A Complete Guide to the Key Techniques for Growing Watermelons Outdoors

Watermelon is a common fruit in daily life, and it is grown in many regions, so what are the techniques for growing watermelons outdoors?

1. Site selection and land preparation

Watermelons like to grow in environments with deep soil, good drainage and a loose texture, so when choosing a site, try to choose well-drained riverbank sandy land or ordinary sandy loam soil for planting; it is best to choose land that is slightly elevated and has a slope, as this helps with irrigation later on. After choosing the site, plow the soil deeply, apply an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer, and it is best to level it and wait for planting.

2. Variety selection

There are many watermelon varieties. For outdoor planting, it is generally best to choose varieties that are early-maturing, highly disease-resistant and drought-tolerant; the specific choice should be based on the local climate and humidity conditions.

3. Sowing

(1) Planting time: mid-July to early-to-mid August.

(2) Seed selection: choose suitable watermelon seeds according to the local climate conditions; generally choose seeds that are healthy, plump and glossy.

(3) Seed treatment: soak the seeds in warm water at 55 degrees to achieve a sterilizing effect. Then spread the seeds flat on 2-3 layers of fine, tightly woven wet cloth, cover the seeds with another 2 to 3 layers of wet cloth, place them in a container, and put the container in a warm place with sunlight. Be sure to keep the gauze moist at all times; after about a few days the seeds will sprout.

(4) Sowing: after the seeds sprout, sow them into the soil at appropriate spacing.

4. Transplanting

(1) Transplanting time: early-to-mid August.

(2) Transplanting method: dig out the seedlings together with the soil and roots and transplant them to a larger area.

5. Later-stage management techniques

(1) Fertilizer requirements: watermelons do not have high fertilizer requirements; generally, applying some fertilizer before sowing, at fruit set and during the fruit enlargement stage is enough. The specific amount of fertilizer to apply depends on soil fertility and plant growth.

(2) Water requirements: watermelon is a drought-tolerant crop, resistant to drought and afraid of waterlogging, but this does not mean it does not need irrigation; rather, it should be watered at the right time and in the right amount. Generally, water several times at sowing, at fruit set, during the fruit enlargement stage and in the early ripening stage; the specific amount of water depends on the dryness and moisture of the soil.

(3) Vine pressing: keep one main vine and two strong side vines from the base, and cut off all the other side branches. Keep a fruit between nodes 10-18 on the main vine, leave one fruit per plant, and no pruning is needed after the fruit sets.

(4) Pest and disease control: during the watermelon growing period, prevent diseases and pests such as anthracnose, Fusarium wilt and aphids. For those already affected by pests or diseases, promptly spray appropriate pesticides for targeted treatment.