Planting Time, Planting Methods and Culinary Uses of the Mouse Melon, the Color-Changing Melon
Mouse melon, also known as golden mango melon, colorful melon, mouse melon, and color-changing melon, is a very novel melon vegetable. As it grows, the color of the fruit can change from green to orange, red, and so on. From a distance it resembles a mouse, which is why it is also called the color-changing mouse melon. It can be planted in courtyards for ornamental purposes, and can also be used as medicine or eaten. So when should mouse melon be planted? How is it planted? What are the ways to eat it?
I. Planting Time
The best months for sowing are February to June. When sowing, it is most suitable to choose sandy loam or clay loam with good drainage. At the same time, tall trellis sheds need to be set up for cultivation, and planting 300 plants per mu is sufficient.
II. Planting Techniques
1. Growth Habits
Mouse melon is an annual herbaceous plant in the Cucurbitaceae family, native to India and Malaysia. It is both ornamental and edible. Each plant bears 30-50 fruits, with a single fruit weighing 350-600 grams. Young fruits are white with green markings and look like mice from a distance, hence the name mouse melon. They range in color from yellow, orange, red, and so on.
2. Site Selection and Land Preparation
Mouse melon does not have high soil requirements, but it is best to choose sandy loam or loam, and water conservancy facilities should also be provided. The previous crop is best as wheat, corn, soybean, potato, and so on. For the same plot where mouse melon has already been grown, planting should be spaced three years apart.
When selecting a site, it is necessary to find out whether the previous crop on that land used herbicides with a long residual period, to avoid pesticide damage to the mouse melon. After selecting the land, deep autumn plowing is needed, with a plowing depth of 20-23cm. This helps the soil mature, store water, and reduce pests or pest eggs.
In combination with land preparation, ridges should be raised, and 1500-2000kg of decomposed farmyard manure should be applied per mu. If planting conditions allow, continuous operations of harrowing, leveling, ridging, and compacting can be carried out in early spring while the soil is still frozen.
3. Cultivation and Propagation
Mouse melon can be divided into potted cultivation and open-field cultivation. For potted cultivation, choose a 30-40cm pot for planting and use the spot-sowing method. Before sowing, soak the seeds for 24-48 hours, which helps the seeds sprout.
For the sowing soil, it is best to choose sandy loam. After sowing, water and fertilize more. Every 10-15 days, apply once a 0.5% compound chemical fertilizer or diluted cake fertilizer water, and spray 0.3% monopotassium phosphate on the leaves. A moderate amount of leaf mold and fully decomposed cake fertilizer can also be added under the tree, but not too much, to prevent burning the seedlings.
Small seedlings develop tendrils at the 5-8 leaf stage, so pinching is needed to promote side branch growth and provide sufficient nutrient demand. For open-field cultivation of color-changing melon, it is only necessary to set up trellises, apply sufficient base fertilizer, water more during dry weather, and apply additional fertilizer during the fruiting period.
4. Seed Germination and Sowing
(1) Seed Treatment:
Two or three days before sowing, seed treatment is needed. Put the seeds in 50-degree water and stir continuously while soaking for 10-15 minutes. When the water temperature is at 30 degrees, soak for 6-8 hours, then take them out and wrap them in wet gauze. When germinating, keep the temperature at 25 degrees, rinse once a day with 30-degree hot water, and sow when the seed germination rate reaches 80% and the sprouts grow to 2mm.
(2) Sowing Temperature:
The best sowing temperature is 8-10 degrees. Apply 20kg of diammonium phosphate + 5kg of potassium sulfate per mu. The sowing row spacing is 65-70cm, and the plant spacing is 70-80cm, with no more than 1300 plants retained per mu.
(3) Sowing Tips:
When digging holes for sowing, the holes should be large and deep. Apply chemical fertilizer and an appropriate amount of insecticide to each hole. After watering, sow 2-3 seeds per hole. After sowing, cover with 3.3cm of fine soil and press down slightly.
5. Seedling Management
When setting up trellises, choose bamboo poles with a diameter of 1-1.5cm and a length of 2-2.5m. Before setting up the trellis, irrigate the vines once. Insert one bamboo pole for each plant, at a distance of 7-8cm from the seedling. When setting up the trellis, a lattice A-frame can be used. When the vine grows to 25cm, begin tying the vine, and thereafter tie it once every 3-4 leaves, generally tying 1-2 nodes below the melon.
When tying the vine, use the curved-vine tying method. At the same time, remove tendrils, lower the height, inhibit excessive plant growth, and promote nutrient transport to the fruit. When the top of the vine approaches the top of the shed, the vine can be lowered by untiring the top, letting the vine drop, and then tying it again.
6. Points for Attention
During the seedling stage of mouse melon, pay attention to inspecting the field and filling in missing seedlings. Weed in time before the vines spread. When weeding, a foliar fertilizer such as 0.2% monopotassium phosphate or Shibao can be sprayed once. During the vine-spreading stage, open shallow furrows when the vine is 10-15cm, and apply 15-20kg of diammonium phosphate or urea per mu. Do a good job of pruning and pressing the vines. During the fruiting stage, choose artificial pollination or bee pollination. When the young fruits are moderately sized, apply 15kg of diammonium phosphate or urea per mu as additional fertilizer, and water scientifically.
7. Plant Adjustment
(1) Removing Branches and Pinching Tips
Generally, no side branches are kept below the first fruit of the color-changing melon, and excess branches and leaves are removed in time. When the color-changing melon grows to 30-35 leaves, that is, 30 days before vine removal, leave 1-2 leaves above the fruit on the main vine and pinch the tip. This can effectively adjust the growing space, reduce nutrient consumption, and promote vine growth.
(2) Thinning Flowers and Fruits
Mainly thin out excess female flowers and young fruits. Generally, keeping one female flower every 1-2 nodes is sufficient. This not only promotes robust vine growth, but also helps improve the quality of the color-changing melon.
(3) Removing Tendrils and Old Leaves
Removing color-changing melons and dried old leaves in time helps plant photosynthesis, increases ventilation and light penetration, and reduces the occurrence of pests and diseases.
8. Pest and Disease Control
Common pests and diseases include anthracnose, fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, cutworms, and aphids.
(1) Anthracnose
It can be controlled by spraying 50% thiophanate-methyl 500-700 times solution or 50% carbendazim 600-700 times solution.
(2) Fusarium Wilt
It can be controlled by drenching the roots with 70% thiophanate-methyl or 50% amobam 1000-1500 times solution.
(3) Powdery Mildew
Spray 25% triadimefon 3000-5000 times solution or 75% thiophanate 800-1000 times solution for control. At the same time, reasonably control temperature, and in rainy seasons take drainage measures in advance to prevent water accumulation.
III. Introduction to Ways of Eating:
1. Mouse Melon Braised with Soybeans
(1) Cut the melon open, scoop out the pulp, cut into pieces, and conveniently cut a few slices of ginger for later use.
(2) Prepare soybeans and dried small shrimp, and so on.
(3) Heat the wok, heat the oil, and add the soybeans to stir-fry.
(4) After stir-frying the soybeans briefly, add the melon and stir-fry together.
(5) Add half a small bowl of clear water, bring to a boil, cover with a lid, and simmer for a while.
(6) Both the melon and fresh soybeans cook quickly, so there is no need to simmer for too long. Then add a little salt and light soy sauce, and season according to your own taste.
(7) Sprinkle on the prepared dried small shrimp, stir-fry evenly, and it is ready.