The whole process of watermelon seedling planting method

Watermelon is a popular fruit . In order to ensure the yield and quality of watermelon, it is very important to plant and manage watermelon seedlings . Let’s talk about the whole process of planting watermelon seedlings.

1. Choose the variety

There are many excellent varieties of watermelon. When choosing, you should choose according to local climatic conditions, variety characteristics and cultivation methods. Pay attention to purchasing from regular seed points to avoid being deceived and buying fake seeds.

2. Dry the seeds in advance

Choose a sunny and windless day, spread the seeds on paper or mat and other objects, with a thickness of no more than 1 cm, expose them to the sun, and turn them over every 2 hours or so to ensure even light exposure. When drying seeds, do not place them on iron plates, cement boards, stones , etc., so as not to burn the seeds and affect the germination rate.

3. Seed soaking

After the watermelon seeds are dried, soak them in 55-degree warm water for about 15 minutes, stirring them. After the water temperature drops naturally, soak them for another 6 hours. Note that during the lactone soaking process, the seeds should be rubbed continuously to clean the mucus on the surface, which is conducive to seed germination.

4. Seed disinfection

Many diseases on watermelon can be transmitted through seeds. Generally, the soaked seeds need to be disinfected with drugs. Soaking the seeds in potassium permanganate, methyl thiophanate, carbendazim and other solutions can kill the bacteria on the surface of the seeds. Note that when soaking seeds in the liquid medicine, you must strictly control the soaking time and the concentration of the liquid medicine. After soaking, you must rinse the seeds repeatedly with clean water until there is no smell of medicine on the seed surface.

5. Seed germination

Wipe the soaked seeds dry and spread them evenly on the wrung-out wet cotton cloth. The thickness of the seeds should be 1-2 layers. Leave a 3-4 cm gap around the cotton cloth. First roll the cotton cloth into a roll and fold it around. Then distribute the seeds evenly in the roll and wrap the roll with a wet towel. After the roll is wrapped, it can be germinated. There are many heat sources for germination, among which egg incubators and constant temperature boxes are the best. When the radicle grows to 0.3~0.5 cm, it can be sown. The germination temperature for seedless watermelon seeds should be kept at around 33 degrees, and that for ordinary watermelon seeds should be 28~30 degrees.

6. Loosen the soil

When all the melon seedlings have emerged, loosen the soil on the bed shallowly, usually about 1 cm. This will improve the air permeability of the soil, promote root growth, regulate humidity, and increase the temperature of the soil bed. When the true leaves grow out, loosen the soil again, which is beneficial for cultivating strong seedlings. Generally, loosen the soil once 1 to 2 days after each watering. Loosen the soil shallowly to avoid damaging the roots.

7. Tempering seedlings

Start hardening the seedlings 5 ​​to 7 days before transplanting and stop fertilizing and watering. Gradually increase the ventilation volume, improve the survival rate, and allow the melon seedlings to adapt to the natural environment. The best time for transplanting is when 2 to 3 true leaves are unfolded.

That’s it