How to plant watermelon
A small tip for life, introducing how to plant watermelon and the planting methods and timing of watermelon topics, corrections are welcome if there are any mistakes!
Watermelon is a fruit that most people can't do without in the summer, and a refreshing and juicy slice of watermelon on a hot summer day can make one feel comfortable both physically and mentally. Do you know the planting time and method for watermelon? Let's learn together below.
I. Planting Time
It is understood that watermelons are usually planted between March and April, with early maturing varieties planted as early as mid-March, and late maturing varieties planted as late as late April. The climatic conditions at this time are more suitable for the growth of watermelon, allowing it to germinate faster, but there are also autumn sowing, which is for off-season watermelons.
II. Management Methods
1. Land Selection
It is advisable to choose sandy loam soil with deep soil layer, loose and fertile soil, and convenient irrigation and drainage, where no melon crops have been planted in dry land for less than 5 years or in paddy fields for less than 3 years.
2. Land Preparation and Fertilization
Deep plowing and frost heaving of the melon field before winter, and timely land preparation before transplanting. The melon field should have three ditches in place, ensuring that the field is dry after rain and the soil is loose and level.
3. Transplanting
The day before sowing, water the seedling trays thoroughly in the afternoon. When sowing, place the germinated seeds flat in the seedling trays, one per tray, cover with 1 cm of fine soil, and cover with a film.
4. Pruning and Pressing Vines
Generally, a three-vine pruning method is used. When the main vine has 8-9 leaves, select the main vine and two strong lateral vines, and remove all other daughter and granddaughter vines.
5. Setting Fruits
Select the second and third female flowers on the main vine or the first and second female flowers on the lateral vines to set fruits.
6. Topdressing
When the young fruit is the size of an egg, apply swelling fruit fertilizer according to the growth of the plant, usually 15-20 kg of 45% nitrate sulfur or potassium sulfate controlled-release fertilizer per 667m2.
7. Water Management
In the seedling stage, water as little as possible, or even not at all, to promote the development of a strong root system; control water before flowering and fruit setting to prevent excessive growth; after fruit setting, ensure sufficient water supply to promote fruit expansion and increase weight.
8. Harvesting
Harvesting should be done in the morning, preferably on a sunny day.
The above is [] about how to plant watermelon and the planting methods and timing, hoping to bring a little help to your life!