How to plant watermelon to achieve high yields
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Watermelon flesh is sweet and juicy, and it is very popular in the summer. Many farmers also choose to plant watermelon. So, how to plant watermelon to achieve high yields? And how to manage?
1. Select good seeds and arrange varieties reasonably
Good seeds are the prerequisite for high yields. Reasonably arranging early, medium, and late-maturing varieties can improve economic benefits.
2. Key points of cultivation techniques
(1) Do not rush the seedlings in the early stage, just ensure there is no lack of water during the pollination period, avoid excessive watering, and prevent the plants from growing too tall.
(2) After the watermelon sets, water and fertilize in time.
(3) Watering after setting watermelons should not be too late, and the amount of water should be appropriate.
(4) Watering and fertilizing generously during the watermelon expansion period is beneficial for increasing yields.
3. Clean ditches and drain water, prepare the land and apply fertilizers
Dig drainage ditches around, ensuring that the ditches are interconnected, and the water dries up after the rain.
4. Germinate seeds and plant them at the right time, and transplant seedlings seriously
(1) Sowing period. Based on climatic conditions and the temperature required for watermelon growth, it is best to sow in the field in mid to late April.
(2) Seed quantity. Use 1-1.5 kg of seeds per mu of field, and for hybrid watermelons, use 2-2.5 kg per mu.
(3) Soak and germinate seeds. First, soak the seeds in warm water at 50-55℃ for 15-20 minutes, then add a small amount of cold water to lower the temperature, and let the water cool naturally for 2-3 hours.
(4) The suitable temperature for watermelon seed germination is 30-35℃.
5. Sow in the field
When the seedlings are 1-2 cm long, select them for sowing, plant 2-3 seeds per hole, remove one of the thin seedlings if there are double plants, and promptly fill in the gaps.
6.保温育苗 (Preserve seedlings in a warm environment)
This can start as early as the end of March or early April. It has the advantages of saving seeds, being easy to manage, and producing strong, early-maturing, and high-yielding plants.
7. Reasonable density and scientific fertilization in stages
(1) The planting density of watermelon varies depending on the variety and soil fertility, with about 450 plants per mu being suitable.
(2) Till the soil, remove weeds promptly, and usually till 2-3 times.
(3) When fertilizing, follow the principle of "less food, more meals, starting light and then heavy."
(4) When most of the melon bowls are large, apply 15 kg of urea + 5 kg of potassium fertilizer per mu of water near the melon plants.
(5) After the first batch of melons is harvested, to grow the second and third batches well and prevent early seedling senescence, apply 80 kg of active organic fertilizer + 15 kg of urea per mu underground.
8. Take various measures to improve fruit setting rate
(1) Prune vines. Watermelon has a strong branching tendency, which can cause excessive vine growth and low fruit setting rate. Pruning is to adjust the direction of nutrient distribution, maintain a certain leaf-fruit ratio, improve quality, and increase fruit size to promote fruit development.
(2) Artificial pollination. The method is: In the early morning, pick the male flower buds that open on the day and place them in a small basin to let them open naturally. When the female flowers open, remove the petals of the male flowers, and apply the twisted anthers to the honeycomb-like stigma of the female flowers. One male flower can pollinate 1-2 female flowers.
(3) Select and retain melons. Sometimes there may be several melons on a plant, which significantly reduces fruit size. Remove the poor-quality young fruits and keep 1-2 to concentrate nutrients and increase fruit size.
(4) Protect young fruits. Use waste paper, straw, etc., to cover young fruits to prevent damage from wind and rain.
(5) Prevent excessive growth. Mainly apply fertilizers reasonably, avoid excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers, and if excessive growth occurs, use methods such as pricking, cutting the heart, or bending the vines to stop it.
9. Timely irrigation
(1) In the rainy season, clear ditches and drain water to lower the groundwater level.
(2) In high-temperature and dry seasons, when the leaves of watermelon plants show signs of wilting, water them in the middle of the night, with rapid irrigation and rapid drainage.
10. Control pests and diseases
(1) For the prevention and control of pests and diseases, agricultural control should be the main method, with comprehensive control.
(2) Methods such as "grafting to change roots," soil disinfection, crop rotation, selecting disease-resistant varieties, and chemical agents can be used.
11. Harvest at the right time for high yield and quality
(1) It takes about 40 days from the flowering of the fruit to the maturity of the fruit.
(2) Harvesting at the right time is not only a measure to ensure quality and improve economic benefits but also a key to cultivate the next batch of melons in time to increase the total yield.
The above sharing on how to plant watermelon to achieve high yields and the comprehensive method of planting watermelon steps, hope it can solve your green plant problems.