Preparatory Work and Transplanting Techniques for Greenhouse Cultivation of Muskmelon

① Transplanting at the right time plays an important role in the early ripening of muskmelon and in improving economic returns. The transplanting period is closely related to the ground temperature inside the greenhouse at the time, so the transplanting period differs from region to region. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River it is in early to mid-March, in North China in late March, and in cold regions such as the Northwest and Northeast in early to mid-April. At transplanting time in the greenhouse the air temperature is relatively low, so the earlier the greenhouse is covered the better; the higher the ground temperature, the shorter the time needed for the seedlings to recover. The greenhouse can be covered 60 days before transplanting.

② Muskmelon is a fertilizer-loving crop. After the previous crop in the greenhouse is harvested, plow deeply 20 cm in good time and apply a heavy basal fertilizer. The basal fertilizer is mainly organic fertilizer such as pig, cattle, sheep and chicken manure. Generally, per 667 sq m apply 3000-5000 kg of farmyard manure, 2500-3000 kg of organic fertilizer such as chicken manure, 100 kg of diammonium phosphate and 50 kg of potassium sulfate. First spread 2/3 of it during plowing; after application, level the soil and make turtle-back-shaped high beds 20 cm high and 70 cm wide with a row spacing of 1 m, and apply the remaining 1/3 of the basal fertilizer in the bottom of the furrow. Water once thoroughly, and after drying in the sun lay the plastic film. Usually only plastic film needs to be laid on the high beds in the greenhouse, but sometimes a small tunnel is also added for a short period after transplanting to help keep warmth, promote recovery of the seedlings and promote rapid growth of the young plants. To make full use of light, for a greenhouse running north-south make the beds along the direction of the greenhouse, and for a greenhouse running east-west make the beds across the direction of the greenhouse.

③ In greenhouse cultivation, plant one row per bed. For single-vine pruning the plant spacing is 33 cm, and for double-vine pruning the plant spacing is 40-45 cm. Before planting the seedlings, first break the film and make holes in the center of the high ridge according to the plant spacing, fill the holes with enough water, then put the seedlings in. Keep as much soil as possible around the seedlings to protect the roots from damage. After the water seeps down, fill the holes with soil, and it is best to cover the surface with a layer of fine soil to retain moisture and prevent crusting. After transplanting, the surface of the pot should be level with the ground, not too low (low ground temperature affects root development) or too high (the root soil dries out easily). After transplanting, clean the soil off the plastic film so that it can fully play its role in transmitting light and raising temperature. It is best to transplant on a sunny morning at the end of a cold spell and the beginning of a warm one; if a small tunnel is to be used, set it up the same day.

④ After the melon seedlings are transplanted, they need 3-5 days of recovery before normal growth resumes, and sometimes there is no obvious recovery period. If the melon seedlings remain in a state of stalled growth for a long time after transplanting, they have become stunted seedlings. The causes of stunted seedlings include: transplanting the melon seedlings too early, when the air temperature is on the low side and the soil temperature remains below 15°C for a long time, which easily causes root rot, in which case heating should be applied in good time; unsuitable soil moisture for the melon seedlings, with too much or too little water being harmful to recovery and growth, in which case corresponding measures should be taken according to the specific situation. If waterlogged, cultivate more often and drain to prevent waterlogging; if dry, water a small amount several times; if the melon seedlings are affected by many diseases, the land preparation is poor and the transplanting operation is rather rough, causing the melon seedlings to become infected.