How to Grow and Plant Watermelon Seedlings? A Detailed Guide

SummaryCultivating watermelon seedlings: mix the seeds with New High-Fat Film, use a hotbed with agricultural film arched shed for seedling raising, and bury the seeds about 2 cm deep in the soil. Apply sufficient base fertilizer: apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting; after transplanting, apply 1500-2000 kg of decomposed manure and 25-30 kg of watermelon-specific compound fertilizer. Reasonable topdressing: reasonably apply urea and organic fertilizer during the vine extension stage and young fruit stage. Pest and disease control: use Shibaoling, Dikesong, dimethoate, trichlorfon, dichlorvos, etc. to control pests and diseases.

I. Cultivating Watermelon Seedlings

1. Before sowing, select plump seeds and choose to mix the seeds with New High-Fat Film, which can effectively reduce the occurrence of underground pests and diseases, isolate pathogen infection, and will not affect the seed germination and imbibition function. It helps strengthen respiration intensity and improve the seed germination rate.

2. During this period, a hotbed with agricultural film arched shed can be used for seedling raising, then sow into loose and fertile soil, bury the seeds 2 cm deep in the soil, and fill with soil and water. In the middle and late stages of seedling raising, more exposure and less covering are needed, exposing during the day and covering at night. 3-5 days before transplanting, the film can be uncovered all day for hardening off, which is beneficial for cultivating robust watermelon seedlings.

II. Applying Sufficient Base Fertilizer

1. Watermelon requires a relatively large amount of fertilizer during the growth stage, so sufficient base fertilizer should be applied before planting, which is beneficial for high quality, stable yield, and high yield of watermelon. Per mu, 1500-2000 kg of decomposed manure and 25-30 kg of watermelon-specific compound fertilizer can be applied.

2. Generally, double-furrow fertilization can be carried out. At both ends of the bed surface with a spacing of 30-40 cm, open 1 furrow each with a depth and width of 20-30 cm, then apply the prepared fertilizer into the two furrows, cover with about 5 cm of soil, and transplant the seedlings in the middle of the two fertilizer furrows.

3. This fertilization method will not burn the seedlings and can prevent excessive vegetative growth. An appropriate amount of Chuhuawang No. 3 can also be sprayed, which is beneficial for converting vegetative growth into reproductive nutrition, inhibiting excessive growth of the main shoot, promoting flower bud differentiation, improving pollen fertilization quality, and encouraging watermelon to produce more flowers and set more fruit.

III. Reasonable Topdressing

1. Apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting. During the vine extension stage, only 3 kg of urea and 200 kg of human manure and urine need to be applied as topdressing. Watermelon is relatively sensitive to water and fertilizer during the flowering and fruit-setting stage. If there is too much fertilizer and water at this time, it will lead to excessive plant nutrition, easily causing excessive vegetative growth, which is not conducive to fruit setting. Therefore, when the young fruit is as large as an egg, an appropriate amount of topdressing can be carried out.

2. At the same time, combined with spraying Zhuangguadiling, it is beneficial for thickening the fruit stalk and promoting rapid fruit development. It also helps ensure no flower drop, no fruit drop, no cracked fruit, and no deformed fruit during the growth period. By the watermelon fruit-setting and expansion stage, the roots and stems have just extended into the two fertilization furrows. At this time, the soil nutrients are sufficient, which can effectively improve the quality and yield of watermelon.

IV. Pest and Disease Control

1. If watermelon damping-off occurs, attention should be paid to timely ventilation in the seedbed during the seedling stage, and the amount of watering should be controlled.

2. If watermelon fusarium wilt or anthracnose occurs, it is necessary to wait 4-5 years before planting again, do a good job of clearing furrows and draining water, and promptly remove diseased plants. You can also use 20% Shibaoling, 70% Dikesong, 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder, etc. for spraying control.

3. If watermelon is affected by aphids, yellow squash beetles, cutworms, red spiders, etc., dimethoate, trichlorfon, dichlorvos, and carbofuran can be used for spraying control.