How to grow watermelons for high yield
The web shares some small experiences on how to grow watermelons for high yield, as well as green plant maintenance methods and techniques. Next, the editor will provide you with detailed answers.
Autumn watermelons usually refer to those sown in summer and harvested in autumn, belonging to off-season cultivation. The maturity period of autumn watermelons is mainly arranged around the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, with concentrated listing, good sales, high prices, and considerable economic benefits.
1. Sowing Period
Due to the short growth period of autumn watermelons and the tight rotation of the previous crop, we generally use the seedling transplanting method. The determination of the sowing period should be considered based on the characteristics of the watermelon variety and the supply period of maturity. If sown too early, high temperatures can easily cause damage or even death to the seedlings. However, if sown too late, late-stage low temperatures can lead to slow growth, affecting yield and sales, and even preventing the fruit from maturing.
For early-maturing watermelon varieties, sowing is generally done in mid-July, while for mid-maturing varieties, it is in early July. Sowing at this time allows the fruit expansion period of watermelons to occur in September, with large day-night temperature differences, which is conducive to the accumulation of sugar in the fruit, improving the quality of watermelons.
2. Selection of Watermelon Fields
Continuous cropping of autumn watermelons can easily cause wilt disease. Fields with fertile soil, high and dry terrain, loose soil texture, convenient irrigation and drainage, and no planting of melon crops in recent years should be chosen. It is strictly forbidden to choose flood-prone or waterlogged areas.
3. Land Preparation and Fertilization
Deeply till the previous crop field, open ditches, apply 1000-1500 kilograms of decomposed manure and 45-50 kilograms of compound fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium per mu, then level the ridge surface. Generally, the ridge height should be more than 20 centimeters, with a ridge width of 2.6-2.8 meters, and deep ditches should be dug around to facilitate rapid drainage after rain.
4. Fertilization Management
Watermelons require a large amount of fertilizer, have a long growth period, and it is difficult to supplement fertilizer in the later stage. Therefore, sufficient application of base fertilizer is an important part of achieving high yield, stable yield, and quality of watermelons. Apply the base fertilizer evenly during land preparation, with concentrated application in ditches, using 2000-2500 kilograms of soil manure, 30-40 kilograms of superphosphate, and 15-20 kilograms of potassium fertilizer per mu, composted, spread into the soil, and then raked flat and even.
The first topdressing for autumn watermelons is at the five-leaf stage, applying 10-15 kilograms of compound fertilizer per mu to promote plant growth and rapid vine extension. The second topdressing for watermelons is within one week after flowering, applying 10-15 kilograms of urea and 8-10 kilograms of potassium fertilizer per mu, which can promote rapid fruit expansion.
5. Reasonable Pruning
When the main vines of watermelons have 4-5 leaves, pinch the tips. When the lateral vines are about 15 centimeters long, select 2-3 lateral vines with good growth, remove the rest of the lateral vines and the granddaughters before the fruit-setting position, and appropriately retain the granddaughters after the fruit-setting position. We can also use the 1 main, 2 lateral, 3 vine pruning method, which means retaining 1 main vine and 2 lateral vines, removing the rest of the lateral vines when the first female flower on the main vine opens, and removing the granddaughters before the fruit sets on the lateral vines.
6. Artificial Pollination
We should select and pollinate the female flowers when they open at the node, with artificial assistance from 7-9 a.m. We should choose the male flowers that open on the same day, remove the petals, and evenly apply the pollen from the male flowers to the stigma of the female flowers. The amount of pollination should be sufficient, generally pollinating 2-3 female flowers with each male flower. After pollination, we immediately mark the pollination date on the pollination node.
7. Timely Harvesting
When the expansion of the watermelon fruit slows down or stops, the stripe net pattern on the fruit surface becomes distinct, and a "thump, thump" sound occurs when the fruit surface is tapped with a finger, indicating that the watermelon is mature and should be picked and brought to market in a timely manner.
The above sharing on how to grow watermelons for high yield and the complete introduction of watermelon planting methods and techniques are for everyone to learn and understand!