When is the Best Time to Fertilize Watermelons
The editor answers your question about the best time to fertilize watermelons and provides knowledge about the plant care aspects of fertilizing watermelons. Let's introduce the topic next.
When planting watermelons, it is important to apply enough base fertilizer. If the soil fertility is low, more fertilizer should be applied, while less is needed in more fertile areas. After germination and growth, apply additional fertilizer based on the plant's growth state. Fertilize when the seedlings have 3-4 true leaves, again during the vine elongation stage, and after flowering when the fruit is expanding. In the later growth stage, supplement nutrients according to the plant's condition. Let's delve into the details of base fertilizer, top dressing, and more.
1. Base Fertilizer
Before planting, apply fertilizer based on the soil fertility. The base fertilizer should be sufficient to increase soil fertility. For each mu of melon field, apply about 15 kilograms of diammonium phosphate, 25 kilograms of potassium sulfate, 15 kilograms of urea, and 4,000 kilograms of organic fertilizer. After fertilizing, plow the land to mix the soil and fertilizer evenly.
2. Top Dressing
1. Seedling Stage Top Dressing
When the base fertilizer is sufficient, there is no need to fertilize during the seedling stage. Apply top dressing when the seedlings have 3-4 true leaves, at a distance of 10-20 centimeters from the roots. Apply about 10 kilograms of urea per mu of melon field.
2. Vine Elongation Stage
When the vines are 40-50 centimeters long, apply top dressing. Apply 20-25 kilograms of high-nitrogen compound fertilizer and 15-20 kilograms of urea per mu of melon field. Fertilize earlier based on the growth of the vines to avoid affecting fruit setting. Water the plants after each fertilization.
3. Fruit Expansion Stage
About 4-5 days after flowering, when the fruit is the size of an egg, apply top dressing. Apply about 5 kilograms of urea, 15 kilograms of diammonium phosphate, and 25 kilograms of potassium sulfate per mu of melon field. When the fruit is as large as a bowl, apply another 15-20 kilograms of diammonium phosphate and 10-15 kilograms of potassium sulfate.
4. Late Stage
If the vines are not growing well in the later stage, spray 0.2-0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate or other foliar fertilizers to supplement nutrients.
The above sharing about the best time to fertilize watermelons and the methods of fertilizing watermelons hope to bring you help in your daily life!