How to Germinate Watermelon Seeds Better
Let's talk about the relevant experience of germinating watermelon seeds and watermelon cultivation techniques. Next, I will introduce them to you.
1. Selection of Watermelon Varieties
The selection of watermelon varieties should be based on market demand, crop arrangement, and soil conditions to choose early, mid, and late maturity varieties with different skin color types.
2. Seedbed Setup and Preparation of Nutrient-rich Soil
2.1 Seedbed SetupFor spring seedling raising, it is necessary to take measures for insulation, cold prevention, or heating. Currently, greenhouses or small arch sheds are commonly used to set up seedbeds in production. In recent years, the use of solar greenhouses for seedlings has also increased, with better results. The seedbed should be chosen in a windless, sunny, and well-lit area, while also considering the convenience of electricity, water, management, transplantation, and transportation.
2.2 Preparation of Nutrient-rich SoilThe nutrient-rich soil should meet the nutrient requirements for the growth and development of watermelon seedlings. To cultivate strong seedlings, the general requirements are: fertile, loose soil, moisture and nutrient retention, free of bacteria, eggs, weed seeds, bricks, and waste plastic. The nutrient-rich soil should be prepared in advance, usually consisting of field soil and organic fertilizer (manure or compost), with a ratio of 3:2 or 2:1. Organic fertilizer should be fully decomposed and crushed. Field soil can be surface soil, weathered river pond mud, or peat soil, with 500g of urea added per cubic meter of bed soil. Using a pre-prepared nutrient matrix directly is even better.
3. Seed Treatment and Germination Sowing
3.1 Seed Selection
After selecting the variety, the seeds should be chosen, requiring uniform size, pure and plump, without mildew or damage.
3.2 Sunning
Sun the seeds for 1-2 days before soaking to improve germination rate. However, do not sun directly on concrete under high temperature and strong sunlight.
3.3 Disinfection and Germination
Seeds are easily attached with pathogenic bacteria such as wilt and anthracnose, so seed disinfection is necessary before germination. Disinfection can be done by warm water soaking. Specifically, place the watermelon seeds in 55°C warm water and stir continuously until the water temperature drops to 30°C, then stop stirring, remove the sticky substances on the seed surface, wrap them in a damp towel, and keep them moist in a 28°C-30°C environment for 24-28 hours until the seeds germinate.
3.4 Sowing
The seedbed should be treated with chemicals, and the nutrient pots should be filled with nutrient-rich soil 2 days in advance. General sowing is done by dibbling, and care should be taken to have the sprouts facing downward. In early spring, seeds should be sown on sunny days and mulched with plastic film.
4. Seedbed Management
The temperature should be high before the seedlings emerge, and no ventilation should be allowed during the day to keep the bed temperature at 28°C-32°C. After the seedlings emerge, different management methods should be adopted depending on the seedling raising method.
4.1 Conventional Seedling Management
With sufficient water at the bottom, generally no watering is needed before the seedlings emerge. If the first true leaf appears wilted at noon before it unfolds, a small amount of water can be sprayed. After the seedlings emerge, the temperature of the seedbed should be lowered appropriately to prevent the seedlings from growing too tall, with the daytime temperature maintained at 20°C-15°C. During the seedling raising process, if the nutrient-rich soil has sufficient nutrients, no topdressing is needed during the seedling stage. If a deficiency is found, a small amount of fertilizer can be applied with watering.
4.2 Grafted Seedling Management
It takes about 10 days from grafting to survival. During this period, measures such as moisture retention, shading, and ventilation should be taken to promote the healing of the grafting site.
4.3 Disease and Pest Control during the Seedling Stage
Common diseases and pests during the seedling stage include damping-off, root rot, blight, and underground pests. Control should be combined with agricultural operations.
1) Mix 50% carbendazim wettable powder 8g or 50% metalaxyl wettable powder 8-10g per square meter of nutrient-rich soil to effectively control soil-borne diseases such as wilt, damping-off, and root rot in the seedbed.
2) Irrigate the seedbed with a 90% diazinon crystal solution at 1000 times dilution after sowing and before seedlings emerge to control underground pests such as seed flies.
How to Germinate Watermelon Seeds Better
5. Planting and Field Management
5.1 Timely Planting
Planting can be done when the average daily temperature is stable at 15°C, the minimum temperature is not lower than 5°C, and the soil temperature at 10cm is stable at 12°C or higher. For mid and late maturity varieties, it is better to have three vines per plant. The row spacing is about 180cm, the plant spacing is 60-70cm, and about 550 plants are planted per mu.
5.2 Management after Planting
1) Seedling Stage. After the seedlings are planted, they enter the缓苗期 (slow seedling stage), and it is necessary to check the survival of the seedlings. After the seedlings survive and start growing, water them thoroughly once to allow the soil around the seedlings to settle and ensure the roots are closely in contact with the soil, which is beneficial for root development. It also ensures the water requirements of the seedlings throughout the vine extension period.
2) Vine Extension Stage. This refers to the period from after the seedlings form a rosette to the female flower stage. This is a crucial period for the growth and development of the watermelon plant and roots, and field management should be strengthened.
① Water and Fertilizer Management: With sufficient base fertilizer and water at planting and during the slow seedling stage, generally no additional watering or fertilizing is needed to prevent excessive plant growth and promote the conversion from vegetative growth to reproductive growth.
② Pruning and Pressing Vines: For late maturity varieties, it is better to have three vines per plant. Pruning and pressing vines are done to ensure even distribution of branches and leaves in the field to make full use of light energy for nutrient production.
3) Fruit Setting Stage. This refers to the period from flowering to fruit maturity. The fruit setting stage is a key period for fertilizer and water management, and topdressing should be done in a planned manner. When the young fruit is about the size of an egg and the fuzz starts to fade, water the膨瓜水 (fruit expansion water) once. Then, keep the soil moist, and water again when the soil surface is damp in the morning and dry at noon. Each time, make sure to water thoroughly. Stop watering when the fruit is basically stable and no longer expanding. Apply fertilizer with watering, with the膨瓜肥 (fruit expansion fertilizer) mainly consisting of fast-acting chemical fertilizers. Generally, apply 15kg of potassium sulfate and 30kg of nitrogen-phosphorus compound fertilizer per mu. Depending on the growth of the plants, additional foliar fertilizers such as 0.1%-0.5% urea, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and potassium sulfate can be applied.