When is the best time to plant winter melon?

Winter melon can be divided into two categories according to the size of the fruit, small fruit type and large fruit type. Small-fruited winter melons are mostly early-maturing or mid-maturing varieties. Their fruits are small, and a single plant can produce multiple fruits at the same time. The weight is usually between 2 and 5 kilograms, and they are suitable for consumption when the fruits are still tender. The large-fruited winter melon is a medium-to-late maturing variety with larger fruits, and usually only one fruit is retained per plant. This type of winter melon needs to be fully ripe before it can be picked. The fruit weight is generally between 10 and 20 kilograms, sometimes even heavier. Let’s find out together when is the best time to plant winter melon?

When is the best time to plant winter melon?

As a thermophilic crop, winter melon has strong heat resistance, so when planting, it is usually recommended to sow late rather than early. Winter melon seeds germinate best at temperatures between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius. If sown too early, low temperatures may reduce the germination rate of winter melon seeds. In northern regions, the sowing time of winter melon is usually from May to June, while in the warmer south, the sowing time can be advanced to April to May. If the method of transplanting after seedling raising is adopted, the temperature of the seedling raising room can be appropriately increased during the seedling raising stage. When planting winter melon, the most suitable temperature is between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winter melon planting tips

Variety selection: In view of the high demand for winter melon in the market and its cold and heat resistance, the cultivation of winter melon has spread all over the country with a wide variety of varieties. When choosing winter melon varieties, vegetable farmers should consider local climate, soil conditions and market demand, and select varieties with strong disease resistance and high yield. Open-air cultivation usually chooses large-fruit varieties, such as Longquan winter melon and gray-skin winter melon; while greenhouse cultivation tends to choose small-fruit varieties, such as Beijing Yichuanling and Nanjing Early Winter Melon.

Seed treatment: The outer shell of winter melon seeds is relatively thick, and it is difficult for water to penetrate when sown directly, which affects germination. In order to improve the germination rate and speed, the seeds need to be treated. First, place the seeds in 55℃ warm water and stir. After the water temperature drops to 30℃, soak them for 4-6 hours to disinfect and sterilize. After that, put the seeds in wet gauze, germinate them in an environment of 25-30℃, wash them twice a day, and they can be sown after 2-3 days.

Sowing method: Winter melon sowing can be divided into two methods: direct sowing and seedling transplanting. When sowing directly, the spacing between plants and rows is 30-40 cm, the row spacing is 1 meter, and 2-3 seeds are sown in each hole. Cover the hole with soil and wait for the seedlings to emerge. Seedling transplanting is suitable for open-air or greenhouse planting in early spring. Seeds should be evenly sown in the seedling bed and kept moist. Transplant after 3-4 true leaves grow and check the survival rate.

Preparation before planting: Winter melon has a long growth cycle and requires a large amount of fertilizer. Before planting, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied. You can choose well-rotted farmyard manure or compound fertilizer , 4000-5000 kg per mu. Mix it with the soil after deep plowing and level the land before planting.

Growth management: Winter melon is a climbing crop, so it is necessary to set up a frame and tie the vines in time. The shape of the scaffolding is mostly in the shape of a "human" to guide the vines to climb. It has strong branching ability and needs timely pruning and trimming. When planted outdoors, keep 1-2 sub-vines, and only keep the main vine when planted in a greenhouse. After fruit setting, keep 5-6 leaves and then top the plant to prevent excessive growth.

Water and fertilizer management: In addition to base fertilizer, topdressing is required during the growth period of winter melon according to its growth trend. Seedling-promoting fertilizer is mainly nitrogen fertilizer to promote vine growth; vine-promoting fertilizer is applied before flowering, mainly compound fertilizer, 10-15 kg per mu; fruit-swelling fertilizer is applied after fruit setting, mainly compound fertilizer, 15-20 kg per mu, once every 15-20 days to meet the nutrient needs during the expansion period.

The above is an introduction to the planting time and key points of winter melon. Choosing the right variety is also the key when planting winter melon. In addition, disease and pest control should not be ignored.