When is the Right Time to Plant Watermelons
The editor introduces to you when it is suitable to plant watermelons and the green plant flower aspect of watermelon planting management techniques. Let's get to know them together.
Watermelons are sweet and refreshing, making them essential for summer cooling. Therefore, the number of farmers planting watermelons has been increasing in recent years. Since watermelons are divided into early-maturing, mid-maturing, and late-maturing varieties, the planting times also differ. Let's introduce the planting time, how to plant, field management, and harvesting.
1. Planting Time
Since watermelons are divided into early-maturing, mid-maturing, and late-maturing varieties, the planting times also differ. Generally, early-maturing watermelon seedlings can be planted around March each year, mid-maturing watermelon seedlings can be planted from April to June each year, and late-maturing ones need to be planted after July.
2. Soil Preparation and Fertilization
Deeply till the soil and let it dry for 15 days, apply 60 kilograms of quicklime per mu, crush the soil and prepare the ridges, with the ridges 40 centimeters high and a 20-centimeter inclined side. Dig a planting trench 25 centimeters deep and 40 centimeters wide on the higher side of the ridge, and apply decomposed manure at 1000 kilograms per mu, compound fertilizer at 20 kilograms per mu, boron fertilizer at 2 kilograms per mu, and magnesium sulfate at 4 kilograms per mu. Mix the fertilizer with the soil evenly.
3. Germination Promotion
Before sowing, place the seeds in the open air for two days, then soak the seeds in warm water for 6 hours to increase seed activity. Rinse the seeds with a 5% lime solution until the seed surface is no longer smooth. After cleaning the seeds, you can start sowing. Place one seed in each prepared cultivation cup, cover with 1 centimeter of nutrient soil, cover with a film, and maintain the greenhouse temperature between 22-28 degrees Celsius. Gradually lower the temperature after the true leaves appear. Before the seedlings emerge, keep the temperature inside the pot consistent with the natural temperature to adapt to the natural temperature after planting.
4. How to Plant
First, dig a hole every 50 centimeters or so on the ridges of the selected land, then take the cultivated watermelon seedlings out of the culture dish and place them in the pre-dug holes. After watering, cover the watermelon seedlings with a thin layer of fine soil to prevent the evaporation or loss of water.
5. Field Management
Water the watermelons at least 3-5 times during the entire growth process. When the watermelons start to stretch out vines, water them promptly to avoid moisture deficiency that could inhibit the growth of the seedlings. When the watermelons grow to the size of a fist, water them to ensure normal growth and better quality. Whether watering or on rainy days, make sure there is no standing water in the field to prevent the seedling roots from suffocating and dying. Since watermelons are fertilizer-loving crops, ensure enough water and fertilizer. Generally, only two topdressings are needed, with 20-25 kilograms of urea and 10-15 kilograms of potassium sulfate per mu recommended.
6. Pruning and Pressing Vines
Watermelons usually adopt double-vine pruning, selecting a strong lateral vine at the base of the main vine and removing all other lateral vines. This ensures reasonable vine distribution, increases overall light transmission, and enhances plant disease resistance. When the vines reach 30 centimeters long, tip the seedlings over and use soil blocks to secure the vines on the ground. Pressing vines can stabilize the seedlings and control plant growth.
7. Timely Harvesting
When the watermelon has clear fruit patterns, a good luster on the surface, the navel and stem start to shrink, the tendrils at the fruiting node become dry, and the hair on the fruit stem is sparse or falls off, it indicates that the watermelon is ripe and can be harvested. If selling locally, you can harvest when the watermelon is 9-10 ripe. If it needs to be transported to other places for sale, you can harvest when the watermelon is 8-9 ripe.
The above introduction to when it is suitable to plant watermelons and the green plant flower aspect of watermelon planting management techniques may provide you with some help in your life!