Detailed Explanation of Key Points of Scientific Melon Cultivation Techniques

Many of us have eaten melons. They are crisp, sweet and juicy, with a fresh melon fragrance in the mouth. They are very delicious. Whether used in cold dishes or fruit salads, they are a superb summer treat that stimulates the appetite and promotes fluid production. After they hit the market each year, sales are very good, so many people want to learn how to grow them.

Scientific Melon Cultivation Techniques

1. Site selection, land preparation and bed making. The previous crop should not be a cucurbit crop. Sandy loam soil with good drainage is best. After autumn plowing, apply 3000 kg of high-quality organic fertilizer per 667 sq m, plow deeply, leave the soil in clods to overwinter, store rain and snow, weather the soil, and eliminate disease and pest sources. Spring harrowing: after the soil thawes and becomes slurry-like, harrow heavily and level the land. Make beds before Qingming and cover with film to increase temperature and preserve moisture. Make beds and raise ridges at a row spacing of 150 cm and a small row spacing of 60 cm. The ridge platform is 20 cm high. Lay plastic film; as the film is laid, apply all base fertilizer as a basal application. Generally, apply 20 kg of potassium sulfate-type ternary compound fertilizer per 667 sq m. For double-film cultivation, at this time build the shed and sow.

2. Sowing. The sowing date is when the 5 cm soil temperature stably passes 12°C. In this region, it generally starts from April 15 to 20, and the suitable sowing period is 20 days. Before sowing, first irrigate by dark irrigation under the film. Reserve shallow furrows under the film. When watering, prop up the film opening with a stick. With this method, the water use per 667 sq m is just over 10 sq m, saving much more water than flood irrigation. After the water seeps down, punch holes and sow, 3-4 seeds per hole, and cover with 2 cm of moist soil. Density: after the seedlings are uniform, keep 2000-2500 plants per 667 sq m.

Precautions for Melon Cultivation

1. Fertilizer application: During the growth period, melons need special attention to increased potassium fertilizer. Potassium fertilizer clearly improves melon quality. Nitrogen fertilizer should be controlled. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer not only reduces melon sweetness, but also causes excessive nitrite accumulation, which is harmful to human health. Fertilization for melons should follow the principle of “control nitrogen, apply phosphorus, increase potassium” and achieve combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

2. Key watering points: After sowing, during the fruit swelling stage, watering is needed 2-3 times. The first time is after fruit set, when most melons have grown to the size of an egg. Generally, apply 30 kg of ternary compound fertilizer per 667 sq m with the water. Afterward, according to the environment and growth conditions, water and topdress according 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 enough. That is, in the middle and later stages, when the field leaf area coefficient is relatively large, simply top the plants with a stick to prevent field shading. Double-vine pruning can also be used: when the main vine has 3-5 leaves, top and pinch it, then select and retain 2 robust secondary vines and guide them to spread evenly over the bed surface. The grandson vines bear fruit. Leave 2 leaves before the fruit and pinch the tip. Each grandson vine bears 1 fruit, and each plant bears 3-5 fruits.

Applying Fruit-Swelling Fertilizer

It is best to do this on a sunny morning, because the temperature is low at that time and watering will not cause a sharp drop in soil temperature that blocks root activity, causing leaf wilting or even plant death. During topdressing and for 2-3 days after topdressing, the greenhouse film should be opened wider to increase ventilation and prevent ammonia released during fertilizer transformation from burning the leaves. Stop fertilizer and water supply about 10 days before the fruit ripens; otherwise, it is easy to cause “reverse growth” or “internal rot” inside the fruit. Spray Zhuangguadiling at the appropriate time to thicken the fruit stalk, strengthen the targeted nutrient delivery, promote rapid fruit development, produce a beautiful fruit shape, and give juicy, delicious fruit. During the growth cycle, there will be no flower drop, no fruit drop, no cracked fruit and no deformed fruit.

Pest and Disease Prevention Methods for Melons

1. Melon downy mildew. Control method: reduce humidity inside the shed as much as possible. For example, water lightly and frequently, and avoid flood irrigation. Before disease onset, use 68.75% DuPont Yibao 1000 times or 75% DuPont Mengshasheng 500 times for prevention, once every 10-15 days. In the early stage of disease onset, use 72% DuPont Kelu 600 times or 52.5% DuPont Yikuaijing 2000 times for treatment, once every 7-10 yuan.

2. Melon gummy stem blight. Control method: avoid flood irrigation inside the shed, and use ventilation and light watering to reduce humidity inside the shed. After melon planting, use 68.75% DuPont Yibao 1000 times or 75% Mengshasheng 500 times liquid for foliar spraying for protection, once every 10-15 days. After disease onset, use DuPont Fuxing 6000-8000 times or 20.67% Wanxing 2000-2500 times for treatment. If smearing is needed on the diseased parts, the pesticide concentration should be increased.

The most important thing in melon cultivation is to understand its growing environment. Only in a suitable environment will it survive best. Also, melons are drought-tolerant but cannot tolerate standing water, so the drainage system must be done well to avoid wilting or even rot and death after water accumulation.