Introduction to the Cultivation Techniques and Production Areas of the Horned Melon (Oriental Melon)

SummaryCultivation methods: can be cultivated in early spring in large or medium plastic tunnels or with plastic mulch. Fertilization: apply no less than 3000 kg of organic fertilizer per mu, with emphasis on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and medium and trace elements. Greenhouse cultivation: maintain about 2000 plants per mu, set fruit above the 4-5 leaf stage, and increase the day-night temperature difference during the fruit-setting period, and control nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation to prevent excessive growth. Fertilizer and water: apply appropriate fertilizer after pinching and harvesting, and strengthen irrigation in the middle and late stages to meet the needs of high temperatures and vigorous vine growth. Pests and diseases: actively prevent and control pests and diseases.

The horned melon is surely familiar to many people, and in recent years it has become more and more common on the market. The horned melon has a good taste and high edible value. Every year when it comes on the market, it attracts many people to buy it, so nowadays quite a lot of people grow it. But before planting, what everyone cares about most is probably its cultivation techniques!

Cultivation Techniques of the Horned Melon

1. It can be cultivated in early spring in large or medium plastic tunnels or with plastic mulch. Apply no less than 3000 kg of organic fertilizer per mu, with emphasis on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and medium and trace elements. For high-ridge plastic mulch cultivation, keep 1800 plants per mu for trailing on the ground, with row spacing and plant spacing of 0.8×0.35cm, pinch the top at 4 leaves, keep 3-4 secondary vines, pinch the top of the secondary vines at 5 leaves, and set fruit on the tertiary vines. For vine-hanging cultivation, keep 2000 plants per mu, with row spacing and plant spacing of 0.9-1.0X0.35cm, and start setting fruit from the 10th leaf.

2. It is suitable for vine-hanging cultivation in greenhouses. For greenhouse cultivation, maintain about 2000 plants per mu, hang the main vine, set fruit above the 4-5 leaf stage, and there is no need to spray fruit-setting hormones. During the fruit-setting period, increase the day-night temperature difference, and appropriately control nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation to prevent excessive growth from affecting fruit setting. For the first crop of melons, each plant should set 3-4 fruits, setting fruit at the same time and expanding at the same time, so that the fruits are neat and uniform.

3. After fruit setting, leave 1 leaf before the fruit on the fruit-bearing secondary vine and pinch the top, and remove all growing points above it. Generally, when the main vine grows to 25-30 true leaves and is about 40 cm from the greenhouse ceiling, pinch the top of the main vine to promote fruit and control the vines. Generally, do not set fruit at the 10th-20th nodes of the middle section, and remove the secondary vines in time. When the plant is weak, the secondary vines can be pinched at 1 leaf.

4. When the first crop of melons is the size of an egg, and the fruit buds on the secondary vines growing at the upper nodes are easy to set, keep 2-3 fruits for the second crop. Remove the secondary vines that do not bear fruit early, and keep 1 growing point at the top without pinching. Later, uncover the greenhouse film, keep 2-3 fruits on the tertiary vines, and set the third crop of fruit.

Where the Horned Melon Is Produced

The horned melon is a local specialty variety of Qingxian County, Hebei Province. Later, in order to prevent variety degeneration, the relevant departments specially hired agricultural experts to improve this variety. Qingxian County is located in the eastern part of the North China Plain, with sufficient sunlight and deep soil layers. It is mainly composed of fluvo-aquic soil with slight salinization. This unique soil quality determines the unique quality of the Qingxian horned melon.

How to Apply Fertilizer and Water to the Horned Melon

1. Fertilization. After pinching the melon vines, use 500 kg of dry human manure and 50-100 kg of cake fertilizer per mu, apply in a ring 10 cm from the roots, cover with soil, and then apply 100-200 kg of plant ash. After each melon harvest thereafter, apply 200-300 kg of dilute manure and 5 kg of superphosphate per mu.

2. Watering. During the seedling stage of the melon, focus on control and properly restrain the seedlings. At the early flowering and fruit-setting stages, combine promotion and control to prevent excessive growth and fruit abortion. In the middle and late stages, management should strengthen irrigation to meet the needs of high temperatures and vigorous growth of melons and vines. Stop watering at the maturity stage to improve quality.

Disease Control of the Horned Melon

1. First, regulate the greenhouse environment to create conditions unfavorable for pathogen infection and disease occurrence. High humidity is the most likely cause of disease. As the outside temperature rises, watering should be reasonable, ventilation should be strengthened, and the humidity inside the greenhouse should be reduced.

2. Second, enhance the disease resistance of the plants. Water and fertilize reasonably to promote root growth, and pay attention to leaf maintenance. Chitin, alginic acid, nucleotides, etc. can be selected for spraying or root drenching to improve the function of roots and leaves and promote stronger stress resistance in the plants.

3. Finally, chemical control should be reasonable. In ordinary greenhouse management, diseases occur less in clear weather, so broad-spectrum fungicides such as chlorothalonil and azoxystrobin can be sprayed about once every half month to prevent diseases. On cloudy days, the number of applications should be appropriately increased, changing to spraying once every 7-10 days, which can achieve a good disease prevention effect.

Although the horned melon is currently grown in many places in our country, its main production area is Hebei. When growing the horned melon, the site selection work must be done well, and then planting should be carried out at the appropriate time. After planting, fertilizer and water management should also be strengthened. Timely disease control is also the key to ensuring its growth.