origin, melons are very demanding in terms of heat. Temperatures below 10 oC affect their development. In northern regions, they must be propagated by indoor sowing and transplanted in layers or tunnels to protect them from the cold and wind, both of which are detrimental to their development. Melons are therefore grown in full sun, sheltered from the wind; light, deep, humus-rich soil is preferred; clay soils must be well structured and shaped into beds. Melons require moderately decomposed compost. The soil for its cultivation is amended with 1 t of semi-ripe compost per 100 m2. An addition of 60 ml of mineral phosphate per plant improves the performance of the species. Monthly fertigation with liquid manure increases the productivity of the plants; during the ripening period, however, any nitrogen addition, which would be harmful to them, should be avoided, as should excess moisture. Although melons, and watermelon in particular, have a drought-resistant root system, weekly irrigation during dry spells maximizes yield. The presence of bees and honey-producing flowers nearby aids in fertilization, which is often irregular. The recommended pH for melon cultivation is between 6 and 7.
Melon Crop Rotation
Melon is grown in the first year of rotation after a green manure crop.
Melon companionship
Melons can be planted with other cucurbits to the east of corn or rows of sunflowers. They grow well alongside tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and artichokes. They can also be grown with marjoram, basil, marigold, or borage. To maximize space utilization, leafy vegetables or radishes can be grown at the edge of the beds early in the season. These early vegetables will overlap the melons for a while, but once harvested, the melons will have all the space they need to grow.
— These valuable tips were written by Yves Gagnon, in the book The ecological cultivation of vegetable plants , Colloidal Editions.
