Agriculture is the main area of food production. Our distant ancestors began to obtain food through crop production and animal husbandry. And currently, the agricultural segment is increasingly connected with modern technologies and science. As a result, purple tomatoes, chocolate peppers, white raspberries, red potatoes and other exotics appear on the shelves. And stores in Japan have been selling amazing and unusual square watermelons for a long time, and this is not a newspaper duck at all, but the very real truth.
To be more precise, the shape of the Japanese giant striped berry is not a square - this geometric figure is flat, but it becomes voluminous, turning into a cube. It is precisely these cubic watermelons that the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun managed to produce. But, of course, if we cut the fruit, then in the section we will get exactly that same square.
Making a square shape with your own hands
Don't waste money on a mold for growing watermelons, but create one yourself. To do this you will need the following tools and materials:
- main material of the box (polycarbonate, plexiglass or plywood) – 1 sheet (panel) with an approximate thickness of 12 mm;
- a metal corner with a width of at least 30 mm;
- door hinges – 4 pcs.;
- door latches – 2 pcs.;
- fastening elements – bolts with nuts, self-tapping screws;
- jigsaw;
- drill;
- screwdriver;
- feather drill with a diameter of 0.25 cm.
Container creation process:
- Cut 6 blanks from the main material of the box. At the same time, make one with dimensions of 25 × 25 cm, and the others a little larger. In this case, the diagonal of the container must be wider than the diagonal of the watermelon itself, otherwise it will not fit.
- Prepare the workpieces for assembly. On the workpiece that will be the top cover, drill a 2.5 cm hole. From it to the edge, cut a strip about 2 cm wide.
- Assemble the structure. Attach 2 door hinges to the side wall and lid. In this case, the ends of the walls on the sides should be covered with a lid. Next, connect the blanks with self-tapping screws with protruding caps. If necessary, reinforce the box joints with metal corners.
- Make the finishing touches. Attach the 2 remaining door hinges to the bottom of the frame to create a second door. It will be needed when removing the fruit from the mold. Place locks on both doors. And in the corners of the structure, cut several small ventilation holes. For better heat perception, make the box black or transparent.
Pros and cons of growing unusual fruits
Square watermelons have certain advantages over round ones:
- low risk of fruit damage during transportation;
- the possibility of compact arrangement of berries during their storage;
- convenient form for cutting portions;
- long shelf life - as some sources say, such a watermelon can be stored for about a year without spoiling.
But this culture also has the following disadvantages:
- unripeness of fruits associated with the berries being in a container for shaping;
- the risk of being damaged upon contact with the container - if it is too tight, the berry, as it grows, becomes deformed;
- decreased taste.
Features of cultivation
In order for square-shaped watermelons to delight you with their harvest, you need to choose the right place to plant them. It should be sunny and unshaded. This melon crop does not like shade. The soil should be structured, rich in microelements and non-acidic.
If the soil does not meet these requirements, mix a little lime or wood ash into it. And add sand from the river to light and loose soil while digging.
Do not plant watermelons where other melons, cucumbers and cabbage previously grew. In this case, there is a risk of infecting the seeds with harmful viruses. Grow the crop where peas, potatoes, corn or sunflowers were.
Preparing and planting seeds
Most often, watermelons are grown from seedlings. The essence of this method is that in March the seeds are planted in small cups and after the sprouts appear, they are moved to open ground.
This method is applicable in those regions where the climate does not allow growing melons directly in the open air.
How to grow seedlings:
- soak the seeds for 3 days in a growth stimulator;
- put them in the refrigerator for 2 days;
- sow the prepared seeds in cups with fertile soil;
- cover the seedlings with film.
In order for the seeds to hatch on time and develop normally, water them regularly, ventilate them and maintain their optimal temperature of +25 degrees and above. Do not grow seedlings on a windowsill, as melons do not like temperature fluctuations.
After 1.5 weeks, watermelon sprouts will appear. Plant the crop in open ground at the end of the last spring month - beginning of summer. The seedlings should already have at least 5 leaves. The weather during planting should be warm and sunny. Add humus to the soil before planting.
Caring for seedlings before placing in mold
For the first 2 weeks after planting the sprouts outside, properly care for them:
- regularly water the seedlings with warm water - once a week or once every 3 days if it’s hot;
- cover them at night when the temperature drops;
- systematically loosen the soil and feed the melon with liquid organic fertilizers;
- ventilate the sprouts by lifting the film (if they are covered);
- get rid of emerging weeds;
- mulch the holes with a 10 cm layer of straw.
Growing in a greenhouse
If you live in a cold climate, grow watermelons in a greenhouse. The optimal height of such a greenhouse is approximately 1.7 m. At the same time, grow only melons and melons in it, since watermelons do not like other proximity in a confined space. The humidity in the greenhouse should not exceed 60%, and the temperature should not exceed +30 degrees.
