A Detailed Explanation of the Key Technical Points of Scientific Watermelon Cultivation and Management
SummarySite selection: Ideally choose a sandy loam soil with deep soil layers, loose and fertile texture, and convenient drainage and irrigation. Land preparation and fertilization: Deep plow the watermelon field before winter to freeze the soil clods, and prepare the land in good time before transplanting. The base fertilizer should mainly be high-quality organic fertilizer and cake fertilizer. Planting: Planting takes place when the seedling age is about 1 month and 2-3 true leaves have grown. Pruning and vine pressing: The three-vine pruning method is mostly used. Reverse pressing: Controls excessive vegetative growth of watermelon and increases the fruit-setting rate. Fruit setting: In low-temperature or rainy weather, artificial assisted pollination is used. Pests and diseases: Prevent Fusarium wilt, anthracnose, etc.
Watermelon is a common fruit, and especially in summer it can be seen everywhere, becoming an indispensable fruit of the season. For such a popular watermelon, scientific cultivation is still needed to increase yields, so how do you cultivate it scientifically? Now let's follow the editor and learn the scientific method of cultivating watermelon.
Scientific Watermelon Cultivation and Management Techniques
1. Site selection
It is advisable to choose sandy loam soil with deep soil layers, loose and fertile texture, and convenient drainage and irrigation, and to cultivate on plots where no cucurbit crops have been grown for within 5 years on dry land and within 3 years on paddy fields.
2. Land preparation and fertilization
Before winter, deep plow the watermelon field to freeze the soil clods, and prepare the land in good time before transplanting. The watermelon field should have three ditches complete, so that the field dries once the rain stops, the soil is loose, and the soil surface is level. The base fertilizer should mainly be high-quality organic fertilizer and cake fertilizer, supplemented by inorganic fertilizer, generally accounting for 60%-70% of the total fertilization amount. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium should be reasonably matched, and micro-fertilizers should be applied to the soil or sprayed according to nutrient deficiencies. The amount of fertilizer applied depends on soil fertility and the cultivated variety. Generally, for fields of medium fertility, apply 3000-4000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu combined with land preparation, along with 60-80 kg of 45% nitric-sulfur-based or potassium sulfate-type controlled-release fertilizer. Do not apply chlorine-containing fertilizers. Small-fruit watermelons and grafted watermelons can be given 20% less fertilizer. Use high-ridge planting, with wide ridges 4-4.5 m and narrow ridges 2.0-2.5 m. On wide ridges, planting can be done on both sides of the ridge with vines climbing toward each other, or planting in the middle with vines climbing to both sides; on narrow ridges, planting is done on one side with vines climbing in a single direction.
3. Planting
For early-maturing watermelon, the seedling age is about 1 month, and planting can be done once 2-3 true leaves have grown. For mid-maturing watermelon, the seedling age is 20-25 days, and for late-maturing watermelon, 7-10 days, before planting can be done. On wide ridges, plant 2 rows; on narrow ridges, plant 1 row. For small-fruit watermelon grown with shed trellis-style cultivation, plant 1500-1800 plants per mu; for ground-trailing cultivation, using three-vine or four-vine pruning, plant 600-750 plants per mu. For medium and large watermelons, generally plant 650-700 plants per mu, and for grafted seedless watermelon, plant 300-400 plants per mu. Dig planting holes according to the plant and row spacing, place the nutritional pot into the planting hole with the cotyledons oriented in the same direction as the ridge, with the depth level with the ridge surface, fill the seedling hole with fine soil, and water with human and livestock manure and chemicals to settle the roots. Cover with film while transplanting, with a film width no narrower than 80 cm. Film covering should achieve a fine and level soil surface, with the film closely attached to the soil surface, all around sealed firmly, and the openings in the film sealed tightly with fine soil.
4. Pruning and vine pressing
Generally, the three-vine pruning method is used. When the main vine has 8-9 leaves, keep the main vine and two robust side vines, and remove all other secondary and tertiary vines. Pruning should not be done on rainy days to prevent the spread of disease. When the vines grow to about 50 cm, press the vines with soil in combination with pruning, then press again every 3-4 nodes, pressing each vine 2-3 times in total, and arrange the vines evenly.
5. Reverse pressing
When watermelon growth is excessively vigorous, use reverse pressing. Dig a pit 7-10 cm deep, push the watermelon vine toward the root into the pit so that the rear part of the vine arches up, then fill with soil and press firmly. This can control excessive growth and increase the fruit-setting rate.
