How to grow watermelons that are large and sweet
This article brings you how to grow watermelons that are large and sweet, as well as related information on the planting methods and techniques of watermelons in the field of green plants. Below, the editor will provide you with detailed answers.
Watermelons are an indispensable fruit in summer, very refreshing. Now many friends like to plant a few watermelons in their small gardens or on their balconies. However, the process of fruiting is not so smooth. For example, watermelon seedlings may wither before they grow big, or the fruit may not grow after setting. So, what issues should we pay attention to when growing watermelons?
As everyone knows, watermelons are crops that do not tolerate continuous cropping. After consecutive years of planting, soil-borne diseases can cause a large number of dead seedlings and rotten stems, or lead to conditions like wilt. Many large-scale farmers often change locations for planting or use microbial agents to mitigate the problem of continuous cropping. For friends who plant in gardens or on balconies, they can adopt soilless cultivation methods to grow watermelons.
Using flowerpots or matrix bags filled with prepared substrates can not only solve the problem of continuous cropping, reduce the occurrence of diseases, and benefit the growth of watermelons, but also ensure that the amount of water and fertilizer needed for each plant can be calculated and is fixed, achieving the goals of water and fertilizer saving, which is very convenient and also suitable for balcony planting.
Some friends may encounter the problem of watermelons not setting fruit, or even if they do, the fruit does not grow big, and they can't enjoy the watermelons in the end. Whether watermelon seedlings can grow into fruit is related to the soil, and the ability to set fruit is greatly related to water and fertilizer management and vine management. After watermelons set fruit, the need for fertilizer and water increases. From the time the fruit sets, it is important to pay attention to the use of potassium fertilizer and not to apply only nitrogen fertilizer. Potassium sulfate can be applied as a top dressing, or high-potassium compound fertilizer.
How to grow watermelons that are large and sweet
When applying potassium fertilizer, it is not recommended to use potassium chloride because watermelons are sensitive to chloride ions, which can reduce the sugar content and quality of the fruit. It is best to use potassium sulfate. At the same time, foliar application of potassium dihydrogen phosphate can improve the taste of the watermelons. In the seedling stage, water should be controlled appropriately, but after the fruit sets, water requirements are higher, and frequent watering is necessary, avoiding drought.
After reasonable top dressing, it is also necessary to do a good job of pruning the watermelon vines. Watermelons have a strong branching ability, and the main vines will produce 3 to 4 lateral vines. Generally, only one strong lateral vine is left, and the others are removed. The main vines will bloom, and the first female flower is removed, leaving the second one. After successful pollination, the fruit begins to expand. If the second female flower is not developing well, then the first one should be left.
During this period, the nutrients in the soil need to be supplied to both the fruit expansion and the continued growth of the main vines. To ensure that the fruit can grow big, after the main vines have grown ten leaves, the growing tip should be pinched off, so that nutrients will be supplied to the fruit. Similarly, the management method for lateral vines is the same as for main vines: leave one watermelon, and any new lateral branches should be removed.
Lovers of watermelon planting, by solving soil problems, scientifically applying fertilizer, and properly pruning, can also grow watermelons that produce many fruits with high sweetness.
The above tips on growing large and sweet watermelons and the planting methods and techniques of watermelons from the Green Plant Enthusiast website are hoped to bring you help in your daily life!