Detailed Explanation of Key Scientific Cultivation Techniques for White Melon

White melon is a type of melon with white skin and crisp, tender, sweet flesh that many people enjoy for its texture. Eating white melon also has many benefits: it can make the skin more hydrated and supple, promote secretion, and aid digestion. It is a great summer heat-relieving treat. Growing this white melon also has strong economic prospects.

Scientific Cultivation Techniques for White Melon

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

2. Sowing. The sowing period is when the 5 cm soil temperature steadily passes 12°C. In this region, it generally starts from April 15 to 20, and the suitable sowing period lasts 20 days. Before sowing, first irrigate under the film by dark irrigation, leaving shallow furrows under the film. When watering, prop up the film opening with a stick. Using 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, with 3 to 4 seeds per hole, covered with 2 cm of moist soil. Density: after the seedlings emerge uniformly, keep 2000 to 2500 plants per 667 sq m.

Growing Conditions for White Melon

1. Best propagation time. The suitable sowing period for melon cultivation is August to October, and no later than November 15. Spring sowing can be chosen in February to March, but it is best to ensure harvest around Qingming and Guyu.

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, gaseous, and liquid phases each accounting for 1/3 is ideal.

3. Humidity requirements for growth. Melon is drought-tolerant but not waterlogging-tolerant. However, because its root system is shallow, it has relatively high requirements for soil moisture, and because leaf transpiration is high, it has relatively low requirements for air humidity. Especially for thick-skinned melons, the relative air humidity is best controlled below 50%.

4. Best growing temperature. The suitable temperature for growth and development is 18—25°C. The suitable temperature for flowering and fruiting is 22—25°C. Its adaptability is broader than that of cucumber, and its cold resistance is also very strong.

5. Best growing light. Sufficient light is required, with daily sunshine duration at 10 to 12 hours or more. If maintained at 14 to 15 hours/day, melons grow well.

Field Management of White Melon

1. Fertilizer and water management. When transplanting, water thoroughly to help the seedlings recover. Generally do not water before flowering, to prevent excessive moisture from causing excessive vegetative growth and resulting in flower and fruit drop. After fruit set, when the melon grows to the size of an egg, apply one topdressing, and water promptly after topdressing. Apply 20 kg of ternary compound fertilizer, 10 to 15 kg of urea, and 10 kg of potassium sulfate or 800 to 1000 kg of diluted manure water per mu. Stop watering 7 to 10 days before harvest to increase the sugar content of the melon.

2. Pest and disease control. The main diseases of greenhouse melon are damping-off at the seedling stage, anthracnose, downy mildew, and powdery mildew. Irrigating the seedbed with 0.05% potassium permanganate and 1000-fold Previcur can effectively control damping-off. Spraying the seedbed or plants with Ridomil wettable powder can control the occurrence and spread of anthracnose, downy mildew, and powdery mildew. The main insect pests are aphids and cabbage caterpillars.

Tips for Storing White Melon

1. Choose a cool, ventilated place and clean it thoroughly, then scatter lime powder on the ground and around the area. Next, spread a layer of straw or wheat straw on the ground or on shelves, then gently place melons wrapped in foam net sleeves in 3-4 layers. This way they can be stored for 15-20 days.

2. First put the melons wrapped in foam net sleeves into bamboo baskets or wicker baskets, then stack the baskets crosswise in a cool, ventilated room. Keep the room temperature at 16-18°C and relative humidity at 80-85%, and they can be stored for 20-25 days.

3. Put the melons wrapped in foam net sleeves into cardboard boxes or bamboo baskets with ventilation holes, and after pre-storage, stack them crosswise in a cold storage warehouse. Keep the temperature at 4-5°C and relative humidity at 80-85%, and they can be stored for 2-3 months.

When growing white melon, grasp two time points: one in autumn and one in spring. When growing white melon, be sure to do a good job of drainage. White melon is a crop that is drought-tolerant but not waterlogging-tolerant, and it has relatively high soil requirements, preferring to grow in deep, fertile places.