Summary of Experience in Greenhouse Cultivation of Hami Melon

In recent years, Xinjiang Hami melons have been successfully introduced, demonstrated and promoted in the Jiading area, and a number of Hami melon varieties suitable for cultivation in the eastern region have been selected, among which Xuelihong has become the leading Hami melon variety in this district. At the same time, through the “base + farmers” model, Hami melons have been promoted to a large number of farmers, and a relatively mature greenhouse cultivation technique for Hami melons has been developed. The greenhouse cultivation technique is introduced below: 

I. Variety Characteristics 

Xuelihong, a thick-skinned melon bred by the Xinjiang Hami Melon Research Center, is an early-to-mid maturing variety. The fruit development period is about 40 days. The fruit is elliptical, the rind is white with occasional sparse netting, and when ripe it is white with a pink tinge; the flesh is light red, tender in texture, crisp and refreshing, melting in the mouth, with a taste resembling that of a fragrant pear. The center refractometer sugar content is above 15%, and a single melon weighs about 2.5 kg. 

II. Determining the Sowing Date 

The best sowing period for spring greenhouse cultivation of Hami melons in the Shanghai area: late January to early February.

III. Raising Strong Seedlings 

1. Seed treatment 

Dry treatment may be used: bake dry seeds in a constant-temperature drying oven at 60-69°C for about 3 days, which gives a good disinfection and sterilization effect. If these conditions are not available, the seeds may be sunned under strong sunlight for 2 days. 

2. Sowing 

When sowing: first, the surface of the pots should be level and the seedling pots should be arranged tightly together; second, the seedbed should be watered thoroughly, and sowing should be done after the water has seeped down; third, one seed per pot, with the seed placed flat; third, the depth of the covering soil should be uniform, preferably about 1 cm thick, and lightly pressed down after sowing. 

3. Seedbed management 

Spring seedling raising emphasizes heat preservation and disease prevention; the seedbed uses multi-layer film covering, and electric heating wires are laid on the ground. 

Temperature management: adopt the “two high, two low” variable temperature management method, that is, before emergence, the seedbed temperature should be maintained at 30-32°C during the day and 18-20°C at night to promote uniform emergence; before the first true leaf unfolds, the bed temperature should be appropriately lowered, maintained between 25-28°C during the day and 15-16°C at night, to prevent leggy seedlings; until the third true leaf appears, the bed temperature should be appropriately raised, maintained between 30-32°C during the day and 18-20°C at night, to promote early emergence of true leaves; one week before transplanting, carry out low-temperature hardening of the seedlings so that the young plants gradually adapt to field environmental conditions.