How to Grow Seedless Watermelon? A Detailed Explanation of the Key Cultivation Techniques
Seedless watermelon has no seeds inside, but it is grown from seeds, only from seeds that have undergone mutation and hybridization. So how do you grow it?
How to grow seedless watermelon?
1. Sowing and raising seedlings
Select seeds that are similar in color and size and relatively plump, and soak them. After soaking, let them dry naturally and germinate them. Any that have sprouted more than one centimeter can be selected for sowing.
2. Planting out
Seedless watermelon is generally not tolerant of low temperatures. Under normal circumstances, for open-field and plastic-film mulching cultivation, planting out should be done after the last frost period, when the average daily temperature is above 15°C. At planting out, a seedling age of 30-35 days, with 3-4 true leaves, is best. A planting density of 500 plants/mu is ideal. Two days before planting, water the nutrient pots thoroughly once, and after planting out, water lightly once to settle the seedlings.
3. Fertilizer and water
Throughout the entire growth period, seedless watermelon should be watered at least 2 to 3 times; afterward, whether to water can be decided according to the climate at the time and the soil moisture status, and watering should be stopped one week before harvest. When sufficient base fertilizer has been applied, non-sandy soil generally does not need seedling-promoting fertilizer. The main applications are two top dressings: the vine-extension fertilizer should be mainly nitrogen fertilizer, supplemented by quick-acting potassium fertilizer; before the fruit enlargement stage, apply quick-acting chemical fertilizer as a top dressing, and the top dressing should be mainly potassium and nitrogen fertilizer. For fertilizer application, it is best to combine irrigation and drainage.
4. Pest and disease control
Preventing and controlling pests and diseases is a routine task in field management and an important part of achieving a high yield, so prevention and treatment should be done early. The main diseases of seedless watermelon include vine blight, anthracnose, and leaf blight, so everyone must take preventive measures in advance.