6. Fruit setting
The 2nd and 3rd female flowers on the main vine or the 1st and 2nd female flowers on the side vines should be selected for fruit setting. To ensure fruit setting at a suitable node position, in low-temperature or rainy weather, artificial assisted pollination should be used to help preserve flowers and fruits. After the fruit is set firmly, finely level and pat flat the ground beneath the young fruit and make it slope-shaped, then place the young fruit along the slope and keep the young fruit and vine in a straight line. When the fruit has fully grown, turn the fruit in good time. When turning, rotate in one direction, turning about 1/3 each time.
Main Watermelon Diseases
1. Watermelon Fusarium wilt: This disease is mainly caused by soil-borne bacteria, and the pathogen can survive in the soil for 5-7 years. Control measures: a. Crop rotation. Carry out rotation with non-cucurbit crops for more than 3 years; b. Grafting. Rootstocks such as round gourd, long gourd, bottle gourd, and waist gourd perform relatively well, and the cutting-grafting method is simple and easy to carry out. Sow watermelon when the gourd sprouts and shows tips. The suitable period for grafting is when the rootstock has two leaves and one heart leaf. When grafting, first use a bamboo stick to wipe off the growing point of the rootstock, then use the tip of a bamboo skewer to insert a small hole vertically from the growing point (about 1 cm deep), then take the watermelon seedling, close and pinch the cotyledons tightly, and use a small knife to cut the hypocotyl about 1 cm below the leaves into a wedge shape, with the cut surface about 0.8 cm long. After the sap has flowed out, insert it into the small hole in the rootstock, and the grafting is complete. Finally, cover with film to retain moisture; c. Chemical control. At the early stage of disease onset or when the vine grows to 55 cm, use 40% carbendazim suspension concentrate or 25.9% copper ammonia zinc complex aqueous solution (Kang Kuling) and other 500-800 times solutions to drench the roots, once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive drenchings.
2. Watermelon anthracnose. It is mainly caused by bacteria on the soil and seed coat, and spreads and invades through flowing water and wounds. Control measures: deep ditches. High ridges prevent water accumulation, and spread grass under the fruits so that the watermelons do not directly contact the ground; chemical control. At the early stage of disease onset, choose 40% carbendazim suspension concentrate or 70% chlorothalonil wettable powder or 25% Tanterling wettable powder 600-700 times solution for spraying, once every 7-10 days, for about 3 consecutive applications.
Suitable Sowing Period for Watermelon
Open-field watermelon cultivation is cultivation without protective equipment. Generally, the suitable time for open-field sowing is when the local last frost has passed and the ground temperature is stable at about 15°C. The best sowing time should also be determined according to conditions such as variety, cultivation season, cultivation method, and consumption season. Generally, sow and raise seedlings in mid-to-late March, plant in mid-to-late April, and begin harvesting and marketing in late June; autumn watermelon is sown in early-to-mid July and begins harvesting and marketing in late September.
Benefits of Watermelon
1. Promotes body fluids, quenches thirst, and relieves heat
Watermelon contains a large amount of water and is a food and drink that can nourish and replenish the body. It is suitable for people with heatstroke and fever, excessive sweating, and thirst. When thirsty, sweating heavily, and irritable, eating a piece of watermelon will immediately improve the symptoms.
2. Diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and blood pressure-lowering
The sugars, salts, acids, and other substances contained in watermelon have the effect of treating nephritis and lowering blood pressure. This is because an appropriate amount of sugar can promote diuresis; an appropriate amount of potassium salt can eliminate inflammation of the kidneys, and the enzymes in it can convert insoluble proteins into soluble proteins to increase the nutrition of nephritis patients; the glycosides in the melon have the effect of lowering blood pressure.
3. Removes wrinkles, smooths skin, and beautifies
Watermelon contains yellow, green, and red elemental components, and they are quite complete, making it a perfect nutritional product. Watermelon juice contains citrulline, alanine, glutamic acid, arginine, malic acid, phosphoric acid, and many other amino acids with skin physiological activity. It also contains adenine and other important metabolic components, sugars, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, and is most easily absorbed by the skin, moisturizing facial skin, providing sun protection, and whitening.
Through the above content, we have learned how to cultivate and manage watermelon and increase watermelon yield. Watermelon sowing also needs to be done at a suitable time, and cannot be done blindly. Watermelon has many benefits, not only promoting body fluids and quenching thirst but also beautifying and caring for the skin. However, watermelon should still be eaten in appropriate amounts.