How to Grow Melons in the Open Field? A Detailed Guide to Cultivation Techniques

Melon, also known as muskmelon or cantaloupe, is an annual vining herbaceous plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is an important fruit of midsummer and is widely grown throughout our country. Below is an introduction to its open-field cultivation techniques for your reference.

Open-Field Melon Cultivation Techniques

1. Sowing and Raising Seedlings

Choose a melon variety suited to your local area. Before sowing, sun the seeds for 1-2 days, then soak the sunned seeds in 50°C water for about 60 minutes, stirring while soaking, rub off the mucilage on the seed coat, and remove them to prepare for sprouting. After sprouting is complete, sow them on a seedbed prepared in advance,

2. Land Preparation and Transplanting

Choose a sandy loam soil that is loose, deep, fertile and well aerated. Level and harrow it finely before transplanting. Before transplanting, set the hole spacing according to the variety, generally 0.3 m. In addition, add 500 g of Dexon to every 10 t of water as transplanting water. First water thoroughly, place the melon seedling nutrient block into the hole, and press the melon seedling and plastic film firmly with soil.

3. Field Management

When the melon has 2-3 true leaves, thin the seedlings, leaving 3-4 plants per hole; when it has 3-4 true leaves, finalize the seedlings, leaving one strong, large seedling per hole. In transplanted fields, carry out deep loosening immediately after transplanting (in direct-sown fields, at the 2-3 true leaf stage), and weed once more before training the vines, ensuring no large weeds during the growing period. When the seedlings have 4-5 true leaves, leave 4 true leaves and pinch out the growing tip of the main vine; after the secondary vines emerge, select and keep 3-4 strong main vines, and when they grow to 5-6 true leaves, pinch out the growing tips of the secondary vines again, keeping 3-4 tertiary vines on the whole plant; after the tertiary vines produce female flowers, pinch out the growing tip leaving 1-2 leaves ahead of the flower, and at the same time remove all other branches, generally keeping 3-4 melons per plant.

4. Pest and Disease Control

During the melon growing period, pay attention to attacks by downy mildew, powdery mildew, anthracnose, melon aphids and other pests and diseases; sprays can be applied in advance for control.