Sow watermelon seeds, not seedlings, into the greenhouse soil. Water the crop regularly and ventilate the greenhouse. Despite the external protection, keep a watermelon cover at the ready in case the temperature drops at night.
When and how to put it in the mold and what to do next?
When the watermelon has grown to the size of a tennis ball (about 6-10 cm in diameter), place it in the container you made to give the fruit a square shape. Do this by threading the watermelon loop through the hole in the box.
What to do after placing the fruit in the container:
- straighten the watermelon so that its stripes are located clearly vertically along its edges;
- also water the crop abundantly;
- Cover the container on top to prevent overheating.
Once the watermelon reaches the size of the container, it will begin to take on its shape. Typically, the ripening period for a crop after planting in the open air is approximately 95-100 days. The main thing is not to miss the moment when the watermelon is already ripe, but not too big. This cannot be allowed, otherwise it will tear the box.
After the berry reaches its ripeness, remove it from the garden bed by twisting the stalk several times and remove it from the box. For a reusable container, simply remove the lid.
It happens that after removal from the container, the watermelon is not bright enough in color. To fix this, leave the berries in the sun for 2-3 days.
How are they grown?
Compliance with certain conditions helps to achieve the expected result and grow not only beautiful in appearance, but also sweet berries. Watermelons are suitable only for southern climatic regions where the weather remains consistently hot and dry.
For planting, choose well-lit areas - shading is strictly contraindicated for the plant. Only non-acidic, fertile soil with added sand and lime is suitable.
Reference. Watermelons cannot be grown in areas where other melons or cabbage previously grew. Optimal predecessors are potatoes, peas, tomatoes and wheat.
At a certain stage of development, the young berry is enclosed in a rigid form, which securely fixes it on all sides. In this way, the specified geometric parameters are given. Enclosed in a cube, the fruit fills all available space as it grows.
Harvest and storage
Watermelons can be harvested 95-100 days after they are planted. If you are going to store the fruits for a long time, pick them during the first stage of ripeness. You can cut the fruits with a knife or pruning shears. In this case, leave the tail at least 5 cm long.
Store watermelons on a thin layer of straw in a dark place. Place the berries on racks or in earthen trenches. If the fruit has any damage, it will not be able to be stored for long.
Watch the video below on how to grow, select and store a square watermelon:
Story
The Densuke black watermelon was first grown in 1980 by farmers in the Japanese village of Toma on the island of Hokkaido. The seeds of this berry were planted in rice fields because the traditional Japanese grain was no longer growing well, causing farm income to decline. Rice farming suddenly became a loss-making industry. It was decided to replace it by growing unusual melons. The name "Densuke" is translated from Japanese as "help of rice fields."
Reviews from gardeners and consumers
★★★★★
Yuri, 49 years old, builder, Armavir. I tried to grow square watermelons - it didn’t work out very well.
Many of the containers I bought were deformed under the influence of the growth force of the berries, and the watermelons themselves cracked. The shape was still more round than square. Disappointed. ★★★★★
Victoria, 38 years old, manager, Dmitrov. I think that when growing such watermelons, you need to take the most rigid container possible.
For example, glass flasks. In this case, there is a chance that they will withstand the growth of fruits. I tried this watermelon - in principle, the taste is interesting, but for me, it’s a little dry. Hide
Add your review
The secret of the appearance of square watermelons turned out to be quite simple. However, without following the cultivation technology and proper care, an attempt to grow such a fruit on your home plot may not be entirely successful. Consider the climate of your region and be sure to choose a rigid container to create the mold.
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What is a square watermelon: variety, mutation or secret of selection
The square watermelon is the result of the efforts of Japanese breeders . It appeared on domestic markets several years ago. This is not the only know-how that Eastern farmers have; they have learned to grow triangular-shaped berries, as well as in the form of pyramids, stars, hearts, and even give the fruits the appearance of fairy-tale characters.
Reference. When growing square watermelons, no modified components were used and no genetic experiments were carried out. These are absolutely healthy products that are grown using special devices that give them a certain geometric shape.
The photo shows a square watermelon.
History of appearance
The invention is about 40 years old . Oktyabrina Ganichkina, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, first spoke about the secret of farmers from Japan. She suggested that square berries are more convenient for transportation and storage, which she was partially right. Over time, breeders from other countries - Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, China, and Russia - became interested in fruits of this shape.
The experiments were first carried out in the city of Centxu in the 60s . It was there that farmers decided to place small young germs in containers, and they began to develop, taking the correct shape. The results of such efforts inspired experimenters, and soon not only square watermelons, but also tomatoes and melons were introduced to the world.
