What is the typical per-mu yield of open-field melons?

AbstractThe per-mu yield of melons grown in open fields is around 3000-4000 jin, and the yield is affected by factors such as variety and growing conditions. Open-field melons are generally transplanted in mid-to-late March. To increase yield, you can choose high-quality varieties with early maturity, good fruit-setting ability and strong disease resistance for planting, with reasonable close planting and good field management.

I. Per-mu yield of open-field melons

The per-mu yield of melons is affected by factors such as variety and growing conditions. Generally, the per-mu yield of melons is around 3000-4000 jin.

II. Growing melons in the open field

1. Choosing varieties

Before planting melons, you should choose melon varieties with relatively good fruit-setting ability, relatively attractive fruit shape, relatively early maturity, relatively good quality and relatively strong disease resistance, such as Xialong, Ruoren, Elizabeth and Xuefeng Mi No. 2, etc.

2. Choosing soil

For planting melons, you should choose a plot that is fertile, loose, with deep soil layers and relatively high terrain. It requires an environment with relatively good ventilation, good drainage and irrigation conditions, and no pollution for planting.

3. Reasonable transplanting

(1) For growing melons in greenhouses in early spring, the transplanting time is generally from mid-March to the end of March, which can avoid late frost damage and allow an earlier market launch. Generally, transplanting can be carried out when the melon seedlings grow to 3 leaves and 1 heart.

(2) 15-30 days before transplanting, in order to raise the ground temperature, the greenhouse can be closed. In the afternoon or evening before transplanting, water the seedling pots thoroughly, which is conducive to transplanting with the soil ball. After earthing up, the pit surface should preferably be slightly concave. The planting density should be about 90 cm between rows and about 50 cm between plants.

4. Pruning

When the main vine grows to six leaves, pinch off the growing tip, leaving only the lateral vines between the 3rd and 6th leaves, and remove the lateral vines between the 1st and 2nd leaves. Each lateral vine can keep 1-2 melons.

5. Reasonable fertilization

(1) Melons need reasonable fertilization during their growth. In order to increase the sugar content of melons, more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied. It is not suitable to apply nitrogen fertilizer alone, as it will affect the sugar content.

(2) After the melons set fruit, about 10 kg of potassium sulfate can be applied per mu, and the sweetness of the melons will increase by 1-2 degrees. At the early stage, a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate aqueous solution can be sprayed, or during vine stretching, about 5 kg of phosphate fertilizer can be applied per mu by the hole application method.

6. Timely irrigation

(1) During the fruit enlargement stage, in order to increase yield and improve quality, appropriate irrigation can be carried out.

(2) If the melon leaves wilt during the day, furrow irrigation can be used for watering. When irrigating, the amount must be well controlled. After irrigation is completed, pesticides can be applied, and 500-fold peracetic acid can be used.

III. When is the best time to plant melons

1. Melons are a crop that relatively dislikes rainwater. When growing melons in the open field, the sowing period must be chosen well. In the Jianghuai region, the sowing period is from early to mid-February to early March, while the autumn sowing period in Guangdong and Guangxi, Hainan, and Yunnan and Guizhou is from early July to the end of July.

2. By autumn, the temperature difference between day and night is relatively large, sunshine is sufficient, and the air is relatively dry, which is especially suitable for melon fruit enlargement and ripening. The melons grown this way not only have good quality but also have a longer storage period, thereby increasing returns.