A Detailed Guide to Melon Planting Methods and Key Technical Points
Every summer, many people choose to eat melons to beat the heat, and the best way is to chill them in ice for a while before eating; after eating them in the hot summer, it feels wonderfully cool and very comfortable. Melons also have high edible value, and their nutrient content is very rich, so eating them often brings many benefits to the human body.
Melon Planting Methods
1. The suitable seedling age for melons is 30—35 days. When the seedlings grow to the 3-leaf-1-heart stage, it is the suitable time for transplanting, and melon roots have a strong absorption capacity. The best soil is loose sandy soil with a thick, fertile layer; melons are relatively tolerant of salinity and alkalinity and can also grow on lightly alkaline soil. Melons absorb fairly complete nutrition during growth and development, and their nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ratio is 2:1:3.7; potassium chloride type fertilizers should be avoided.
2. Before transplanting, apply 4000---5000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu or 100 kg of controlled-release potassium sulfate fertilizer as a base fertilizer. After fertilizing, plow the soil deeply to 30 cm, harrow it fine and level it, then form ridges or beds; greenhouse cultivation mostly uses high ridges. Generally, make ridges at a spacing of 60--70 cm for the small rows and 80—90 cm for the large rows.
3. For arch-shed cultivation, semi-high ridges or flat beds can be used. First spread 2/3 of the fertilizer and plow the soil, then make beds with a small bed width of 60 cm and a large bed width of 170 cm. Apply the remaining 1/3 of the fertilizer into the small beds, mix the soil and fertilizer evenly, and then rake the bed surface level.
4. When transplanting, open furrows on the ridge surface or in the small beds to plant the seedlings, water, cover with soil, and cover with plastic film. Large-fruited varieties are planted at 1500---1800 plants per mu, while small varieties at about 2000 plants. Thin-skinned melons mostly grow by trailing on the ground, and are generally planted at about 900---1000 plants per mu.
Melon Growing Conditions
1. Best propagation time. The suitable sowing period for melon cultivation is August-October, and it must not be later than November 15. Spring sowing can be chosen in February-March, but it is best to ensure harvest at the Qingming and Guyu solar terms.
2. Best growing soil. The most suitable soil for melon growth and development is loam or sandy loam with deep soil layers, rich organic matter, fertility, and good aeration; soil with solid, gas, and liquid phases each accounting for 1/3 is ideal.
3. Growth humidity requirements. Melons are drought-tolerant but not waterlogging-tolerant, yet because their root system is shallow, they have relatively high requirements for soil moisture; their leaves have high transpiration, so their requirements for air humidity are relatively low, especially for thick-skinned melons, for which the relative air humidity is best controlled below 50%.
4. Best growing temperature. The suitable temperature for growth and development is 18—25℃. The suitable temperature for flowering and fruiting is 22—25℃. Their adaptability is broader than that of cucumbers, and their cold resistance is also very strong.
5. Best growing light. Sufficient light is required, and the daily sunshine duration should be more than 10-12 hours; if maintained at 14-15 hours/day, melons grow well.
Precautions for Melon Planting
1. Fertilizer application. During the growth period of melons, special attention should be paid to increasing potassium fertilizer, which clearly improves melon quality. Nitrogen fertilizer should be controlled; excessive nitrogen fertilizer not only lowers the sweetness of melons but also causes excessive accumulation of nitrite, which is harmful to the human body. Fertilization of melons should follow the principle of “controlling nitrogen, applying phosphorus, and increasing potassium,” and ensure combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
2. Key watering points. After sowing, water 2-3 times during the fruit-swelling period. The first time is after fruit set, when most of the melons have grown to the size of an egg; generally apply 30 kg of ternary compound fertilizer per 667 sq m along with the water, and afterward water and topdress according to the environment and growth conditions, adapting to local conditions. Never let the soil alternate between dry and wet, to prevent fruit cracking.
3. Pruning essentials. For extensive management, simple pruning is used, that is, when the field leaf area coefficient is relatively large in the middle and late stages, simply top the plants with a stick to prevent field shading. Double-vine pruning can also be used: top and pinch the main vine when it has 3-5 leaves, then select and retain 2 robust secondary vines and guide them to spread evenly over the bed surface; the tertiary vines bear fruit, and 2 leaves are kept before the fruit for pinching. Each tertiary vine bears 1 fruit, and each plant bears 3-5 fruits.
Melon Pest and Disease Control Methods
1. Powdery mildew. Spray with 500-fold liquid of cyazofamid, or 600-fold liquid of triadimefon, or 800-fold liquid of polyoxin B, or 600-fold liquid of baking soda.
2. Downy mildew. Spray with 600-fold liquid of 72 010 Kelu wettable powder, or 600-fold liquid of dimethomorph.
3. Fusarium wilt. Drench the roots with 500-fold liquid of 25.9% Kangkuiling aqueous solution, or 1500-fold liquid of Yizailing, or 1000-fold liquid of hymexazol, or 800-fold liquid of 23% copper complex ammonia.
4. Bacterial angular leaf spot and leaf blight. Spray with 800-fold liquid of bacterial angular leaf spot net, or 800-fold liquid of Koshade, or 1000-fold liquid of agricultural streptomycin.
5. Aphids. Spray with 1500-fold liquid of abamectin-acetamiprid, or 1000-fold liquid of Yibianjing, or 2000—2500-fold liquid of 20% acetamiprid emulsifiable concentrate.
For melon planting, be sure to select good seeds for sprouting so that the germination rate will be high. Planting is generally done in spring and early autumn, which are the seasons most favorable for melon survival. Later, branches should be pruned in a timely manner, which will increase the fruit-setting rate and thereby ensure the later melon yield.