When to Plant Melons? A Detailed Guide to Ripening and Harvest Time
SummaryMelon sowing time: spring is February to March, autumn is August to November. Melon ripening time: harvest begins successively from late April to early May. Melons are suitable for planting in fertile soil with good permeability, the suitable temperature for growth is 18-25°C, during the seedling stage a thin compound fertilizer solution should be applied once every 7 days, and during the growth period various pests and diseases must also be controlled, such as root rot, powdery mildew, armyworms, cutworms and other pests and diseases.
I. Melon Sowing Time
1. Generally, the appropriate variety is selected for planting according to the local soil, climate and demand. Before sowing, the seeds must first be soaked and disinfected; during this time the seeds can be soaked in a low-concentration carbendazim solution for about 10 minutes. Spring sowing can be done in February to March, and autumn sowing can be done in August to November.
2. When sowing, you can use nutrient pots and nutrient bags for raising seedlings, or adopt the direct seeding method; most of the time direct seeding is chosen. Before sowing, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied; for each mu, 50kg of compound fertilizer and 3000-5000kg of decomposed farmyard manure can be applied. After furrow application, pits should be dug for deep application, then covered with soil and sown; 2-3 seeds can be sown in each pit.
II. Melon Ripening Time
Generally, the annual ripening time of melons is late spring and early summer, and they begin to reach the market successively from late April to early May. The ripening and harvest time is mostly concentrated around 50 days after flowering. Because the temperature differs in each planting region, the ripening time of melons also varies.
III. Melon Growth Habits
1. Melons are suitable for planting in deep, fertile loam or sandy loam rich in organic acids with good permeability. Melons are drought-tolerant but not waterlogging-tolerant, and their root system is relatively shallow, so they are suitable for growing in environments with relatively high soil moisture and relatively low air humidity.
2. Generally, the relative air humidity needs to be controlled at around 50°C, the suitable temperature for growth is around 18-25°C, and the suitable temperature for flowering and fruiting is around 22-25°C.
IV. Melon Seedling Stage Management
1. Melon seedlings grow relatively fast after emergence, especially seedlings raised in nutrient pots and nutrient bags. To prevent the seedlings from becoming leggy, water and temperature must be strictly controlled during this period.
2. After emergence, the daytime temperature should be maintained at around 20-25°C, and at night it should be maintained at around 10°C. At the same time, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened; a thin compound fertilizer solution can be applied once every 7 days, which helps promote seedling growth.
3. Also, during the seedling stage, timely intertillage and weeding should be carried out, which helps promote root development, because most diseases originate from the root system; if the root system is not well developed, the diseases will be more severe.
V. Controlling Various Pests and Diseases
1. Common melon diseases include root rot, powdery mildew and rust. Metalaxyl and metalaxyl-copper can be sprayed to control root rot, and Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed to control powdery mildew and rust.
2. Common melon pests include aphids, armyworms, cutworms, cotton bollworms and so on. Low-toxicity, high-efficiency pesticides can be used for control; for example, aphids can be controlled with imidacloprid, while armyworms, cutworms, cotton bollworms and so on can be controlled by spraying with Tianwangxing emulsifiable concentrate and Mieshaoli emulsifiable concentrate.