What are the common problems when transplanting muskmelons?
(1) Preparation of the planting site
After the previous crop is harvested, plowing should be done immediately. Because muskmelons require a loose and deep tilth layer, the plowing depth should be 25-30 cm, and should not be shallower than 20 cm. Deep plowing can thicken the loose soil layer, increase soil pores, activate the soil, and help muskmelon roots extend downward, expand the range for absorbing water and nutrients, reduce damage from pests and diseases, and thereby lay the foundation for increased muskmelon yields.
(2) Applying base fertilizer
The growth period of muskmelons is short, so topdressing is limited; generally, applying sufficient base fertilizer can meet the needs of growth, and fertilization should mainly be base fertilizer. Base fertilizer is mainly organic fertilizer, and organic fertilizer is the most important fertilizer for cultivating muskmelons. Commonly used organic fertilizers include coarse fertilizers such as barnyard manure, compost, grass manure, and miscellaneous soil manure, as well as fine fertilizers such as dried human manure, cake fertilizer, fish fertilizer, and chicken manure. In the north, barnyard manure is mostly cattle, horse, pig, and sheep manure, while in the south pig manure is predominant. Muskmelons grown with sheep manure are sweet and of high quality. If poultry manure such as chicken manure is applied, the sweetness of muskmelons will be even higher, because poultry manure is high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, especially rich in phosphorus and potassium. Some phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer can also be mixed into the base fertilizer, and when the amount of base fertilizer is insufficient, some nitrogen fertilizer may also be applied. Generally, per 667 sq m, apply 5000-8000 kg of high-quality farmyard manure such as barnyard manure, 40-50 kg of superphosphate, and 20 kg of potassium sulfate as base fertilizer. Two-thirds of the base fertilizer is applied by broadcasting, which can be incorporated during deep plowing and land preparation, and one-third is applied in furrows, with beds made above the furrows.
Muskmelons are cultivated on high beds or high ridges. For double-row cultivation, the planting bed width is 80-100 cm, the furrow width is 50 cm, and the bed height is about 20 cm; for single-row planting, the ridge width is about 40 cm and the furrow width is about 60 cm,
Muskmelon fields are cultivated with plastic film mulching. Plastic film mulching has an extremely significant effect on raising and maintaining temperature, can make muskmelons mature earlier; its moisture-preserving effect is obvious and can reduce the number of irrigations. In addition, covering with plastic film in protected facilities can lower air humidity and reduce the occurrence of diseases. The plastic film is applied by full-bed mulching. There are two sequences for mulching time: one is to mulch first and then sow or transplant, that is, after mulching for 3-5 days, wait until the soil temperature rises and then transplant through the film. The other is to transplant first and then mulch. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and either can be chosen as appropriate according to labor conditions. Regardless of the method, the plastic film must be laid with high quality. The bed surface for mulching must be finely and evenly prepared, without clods, stones, or grass roots. The film surface must closely adhere to the bed surface, the film edges must be pressed tightly and firmly, and the film surface must be kept clean and light-transmitting.
For transplanting, it is best to choose a sunny morning. First dig the transplanting holes, slightly deeper than the nutrient pots. When lifting and transporting seedlings, handle them gently to prevent the root balls from breaking apart.
(3) Planting density and planting methods
Cultivation methods can be divided into trellis cultivation and ground-vine cultivation. Ground-vine cultivation is convenient to manage, does not require consideration of row direction and shading, and in the early stage can use multiple layers of covering, which helps preserve heat, advance growth and fruiting, but cannot fully utilize space; trellis cultivation can increase planting density, fully utilize space, and increase yield. In larger solar greenhouses and large tunnels, trellis cultivation is used, while ground-vine cultivation is used in small arched tunnels. Planting density varies with variety, growth vigor, planting method, and pruning method. Usually, early-maturing varieties with weak growth vigor can be planted more densely, while large-fruited varieties with strong growth vigor should be planted more sparsely; ground-vine cultivation should be sparser, and trellis cultivation denser; single-vine pruning should be denser, and double-vine pruning sparser. Generally, ground-vine cultivation plants 700-800 plants per 667 sq m, single-vine trellis cultivation plants 2000-2200 plants per 667 sq m, and double-vine trellis cultivation plants 1200-1500 plants per 667 sq m.