When is the best time to prune watermelon vines
The editor answers for everyone when it is most suitable to prune watermelon vines and the related introduction of the management of climbing green plants and flowers, the specific contents are as follows:
Pinching the top of watermelon vines can control the growth of the vines and maintain the plant shape, thereby diverting nutrients to supply the fruit, promoting faster ripening of the fruit, and improving fruit quality. Pruning is necessary during flowering, and it should be done when the fruit begins to swell rapidly after setting. This is the time when pruning can be carried out along with the entire branch. Let's introduce when to pinch the top of watermelon vines and how to do it.
I. Timing of Pinching the Top
1. Before flowering
If the watermelon vines grow too vigorously, pinching should be done before the pistillate flowers bloom, removing the tips of the main and lateral vines and flattening 1 or 2 nodes before the pistillate flowers to inhibit the wild growth of the vines.
2. During flowering to before fruit expansion
Pinching during flowering can prevent bud drop and fruit fall, retain the main vines that bear fruit, and prune the other lateral vines.
Pruning should be done before the fruit expands, removing the extra fruit on the new vines and leaving one fruit on the main vine.
3. After fruit setting
After the first fruit appears on the vine, remove the first fruit, and when the second fruit sets and grows to the size of an egg, pinching should be done. Pinching should be based on the growth of the vines; if the fruit grows vigorously, there is no need to top the vines.
4. Precautions
Watermelon is grown extensively across China, with large climatic differences and various varieties of watermelon. The timing of pinching should be determined based on specific conditions.
For example, if you want the watermelon to bear fruit twice, pinching should not be done, or it should be done later. If the vines are weak, pinching is also not recommended. For varieties of watermelon with short vines and small leaves, pinching may not be necessary.
II. Method of Pinching the Top
1. What is topping
Topping, also known as pinching or topping, involves removing the tip of a certain length of the vine to allow nutrients to be concentrated in the fruit. This shifts the plant's growth from providing nutrients for the plant to providing nutrients for the reproductive growth of fruit expansion.
2. Requirements for topping
During the fruit expansion period, the vines and leaves of the watermelon are densest, so in addition to pinching, appropriate pruning should be done. If pruning has already been done during flowering, there is no need to prune again if two or three vines are left.
3. Method of topping
Topping can be done by flattening the vine 3 or 4 nodes before the fruit position on the main vine, pressing down the vine, and pinching the top at 9 to 12 leaves from the fruit to the top. For watermelon with two or three vines, the lateral vines should also be pinched.
The top part of the main vine before the fruit can be pulled back around the fruit, coiled into a circle, and the long top part removed.
Do you understand the detailed introduction about when it is best to prune watermelon vines and the management of climbing watermelon vines mentioned above?