Detailed Explanation of Scientific Cultivation Techniques for the Horn-shaped Crisp Melon

The horn-shaped crisp melon resembles a swollen cucumber in appearance, with a long shape just like the two horns of a goat, hence its name. When ripe, the horn-shaped crisp melon is pale green with a hint of white, has relatively thick flesh, a rich taste, and a high sugar content. Although its appearance is not as attractive as other melons, it still sells very well.

Scientific Cultivation Techniques for the Horn-shaped Crisp Melon

1. It is suitable for trellis cultivation in greenhouses. For greenhouse cultivation, keep about 2000 plants per mu, train the main vine upward, retain fruits above the 4th-5th leaf, 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 vegetative growth from affecting fruit set. For the first crop of melons, retain 3-4 fruits per plant. When female flowers appear at the 6th-10th leaf, pinch the tips at the same time so that fruits set simultaneously and swell during the same period, making the fruits uniform and consistent.

2. After fruit set, leave 1 leaf on the fruiting lateral vine before the fruit and pinch off the growing tip, 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 roof, pinch the tip of the main vine to promote fruit development and control vine growth. Generally, do not retain fruits at the 10th-20th nodes of the middle section, and remove lateral vines promptly. When the plant is weak, lateral vines can be pinched after retaining 1 leaf. When the first crop of fruits is as large as a chicken egg and the lateral-vine fruit buds produced at upper nodes are easy to set, pinch off 2-3 more, retain 2-3 fruits for the second crop, remove fruitless lateral vines early, and keep 1 growing point at the top without pinching. In the later stage, uncover the greenhouse film, retain 2-3 fruits on secondary lateral vines, and produce the third crop of fruits.

3. Note that pruning and pinching should be carried out after the dew has evaporated on a sunny day, so as to help the wounds heal as quickly as possible and prevent infection. It is best to use scissors for pruning, and prepare a moist medicated cloth soaked with 75% chlorothalonil 200-fold solution or similar agents, wiping the scissors once after cutting each plant to prevent cross-infection.

Characteristics of the Horn-shaped Crisp Melon

The horn-shaped crisp melon is a type of melon, and its fruit is horn-shaped. After the fruit ripens, it becomes grayish-white, pale green, with orange-yellow flesh, about 25 cm long, with a single fruit weighing 1-2 kg, flesh about 2 cm thick, and high sugar content. Its sweetness can reach 20-26 degrees, with a unique taste, fragrant flavor, and crisp texture. It is an early-to-mid-season variety with strong plant vigor, fruiting on lateral vines, and dense female flowers. The fruit is long-conical, large at one end and slightly slender and pointed at the other, resembling a goat's horn, hence the name "horn-shaped honey." The rind is grayish-green, the flesh color is pale green, the inner thickness is 2 cm, the content is 11.7%, the texture is crisp and loose, the juice is abundant and refreshingly sweet, and the quality is excellent. A single fruit weighs 600 g, and the yield per mu is more than 3000 kg.

Leaf Maintenance of the Horn-shaped Crisp Melon in the Middle and Late Stages

In the middle and late stages of plant growth, that is, during the fruit swelling and ripening period of the melon, the reproductive growth of the plant is vigorous and consumes large amounts of organic and inorganic nutrients. The roots and leaves bear a heavy burden, nutrient reserves are low, and resistance weakens. At this time, attention should be paid to strengthening leaf maintenance. Foliar spraying of chitosan 1000-fold, Leduoshou foliar fertilizer 500-fold, Aiduoshou 6000-fold, etc. can be applied once a week to supplement foliar nutrients and improve leaf activity, which is very beneficial for preventing leaf aging and avoiding premature plant senescence. In addition, attention should also be paid to avoiding damage to leaves from phytotoxicity and hormone poisoning. When spraying, avoid using sensitive pesticides, do not mix too many types of pesticides, and spray evenly to avoid phytotoxicity.

Disease Control of the Horn-shaped Crisp Melon

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

Second, enhance the disease resistance of the plants. Water and fertilize reasonably to promote root growth, pay attention to leaf maintenance, and choose chitosan, seaweed acid, nucleotides, etc. for spraying or root drenching to improve the function of roots and leaves and promote stronger stress resistance in the plants.

Finally, chemical control should be reasonable. In routine greenhouse management, when the weather is clear and disease occurrence is low, 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.

The horn-shaped crisp melon is suitable for greenhouse cultivation, and both temperature and humidity must be just right, so as to benefit its growth. After planting the horn-shaped crisp melon, the tips should be pinched to ensure later growth, but this should be done when the weather is good, and afterward medicine should be wiped on for disinfection to avoid infection and rot.