Watermelon and Cucumber... No Need to Buy Anymore
Want to achieve freedom of fruit and melon on the balcony but always fail? Urban planting enthusiasts often suffer from low yields due to a lack of systematic knowledge. This article deeply analyzes the complete planting process of common melons such as watermelon and cucumber, accompanied by illustrated guidance verified by the author's practice, to help you easily master the core skills of balcony gardening.
Key Elements of Watermelon and Cucumber Planting
Golden Time and Soil Formula
Watermelon should be sown between April and June, and the best planting period for cucumbers is January to March or June to August. The planting substrate needs to be mixed in a 3:1 ratio of garden soil and decomposed sheep manure, with perlite added to improve drainage, and the pH value should be controlled between 6.0-6.8.
Advanced Seed Treatment Techniques
Watermelon seeds need to be soaked in 45°C warm water for 3 hours to break dormancy, while cucumber seeds are recommended to use the wet tissue germination method: place the soaked seeds on moist gauze and maintain a 25°C environment for 48 hours, then sow after the radicle breaks through the seed coat.
Three-dimensional Planting System Construction
Innovative Support Structure Design
Use a spiral climbing frame: make a 1.5-meter-high column with a diameter of 2cm PVC pipe, and wrap the surface with sisal rope to form a spiral pattern. For watermelon vines, fix them around the rope every 30cm as they grow, and it is recommended to tie cucumber vines every 20cm.
Watermelon and Cucumber... No Need to Buy Anymore
Smart Irrigation Solution
Configure a drip irrigation system: use a 5L water storage bucket connected to a 4mm silicone tube, set 2 drip heads per plant, and water 15 minutes each morning and evening. Combined with a humidity sensor, automatically maintain soil moisture content at 60%-70%.
Delicate Management During Flowering and Fruiting Stage
Three Methods to Improve Pollination Efficiency
① Brush Pollination Method: Use a soft brush to collect male pollen between 9-11 am; ② Vibration Assistance Method: Gently tap the flower stem during the blooming period to promote pollen dispersal; ③ Nutrient Solution Spraying: Spray a solution of 0.2% boric acid and 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate to protect the flowers.
Fruit Protection Strategies
When watermelons are the size of a fist, cover them with a net bag, use a 32-mesh nylon net, and leave a drainage hole at the bottom. For cucumbers, it is recommended to use a U-shaped support, adjusting the fruit orientation every 3 days to ensure even exposure to light.
Through systematic planting management, a 3㎡ balcony can yield 15-20 pounds of watermelon and 30-40 pounds of cucumbers annually. The key is to grasp the three core elements: variety selection (recommend 'Black Beauty' watermelon and 'Snack cucumber' varieties), environmental control (ensure 5 hours of direct sunlight daily), and nutrient supply (apply seaweed fertilizer every week during the flowering and fruiting stage). Start practicing these verified planting solutions now to create your own urban vegetable garden.