What fertilizer is best for growing melons? A detailed guide to melon fertilization methods
AbstractMelons need a relatively large amount of fertilizer, requiring nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, boron and other nutrients. During the growing process, the combination and amount of chemical fertilizer applied need to be adjusted according to the different growth stages of the melon, the vigor of the plants and the different cultivation purposes. Applying compound fertilizer or specialized fertilizer can, to a certain extent, improve melon yield and quality. When growing melons, never use chlorine-containing fertilizer, so as to avoid affecting the growth of the melons.
What fertilizer to use for growing melons
Melons need a relatively large amount of fertilizer. They not only need nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other fertilizers applied, but also need sufficient calcium, boron and other trace elements. They like nitrate nitrogen, so nitrate nitrogen fertilizer can be applied during planting. Note that chlorine-containing fertilizer must not be applied when growing melons.
During the seedling stage, melons have a low demand for fertilizer. After flowering, the demand for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium gradually increases. Generally, about 16-17 days after fruit set, the absorption of nitrogen and potassium reaches its highest level, and 26-27 days after fruit set, the absorption of phosphorus and calcium reaches its highest level.
Sufficient calcium and boron will increase the sweetness of the fruit and make its appearance attractive. If calcium is insufficient, the surface netting of the melon fruit will be very rough and whitish. If boron is insufficient, brown spots will appear in the flesh of the melon.
Precautions for fertilizing melons
During the growth period of melons, ensure an adequate supply of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Their absorption ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 2:1:3.7, that is, for every 1000kg of melons produced, 2.5-3.5kg of nitrogen, 1.3-1.7kg of phosphorus and 4.4-6.8kg of potassium are needed.
1. Base fertilizer application: When growing melons, mainly apply decomposed farmyard manure, and also apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in combination. The usual application rate is 2500-3000kg/mu of decomposed farmyard manure, 5-6kg/mu of urea, 10-15kg/mu of potassium sulfate, 10-15kh/mu of diammonium phosphate, or 25-30kg/mu of potato compound fertilizer.
2. Topdressing: Melons have different nutrient needs at different growth stages. The number and amount of topdressing mainly depend on the condition of the melon seedlings. Generally, only 1-2 topdressings are needed. The first is carried out after pinching when 5-6 true leaves appear, mainly applying nitrogen fertilizer, with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers also applied in combination, and another 5-10kg of urea per mu. The second is 10-15 days after flowering, mainly applying nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, supplemented with 3-5kg of urea and 5-10kg of potassium sulfate. If too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, it will cause excessive vegetative growth of the melon plants, suppress flower bud differentiation, and lead to flower and fruit drop. Therefore, when topdressing with urea, the amount should be determined according to the vigor of the melons.
3. Foliar topdressing: After the melons set fruit, spray a mixed solution of 0.3% urea + 0.2% monopotassium phosphate onto the leaves once every week. At the same time, it can also be sprayed together with Sulubor to increase the fruit-setting rate of melons, and the sweetness of the fruit will also be increased.
Applying chemical fertilizer reasonably can increase yield and fruit quality, but if chemical fertilizer is used improperly, it will reduce fruit quality. During the growing process, especially when applying chemical fertilizer to planting land with low organic matter content and poor water- and fertilizer-retention capacity, it must be used in combination with organic fertilizer so that it can play a better role.
When applying, ensure that nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are reasonably combined. Do not apply only nitrogen fertilizer alone.
The different growth stages of melons, the vigor of the plants and different cultivation purposes determine the type and amount of chemical fertilizer applied. During the seedling stage, to promote well-developed root systems, mainly apply nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. During the vine-extension stage, to enable healthy growth of stems and leaves, mainly apply nitrogen fertilizer. When the fruit is setting, to improve fruit quality, mainly apply potassium and nitrogen fertilizers.
When growing melons, applying compound or specialized fertilizer can improve the yield and quality of melons.