What are the characteristics of the Boyang No. 9 melon variety?

Every 100 grams of Boyang No. 9 melon flesh contains 90-93 grams of water, 9.8 grams of carbohydrates, 29-39 milligrams of vitamin C, and also a small amount of protein, fat, minerals and other vitamins, etc. The soluble solids content at the center is 12%-13.5%, and the soluble solids content at the edge is 10.5%. It is a hybrid, thin-skinned type, with suitable sweetness, a crisp and flaky texture, a fresh fragrance, relatively thick flesh, and a well-proportioned fruit shape.

I. Key Points of Boyang No. 9 Melon Cultivation Techniques

It is suitable for cultivation in Tianjin, Shandong, Hebei, Henan, and Jiangsu in overwintering greenhouses, early spring greenhouses, spring and autumn greenhouses, and open fields. The key cultivation techniques are as follows:

1. Cultivate strong seedlings, using nutrient pots or plug trays for seedling production.

2. Apply sufficient base fertilizer and use nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers reasonably.

3. Cultivation methods: In protected cultivation, single-vine or double-vine pruning can be used. For single-vine pruning, 2000-2200 plants per mu; for double-vine pruning, 1400-1600 plants per mu. The node position for fruit setting depends on local cultivation habits. For open-field cultivation, the plant spacing is 40 cm × 110 cm, with pinching at 4-5 leaves, leaving 2-3 secondary vines. Grafting is recommended to increase disease resistance and raise yield.

4. Management during the fruit-setting period: After fruit setting, promptly apply fruit-swelling fertilizer together with watering, strengthen water and fertilizer management, and control watering when entering the ripening stage to improve fruit quality. In the middle and late stages of fruit setting, promptly remove old lower leaves to facilitate ventilation and light penetration.

5. Pest and disease control: Focus on prevention, and promptly use chemical treatments when pests and diseases occur.

II. Precautions for Growing Boyang No. 9 Melon

1. Improper soil, climate, or cultivation management may cause losses.

2. Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer can easily lead to overly vigorous plant growth, difficulty in fruit setting, and bitter flesh, etc.; swelling agents can easily cause deformed fruit, poorer quality, and a prolonged development period, etc.; improper concentration of flower-dipping agents can easily cause fruit cracking and bitter flesh, etc.

3. Pay special attention to the control of fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew, as well as bacterial diseases such as bacterial fruit blotch.

4. Harvest at the proper time. When overripe, the flesh color will turn orange-green and the flesh will become soft. Avoid bringing unripe melons to market.