Key Points of Sowing and Seedling Raising Techniques for Mini Watermelons in Early Spring

Mini watermelon is a new type of watermelon, and its growth characteristics have their own particularities compared with ordinary watermelons, which are also reflected in its cultivation features. So what are the points to note when sowing and raising mini watermelon seedlings in early spring?

1. Select excellent varieties

At present, there are not many mini watermelon varieties on the market, mainly Huami Xiaojingling (striped rind, yellow flesh) and Huami Zhangzhongbao (striped rind, red flesh) produced by Anhui Tianhe Watermelon and Melon Seed Industry Co., Ltd.

There are also Zaochun Hongyu from Japan and Texiaofeng from Taiwan, China, etc. From the perspective of the economic traits of the varieties, domestic varieties are not inferior to imported ones, but imported seeds are several times more expensive than domestic seeds.

2. Determine the sowing and cultivation time

Because mini watermelons have a short growth period, they can be cultivated in multiple seasons in one year. In view of the relatively low yield of mini watermelons, protected early-maturing cultivation and late-autumn delayed cultivation are generally used to obtain higher economic benefits.

The specific cultivation season can be determined according to the local temperature, light and heat resources and protected facilities. For example, in Huaibei and Shandong, with solar greenhouse multi-layer covering cultivation, sowing can be done in late December, planting in early February, and harvesting in mid-to-late April; for plastic greenhouses, sowing is in late January to early February, planting in late February to early March, and marketing in early-to-mid May.

In areas south of the Huaihe River, greenhouse cultivation can be sown in early-to-mid February, planted in early-to-mid March, and harvested in mid-May. Late-autumn delayed cultivation can be sown in mid-to-late July, planted in early August, and marketed around National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival.

3. Sowing and seedling raising methods

Use nutritional pots for seedling raising, and the diameter of the nutritional pots should not be less than 8 cm. The nutrient soil must be composted and decomposed before use, reaching the standard of being rich in organic matter and retaining water and fertilizer. Before sowing, the seeds should be sun-dried for one sunny day. Mini watermelon seeds are relatively small, with a 1000-grain weight generally of 30-40 grams. The seed coat is thin, so the soaking time should not be too long, generally 2 hours.

Before sowing, water the nutrient soil in the pots thoroughly with bottom water, and choose a sunny day for sowing. For early-maturing cultivation, cover with film immediately to increase temperature. When most seeds have emerged, remove the film to lower the temperature, keeping it at about 25°C during the day and about 18°C at night to prevent leggy seedlings. After the first true leaf unfolds, appropriately increase the temperature to promote growth. Ventilate and harden the seedlings 5-7 days before transplanting to prepare for transplanting. The seedling age is generally 30-35 days. For late-autumn delayed cultivation, the seedling stage is during a high-temperature period, so shade, cool, and preserve warmth. During this period, seeds sprout quickly and seedlings grow quickly, so the seedling age should not be too long, generally about 10 days is suitable.

Warm reminder: The plot for planting mini watermelons should have a low groundwater level, convenient irrigation and drainage, loose soil, and should not have grown cucurbit crops for more than 3 years. Before planting, apply sufficient base fertilizer, but the amount of fertilizer needed is only 70% of that for ordinary watermelons. Generally, deep plow and freeze the soil before winter. Before planting, spread about 2000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, and 25 kg of superphosphate, then plow the soil. After making beds, apply 30-40 kg of Sanyuan compound fertilizer per mu in furrows. When planting in early spring, the soil temperature should be stable above 15°C and the air temperature above 12°C, and planting should be done on a sunny day. Summer planting should be done in the evening, and root damage should be avoided as much as possible during planting.