How to germinate watermelon seeds
Today's experience sharing: How to germinate watermelon seeds and a step-by-step guide to growing watermelon flowers, details as follows:
Autumn watermelons usually refer to those planted in summer and harvested in autumn, which are considered off-season crops. The maturity period of autumn watermelons is mainly arranged around the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, with a集中上市, good sales, high prices, and considerable economic benefits.
1. Sowing period
Due to the short growing 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 take into account factors such as the characteristics of the watermelon variety and the supply period. If sowing is too early, it may encounter high temperatures, which can easily cause damage or even death to the seedlings. However, if sowing is too late, later encounters with low temperatures can lead to slow growth, affecting yield and sales, and even preventing the fruit from maturing.
For early-maturing watermelon varieties, sowing usually takes place in mid-July, while for mid-maturing varieties, it's in early July. Sowing at this time allows the watermelon fruit expansion period to be in September, with large day-night temperature differences, which is conducive to the accumulation of sugar in the fruit, improving the quality of the watermelon.
2. Selection of melon field
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's land, dig ditches, apply 1000-1500 kilograms of decomposed farm manure per mu, 45-50 kilograms of compound fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and 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 the perimeter to facilitate rapid drainage after rain.
4. Fertilization management
Watermelons require a large amount of fertilizer, have a long growing period, and it is difficult to supplement fertilizer in the later stage. Therefore, applying sufficient base fertilizer is a crucial step for achieving high yield, stable production, and good quality of watermelons. Apply general fertilizer during land preparation, concentrated fertilization in ditches, apply 2000-2500 kilograms of soil manure, 30-40 kilograms of superphosphate, and 15-20 kilograms of potassium fertilizer per mu, compost and apply evenly to the soil, then rake 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 vine of the watermelon has 4-5 leaves, pinch the top, 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 select 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 lateral vines set fruit.
6. Artificial pollination
We should select female flowers that open at the node, and assist with artificial pollination from 7-9 am. We should choose 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, ensuring a sufficient amount of pollen, usually pollinating 2-3 female flowers with one male flower. After pollination, immediately mark the pollination date on the pollination node.
7. Timely harvesting
When the expansion of the watermelon fruit slows down or stops, the stripes on the fruit surface become distinct, and when the fruit skin is tapped with a finger, it makes a "thump, thump" sound, indicating that the watermelon is mature and should be picked and marketed promptly.
The above () introduces how to germinate watermelon seeds and a step-by-step guide to growing watermelons, hoping that after reading this article, it can bring you a little help!