Detailed Explanation of High-Yield and Efficient Watermelon Cultivation Techniques
AbstractSeed sprouting and seedling raising: The seeds need to be soaked in warm water. The open-field planting time is from mid-to-late April to early June, and insulated seedling raising is carried out at the end of March or early April. Reasonable close planting: plant about 450-500 plants per mu. Reasonable fertilization: follow the principle of light application and frequent application. Improving the fruit-setting rate: methods such as pruning and removing side shoots, pressing vines, arranging vines, artificial supplementary pollination, selecting fruits, retaining fruits, and using hormones can be adopted to improve the fruit-setting rate.
1. Seed Sprouting and Seedling Raising
1. Sowing period
(1) If open-field sowing is adopted, sowing can be chosen in mid-to-late April or early June according to the supply period.
(2) If insulated seedling raising is adopted, sowing can be chosen at the end of March or early April according to early supply.
2. Seed quantity
About 1-1.5 liang of seeds can be used per mu, but because hybrid watermelon seeds are relatively large and their weight also increases, about 2-2.5 liang of seeds can be used per mu.
3. Seed soaking and sprouting
(1) Soak the seeds in warm water at about 50°C for about 15-20 minutes, then add an appropriate amount of warm water to lower the water temperature to about 30°C, then continue soaking for 2-3 hours until the water cools naturally.
(2) Put the soaked seeds into a small cloth bag, wash them clean with clear water, and air-dry them.
(3) After air-drying, mix and stir the seeds with an equal amount of fine river sand, wrap them well with cloth, spread them flat, and sprout them.
(4) The suitable temperature for sprouting is about 30-35°C. Generally, place them in a constant-temperature incubator or beside a stove for sprouting.
(5) After about 48 hours, all can sprout successfully.
4. Open-field sowing
(1) When the watermelon sprouts grow to 1-2 cm, sowing can be carried out.
(2) When sowing, sow 2-3 seeds per hole, and the sprout tip should be placed downward when sowing.
(3) After sowing, soil should be covered, with a soil-covering thickness of about 2-3 cm, and watering should be carried out immediately after covering the soil.
(4) The watering frequency is determined according to the weather. If it is sunny, water once every 2-3 days.
(5) After sowing, when the seedlings grow to 2-3 true leaves, double plants need to be removed, and missing seedlings need to be replanted in time.
5. Insulated seedling raising
(1) When watermelon seedlings appear true leaves, attention should be paid to ventilation and light transmission in the seedbed.
(2) At the same time, attention should also be paid to regulating the temperature and humidity of the entire environment, and to preventing and controlling various diseases, such as damping-off disease, anthracnose, and Rhizoctonia solani blight.
(3) When the watermelon seedlings grow to two leaves and one heart or three leaves and one heart, and the external temperature stabilizes at 15°C, they can be transplanted to the field.
2. Reasonable Close Planting
1. The cultivation density of watermelon is directly related to the variety and soil fertility, and about 450-500 plants per mu is appropriate.
2. After planting, intertillage, loosening the soil, and removing weeds should be carried out at the same time, and intertillage needs to be done about 2-3 times.
3. Reasonable Fertilization
When topdressing, the principle of light application and frequent application should be followed.
1. Seedling-promoting fertilizer: Fertilization can begin when the watermelon seedlings are stable and show true leaves. Apply human and livestock manure once every about 10-15 days, and some urea can also be mixed in. The amount used per mu is about 15-20 loads of human and livestock manure and 3-5 jin of urea.
2. Vine-spreading fertilizer: When the watermelon seedlings grow to 5-6 leaves, apply 100-200 jin of decomposed cake fertilizer and 10-20 loads of human and livestock manure per mu.
3. Fruit-strengthening fertilizer: When the watermelon grows to the size of an egg, apply 100-200 jin of cake fertilizer and 10-20 loads of human and livestock manure per mu.
4. First-fruit fertilizer: When the watermelon grows to the size of a bowl rim, apply 15-20 jin of urea and 5-8 jin of potassium fertilizer per mu.
5. Melon fertilizer: After the first batch of watermelons is picked, in order to prevent premature aging of the seedlings and provide nutrients for the second and third batches of watermelons, 20-25 jin of urea can be applied per mu.
3. Improving the Fruit-Setting Rate
Methods such as pruning and removing side shoots, pressing vines, arranging vines, artificial supplementary pollination, selecting fruits, retaining fruits, and using hormones can be adopted to improve the fruit-setting rate.