Watermelon planting technology and management methods

With its sweet, juicy, cool and refreshing characteristics, watermelon is an ideal choice for cooling off and quenching thirst in summer. It is also a widely grown fruit. Next, let’s learn about watermelon planting techniques and management methods.

1. Live broadcast in the open air

Direct seeding in the open field includes dry seed sowing and sowing after germination treatment. It is recommended to use accelerated germination to increase the germination rate.

Seed selection: Select high-quality, high-yield, disease-resistant varieties that are adapted to local climate and market demand.

Seed drying: Dry the seeds in the sun for 3 days before sowing, taking care to avoid placing them directly on hot surfaces.

Soaking seeds: Soak the seeds in warm water at about 40℃ for 5 minutes, rub gently to remove the mucous membrane, and then soak them in 1000 times diluted thiophanate-methyl wettable powder for 3 hours to prevent wilt disease.

Germination: Wash the soaked seeds and place them in a humid environment, cover with a wet towel, and keep the temperature at around 30°C. They will usually start to germinate after 7 hours. If it still hasn't sprouted after 24 hours, rinse it again with clean water.

Sowing: around the Qingming Festival, when the surface temperature is stable at above 16°C. When sowing, make ridges and cover with mulch, dig holes 3 to 4 cm deep, place 2 germinated seeds in each hole, and cover with fine soil.

2. Seedling cultivation and transplanting

Compared with direct seeding in the field, seedling transplanting can save seeds and increase the seedling rate.

Seed drying, seed soaking and germination: the same as direct seeding in the field.

Seedbed: set up in a greenhouse or a small arch shed.

Nutrient soil: Mix garden soil and decomposed organic fertilizer in a ratio of 7:3, and add compound fertilizer and biological fungicide .

Filling with soil: Use nutrient pots, seedling trays or seedling bags, fill them with nutrient soil and arrange them neatly.

Sowing: Before sowing, water the nutrient pots thoroughly, put a germinated seed in each pot, and cover with fine soil.

Transplanting: Transplant after 25 to 30 days when the seedlings have 3 to 4 true leaves. Harden the seedlings one week before transplanting and spray foliar fertilizer before transplanting.

3. Field Management

Fertilization: Mainly use organic fertilizer, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in appropriate amounts, and reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers.

Pruning: Start pruning about 10 days after planting, keeping the main vine and two side vines.

Press the vines: Start pressing the vines when they are 60 cm long, and then press them every 50 cm, for a total of three times.

Top dressing: Start top dressing when the main vine is 20 cm long, use potassium fertilizer, compound fertilizer and cake fertilizer, and spray foliar fertilizer. Apply fruit-enhancing fertilizer after fruit setting.

Artificial pollination: improve fruit setting rate and ensure uniform maturity.

Select and keep the fruit: After the fruit are stable, select the fruit with normal shape and keep them, no more than two.

4. Pest and disease control

The main diseases include anthracnose, vine blight, wilt, etc., which can be controlled by using wettable powder of carbendazim. The main insect pests are aphids, which can be controlled using imidacloprid solution. Be careful to avoid using pesticides during the flowering and fruiting period.

The above is an introduction to the key points of watermelon planting techniques. Regardless of whether you use direct seeding in the open field or seedling transplanting, you must pay attention to the methods.