Melon Cultivation Management Methods and Technical Key Points

Melon is a common type of melon in daily life, and because of its juicy and sweet taste and high nutritional value, it is deeply loved by people. It is now cultivated in many regions, so what are the melon management methods?

1. Pruning and trellising: Melons are mostly cultivated with single-vine pruning. Generally, for vigorous-growing plants, the side branches growing above the cotyledon node can be removed, and only the 3-4 side vines at the fruit-setting node need to be retained. If the growth is weak, 5-6 side vines above the cotyledon node can be retained, and the remaining side vines removed. At the fruit-setting node, side vines should be retained again, and the specific number to retain should be determined by the plant's growth vigor. When the retained basal side vines grow 2-3 leaves, the growing tip can be pinched off.

2. Temperature management: For melons at the germination stage, the temperature should be controlled at 25-35 degrees; for melons at the seedling stage, the daytime temperature should be controlled at 30 degrees, and the nighttime temperature at 18-20 degrees; for melons at the vine-extension stage, the temperature should be controlled at 25-30 degrees, and giving more than 12 hours of light each day is sufficient. For melons at the fruiting stage, the temperature should be controlled at 27-30 degrees, and the lowest nighttime temperature should be controlled at 10-12°C, so as to increase the sugar accumulation in the fruit.

3. Pollination: At 8-10 a.m., use Fengchanji No. 2 mixed with 400g of water for hormone treatment or carry out manual pollination.

4. Pinching: Melon pinching is generally done between the 10th and 15th leaves. When pinching, if the young fruit is relatively large, select and retain 1-2 fruits with regular shape. You can also pinch the vine 2-3 leaves before the fruit on the fruit-bearing vine, so as to increase the nutrient area near the fruit and improve the fruit quality.

5. Water and fertilizer management: Melons do not have high requirements for water and fertilizer. Generally, 5-7 days after seedling recovery, water for seedling recovery should be given. During the vine-extension stage, the amount of watering should be determined according to the soil conditions and the growth of the melon vines. During the flowering and fruit-setting stages, watering is generally not needed. For fertilization, it depends on the plant's growth. If the melon vines are weak, apply 5 kg of urea per mu. During the fruit-setting stage, apply some nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer per mu, and additionally apply 30-35 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer. In addition, spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer once about every ten days to improve the quality of the melon.

Overall, melons are still quite easy to manage. As long as the temperature is well controlled, and pruning, pinching, pollination, and other tasks are done well, it is fine.