How to plant watermelons: watermelon planting methods and techniques

How to plant watermelonThe editor tells you about the experience of planting watermelon and the maintenance of green plants, follow the editor to see the specific content!In summer, if we talk about the most popular fruit, watermelon is undoubtedly the worthy champion. Its flesh is juicy and sweet, cool and refreshing, and has high economic value, making it an essential fruit for us to relieve the heat in the hot summer.Nowadays, watermelon is cultivated in various countries and regions. In addition to conventional open-field or mulching cultivation, many have adopted plastic greenhouses and other protective facilities for cultivation, achieving good economic benefits.The editor has compiled the watermelon planting technology and introduces it to everyone, hoping it will be helpful!To grow good watermelons, you need to have a general understanding of the habits of watermelons!Requirements of watermelon growth and development for environmental conditions(1) TemperatureWatermelon is native to the African草原 and has strong heat resistance. The optimal temperature for seed germination is 26-30℃, it can germinate at 15℃, cannot germinate below 15℃, germination is affected above 35℃, and the shell may crack;The optimal temperature for growth and development is 25-31℃ during the day, the temperature for vegetative growth is slightly lower, growth is slow at 10℃, frostbite occurs below 5℃, growth is hindered above 35℃, but the temperature required for fruit setting and fruit growth is higher, with the minimum at 15℃.At lower temperatures, fruit development is slow, the peel is thick, prone to hollow and malformed, the sugar content decreases, and the quality is poor.(2) LightWatermelon is a short-day crop, with a light saturation point of 8X10 lux and a light compensation point of 4X10 lux. If the seedling stage is exposed to sunlight for less than 8 hours, the first female flower node is low; if exposed to sunlight for more than 16 hours, it suppresses female flower formation.(3) SoilWatermelon is a deep-rooted crop, with deep and wide roots, strong absorption capacity, and suitable for cultivation in deep, loose, fertile, and well-drained loam or sandy loam soil.Watermelon is not strict about soil pH, and can grow within the range of pH 5-8. Watermelon requires more nitrogen and potassium fertilizers during the vegetative growth period, especially potassium fertilizers during the fruit expansion period.(4) HumidityWatermelon is drought-resistant but not waterlogging, requires dry air, with a relative humidity of 50%-60%. Watermelon requires a lot of water throughout its life, with different water requirements at different growth and development stages. Seed germination requires sufficient water to break down nutrients for rapid germination; the seedling stage is suitable at 65%, the vine pulling stage, flowering, and fruiting stage are more suitable at 70%-75%.It is important to note that watermelon is afraid of waterlogging, and will die if waterlogged for more than 12 hours. Therefore, suitable land for drainage should be selected for cultivation.Types and new and improved varietiesThere are many ways to classify watermelons, such as fruit watermelons and seed watermelons based on use; large, medium, and small watermelons based on fruit size; and early, mid, and late-maturing varieties based on maturity.Currently, the practical classification of watermelon cultivation varieties in China is based on maturity, but there are no unified national standards for the difference between early, mid, and late-maturing varieties, usually determined by the time required for the fruit to mature from the opening of the female flower.(1) Early-maturing varietiesThe female flower matures in less than 30 days from flowering, which is an early-maturing variety. This type generally shows early female flower appearance, low fruiting node, weaker growth and branching, early harvesting, and high early yield.(2) Mid-maturing varietiesThe female flower matures in 31-40 days from flowering, which is a mid-maturing variety. This type generally shows later female flower appearance, higher fruiting node, stronger growth and branching, larger fruit shape than early-maturing varieties, and high yield.(3) Late-maturing varietiesThe female flower matures in more than 40 days from flowering, which is a late-maturing variety. This type generally shows late female flower appearance, high fruiting node, strong growth and branching, large fruit shape, and high yield.How to plant watermelonWatermelon facility cultivation technologyI. Variety selectionWatermelon facility cultivation should choose early-maturing varieties that are tolerant to low temperatures, weak light, and humidity, with low female flower node on the main vine, strong fruiting ability, and short fruit development period. varieties like Xiaolan from Taiwan's Nongyou have been cultivated on a large scale in greenhouses and have achieved good economic benefits.II. Seedling raising1. Determination of sowing period. Watermelon facility cultivation mainly focuses on early-maturing cultivation, mainly plastic greenhouses and sunlight greenhouses. In Yunnan with its distinct vertical climate, it can be produced all year round depending on different climate types.In the downstream areas of the Yangtze River such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shanghai, mainly plastic greenhouse cultivation is used, usually sowing from late January to early February, and harvesting from mid to late May. In the north, it is sunlight greenhouse cultivation (such as Beijing), usually sowing from late December to late February, and starting to harvest in mid to late April.2. Land selection, land preparation, ridge making, and application of base fertilizer. Watermelon dislikes consecutive cropping; if consecutive cropping is done, you can use Zhongnong Lükang anti-reinfestation bacterial agent! Watermelon planting should choose a sunny and windward direction, with good irrigation and drainage conditions in sandy loam or sandy soil. After the harvest of the previous crop, clear the land in time, dig deep into the soil, let it be fully exposed to the sun to kill some bacteria and pests, reducing its harm.And apply sufficient base fertilizer, apply 2000-3000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer, 30-50 kg of calcium fertilizer, and 5-15 kg of potassium fertilizer per 667m2, mix the fertilizer and soil evenly, and dig deep, making ridges 2000px wide and 15-500px high for ground cultivation; making ridges 1500px wide and 10-375px high for trellis cultivation, covering with mulch film, preparing for planting.3. Seedling raising. There are two methods for watermelon facility cultivation: direct seeding and seedling raising. Early-maturing cultivation usually adopts greenhouse seedling raising. The root regeneration ability of watermelon is poor, and it is easy to become stiff seedlings after root damage, so it is necessary to use root-protecting seedlings with nutrient pots, etc.In the hot areas of Yunnan (such as Xishuangbanna), direct seeding is usually used, soaking the seeds in 50℃ warm water for 12-24 hours before sowing, wrapping them in damp gauze and germinating at 25-30℃ for 3-4 days before sowing.It is best to use nutrient soil for seedling raising, and the suitable strong seedlings of watermelon are 35-40 days old, with 3-4 true leaves before transplanting.III. Transplanting watermelon early-maturing cultivationTransplanting is best done on a sunny morning around 10 o'clock, transplanting 300-400 plants of large fruit, 400-500 plants of medium fruit, and 500-600 plants of small fruit per 667m2. When transplanting, make holes on the mulch film according to the row spacing required by different varieties, transplant one plant per hole, and then cover the surroundings tightly.IV. HarvestingTo ensure the quality of watermelon, it should be harvested at the right time.There are three methods to determine the maturity of watermelon.1. The number of days after the female flower opens: early-maturing varieties need about 25-30 days from flowering to maturity; mid-maturing varieties need about 31-35 days; late-maturing varieties need about 35-40 days.2. From the appearance, the tendrils near the fruit wither, the fruit shoulder protrudes, the fruit peduncle sunken, the peel shiny, and the stripes clear.3. Listening to the sound of the melon: tapping the melon with your finger, a muffled sound indicates ripe melon, a clear sound indicates unripe melon.