High-yield Cultivation Measures and Technical Points for Melons

I. Sowing Period

For spring protected cultivation, the temperature inside the greenhouse should be stable above 10°C at transplanting time; counting back 30-35 days from this point is the optimal sowing period.

II. Raising Strong Seedlings

1. Preparation of nutrient soil: decomposed barnyard manure, horse manure (or chicken manure), and sieved field topsoil, in a ratio of 3:2:4, plus 1 part vermiculite; add 0.5 kg urea, 5 kg superphosphate, and 1 kg potassium sulfate per cubic meter of nutrient soil, then spray with 500-fold thiophanate and trichlorfon solution, mix thoroughly, and fill into 8 cm × 8 cm seedling pots for raising seedlings.

2. Seed soaking, germination, and sowing: soak seeds in 50-55°C warm water, stir until it reaches room temperature, then soak for 4 hours, germinate at 28-30°C for 24 hours, then sow. After sowing, cover the bed surface with plastic film to retain heat and moisture.

3. Temperature management: For early spring seedling raising, add a small arch tunnel inside the greenhouse. Keep the temperature at around 30°C from sowing to emergence; when above 30°C, shade to cool down, but do not ventilate. After emergence, ventilate gradually, with daytime temperatures of 26-28°C and nighttime temperatures of around 22°C.

III. Transplanting

1. Fertilization: The ratio of base fertilizer to topdressing is 2:1. Generally, apply 2500-5000 kg of farmyard manure per 1/15 hectare (1 mu), and apply 20 kg of compound fertilizer per 1/15 hectare in holes at transplanting.

2. Raising soil temperature: For spring cultivation, prepare the land 7 days before transplanting and cover with plastic film to raise soil temperature.

3. Transplanting: Spring melons should not be planted deep; cover with 1 cm of soil, with a plant spacing of 40 cm × 70-75 cm. For spring transplanting, water should be applied in small amounts along the furrow to avoid lowering soil temperature; in autumn, flood irrigation should be used to water and cool down.

4. Temperature management: For 3-4 days after spring transplanting, the temperature should be slightly higher, but not exceeding 35°C. After seedling recovery, gradually lower the temperature, with daytime temperatures of 26-28°C and nighttime temperatures guaranteed above 10%.

5. Pruning: Single-vine or double-vine pruning can be used, with 1-2 fruits per plant. For single-vine pruning, set fruits on lateral branches at nodes 12-15, and remove other lateral branches early. Around 1-2 days before or after the female flower on the fruit-bearing branch blooms, pinch the main vine at 23-25 leaves. For double-vine pruning, pinch the main vine when seedlings have 5 leaves, keeping 2 lateral vines of consistent vigor. Set fruits on branches at nodes 10-12 of the lateral vines. The optimal node position for fruit setting is the lower-middle part of the plant. Keep at least 8-10 leaves above the fruit-setting node. Pinch the fruit-bearing branch at 2 leaves.

6. Fruit setting: "Yuanzhang" has good fruit-setting ability; only assisted pollination is needed, and hormones must not be used. When the fruit grows to the size of a ping-pong ball, select and set the fruit. When keeping 2 fruits, keep fruits with similar node positions, growth vigor, and size. "Yuanzhang" is a medium-early maturing variety; for spring protected cultivation, the maturity period is 40 days, with an average single fruit weight of 1.7 kg.

IV. Water and Fertilizer Management

Water lightly for seedling recovery. Water moderately for vine extension, and apply topdressing according to growth vigor; generally apply 25 kg of a 1:1 mixture of diammonium phosphate and urea per 1/15 hectare. Water sufficiently for fruit swelling, and at the same time apply 25 kg of diammonium phosphate and potassium sulfate per 1/15 hectare. Thereafter, water according to soil moisture conditions. Do not water within 7-10 days before harvest to prevent fruit cracking.