When is the Best Time to Plant Watermelons
The editor answers the question for netizens about the best time to plant watermelons and the topic of watermelon planting methods and management. Let's take a look together!
"Once swallowed, it eliminates the smoky flavor; when it enters the teeth, it sounds like ice and snow." This is a poem about watermelons by the famous poet Wen Tianxiang. Watermelon is a common fruit in our lives. It can quench thirst and has diuretic effects, especially popular in summer and is known as the "King of Midsummer." Watermelons not only taste sweet with abundant water but also contain many beneficial components for the human body. Watermelon is also a fruit with high economic value. Let's take a look at how to plant it and some management issues together.
Ⅰ. Watermelon Planting Techniques
1. Seed Disinfection
Seeds must be disinfected before sowing, generally by soaking them in a 50% carbendazim solution diluted 500 times for an hour. If you want to save time, you can use a 2% to 4% bleach solution for disinfection, which can be shortened to half an hour. Be sure to pay attention to the concentration ratio of the disinfectant solution.
2. Seed Soaking
Soaking seeds can effectively shorten the germination time. Since the outer layer of watermelon seeds is relatively thick and has poor water permeability, the seeds should be soaked for 8 hours.
3. Germination
The germination temperature should be between 29℃ to 30℃. Common germination methods include constant temperature incubator, stove incubation, and body incubation. Considering the characteristics of watermelon seeds and convenience, it is recommended to use stove incubation. The specific operation is to wrap the seeds in a damp cloth, roll the damp cloth well into a plastic bag, and place it under the quilt of the stove for germination. Adjust the position of the seeds in real-time according to the temperature. You can also place the seeds in a pot or beside the pot based on the principle of stove incubation.
4. Seedling Raising
Watermelon planting is divided into direct seeding and seedling transplantation. The seedling transplantation method can promote the healthy growth of seeds. During the seedling transplantation process, the use of nutrient pots can help avoid damaging the plant roots. The soil should be of medium viscosity, and fertilizers can use ripe cake fertilizer or farm manure, with a soil and fertilizer ratio of 7:3, and an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and fungicides should be added.
5. Timely Sowing
Sowing can be carried out when the soil temperature of the planting site is maintained above 15℃, but the sowing time can also be chosen according to the situation and planting method.
6. Precautions during Sowing
(1) The sowing depth should be appropriate. Decide the depth based on the size of the seed. Larger seeds should be buried deeper, smaller seeds shallower, with a soil cover thickness of about 1.5 cm.
(2) Watermelon seeds are flat and melon-shaped. When sowing, place them flat to reduce the emergence of capillary problems and promote seed growth.
(3) Do not sow when the temperature is too low. If possible, wait until the seedbed temperature is stable at around 25℃ before proceeding.
(4) Keep the bottom of the bed soil at a higher humidity, water first, then sow. Place one seed in each nutrient pot, cover with a layer of fine soil, and then add a layer of plastic film to help the seeds germinate.
7. Seedbed Management
The temperature of the seedbed should be maintained at around 30℃. After the seedlings have grown heart leaves, the temperature can be slightly increased. In the early stage, the seedbed should be kept warm by covering it with insulating materials at night, and the seedlings should be artificially insulated when a cold wave arrives.
8. Planting Density
The planting density should be determined by the variety. Generally, the standard is 400-700 seedlings per 667㎡.
Ⅱ. Management Methods
1. Site Selection and Fertilization
Soil with deep layers, loose and breathable texture, and good drainage is more suitable for cultivating watermelons, preferably sandy soil. Organic fertilizers and cake fertilizers can be added as basal fertilizers, along with a small amount of inorganic fertilizers. Fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium elements are essential.
2. Timely Planting
Seedlings with 2-3 true leaves can be transplanted. Varieties with different maturity times have different transplanting times. If it's a wide ridge, plant two rows; if it's a narrow ridge, plant one row. Pay attention to mulching during transplantation.
3. Pruning and Pressing Vines
Three-vine pruning is the most common method. When the main vine has grown 8-9 leaves, two good side vines should be selected in addition to the main vine. When the vines grow to 50 cm, press the vines with soil, combining pruning and pressing operations, and repeat every 3-4 internodes, pressing each vine 2-3 times.
4. Setting and Turning Melons
Leave the second and third female flowers on the main vine or the first and second on the side vines for fruit setting. When pollination is hindered by low temperature and rainy days, manual pollination should be assisted. After the fruit reaches a certain size, turn the melons in one direction, turning one-third of the melon each time.
5. Water and Fertilizer Management
When the plant grows to the size of an egg, it is about to enter the expansion period. At this time, apply the expansion fertilizer to the watermelon according to its growth, generally 15-20 kilograms of sulfate potassium-controlled release fertilizer per mu. Watering should be done in the early morning or evening when the temperature is low, and after rainfall, the accumulated water in the melon field should be drained in time.
6. Timely Harvesting
Harvesting is best done in the morning when the temperature conditions are more suitable. If the distance for marketing and transportation is far and takes a long time, the watermelon can be harvested when it is 80% mature. If it is sold nearby, it can be harvested when it is 90% mature.
7. Disease and Pest Control
Mainly control diseases such as wilt, anthrax, viral diseases, and pests such as red spiders, yellow beetles, and melon maggots that harm watermelons. Timely remove the affected branches, vines, and seedlings and use corresponding agents to treat the watermelons.
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