When Are Melons and Muskmelons Planted and Marketed? Introduction to Common Varieties

Muskmelon and melon belong to the same fruit; the reason they are given two names is partly a regional factor and partly related to the melon variety. So when are they generally marketed? When are they planted? What varieties are there? Depending on the variety, the melon marketing season can run from March all the way to October. In the north, muskmelons generally start coming to market in September-October, after the wheat harvest is finished.

When are melons and muskmelons planted?

Melon: Melon seedlings are transplanted between the strawberry ridges from late March to early April.

1. Seed soaking and sprouting: The seeds to be sown need to be carefully selected. Before sprouting, sun-dry them for 2 days, then soak the seeds in warm water at about 50°C for about 15 minutes, taking care to stir; after the water cools naturally, soak for another 5 hours, then remove and wash clean, and then treat with a medicinal solution for sterilization and disinfection.

2. Transplanting: Melon seedlings are transplanted between the strawberry ridges from late March to early April, with a plant spacing of 50 cm. When transplanting, add an appropriate amount of soil fungicide and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer into each hole, with 2 melon seedlings per hole, and water thoroughly.

3. Pruning: Qitian No. 1 melon mainly sets fruit on secondary vines and tertiary vines, so pruning must be handled flexibly. When the melon seedling grows to 4 true leaves, pinch off the growing tip; each of leaf axils 1-4 produces one secondary vine; generally remove the secondary vines near the roots and keep the first 3 secondary vines; each secondary vine needs to keep a tertiary vine for fruit setting at 4-5 leaves.

4. Fertilizer and water management: Melons have a very high fertilizer requirement during the growing season; in addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, topdressing is also necessary. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizer can improve melon quality; generally apply more potassium fertilizer and less nitrogen fertilizer.

5. Temperature management: Melon is a warmth-loving crop, and the temperature required differs at each growth stage. Generally after transplanting, temperature management must be grasped in the early stage, adopting a high-temperature management approach and keeping it at around 25-35°C (it can also grow normally at 15°C-45°C); during the flowering period, 25°C; if the night temperature is below 17°C, the flowering period will be delayed; the most suitable temperature for the fruit ripening stage is 30°C.

Muskmelon: Under normal conditions, muskmelon is suitable for planting in March-April.

1. Raising seedlings: A 65-cell black seedling tray can be used; the seedling age is about 35 days (average temperature above 15 degrees). When the seedlings reach the 3-5 leaf stage, they can be planted in the field.

2. Transplanting: Transplant in early to mid-May; the planting density can be suited to the variety; after transplanting, pay attention to water management to shorten the seedling recovery period as much as possible; water into the holes, which can both preserve ground temperature and supply sufficient water for seedling recovery. Cover with plastic film to retain moisture and increase ground temperature. A water-retaining agent can also be used at transplanting, which can reduce the number of waterings; during the entire growth period, it can be watered 1 more time.

3. Fertilization: Apply sufficient base fertilizer at one time; open a furrow 30 cm from the plants and apply 50-100 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer per mu, or 2-3 cubic meters of decomposed livestock and poultry manure. Or 50-100 kg of ternary biological organic fertilizer; in the middle and late stages, spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate, Fengshou No. 1, etc. on the leaves as supplementary regulation, which can also balance vegetative growth and reproductive growth and increase the fruit-setting rate.

4. Pesticide use: Along with the pots and fertilizer, broadcast 2-4 kg of Tiannuo Xianjing per mu, or phorate or abamectin, etc., to control underground pests, nematode disease, or soil-borne diseases; during planting management, virus disease prevention should be strengthened, and every about 10 days spray Zhibingling and a protective fungicide on the leaves once.

5. Watering: Usually water less; grasp key periods such as the fruit-swelling water, and at the same time apply quick-acting compound fertilizer as topdressing to ensure sufficient nutrients for the melon, and water in time in case of drought.

What varieties of melon and muskmelon are there?

Muskmelon:

1. Xiangfei: An early-maturing, disease-resistant Hami melon suitable for cultivation in various places; it is an improved variety of the Xinjiang “Hongxincui”, with the advantages of early maturity, disease tolerance, and strong fruit-setting ability. It also maintains the crisp, tender flesh quality of “Hongxincui”. The fruit is spindle-shaped, the rind is yellow-green, the fruit surface has sparse netting, the fruit weighs about 2 kg, the flesh is thick and light orange, the sugar content is between 13-16%, it matures about 40 days after flowering, and it has strong storage and transport tolerance.

2. Chenglu: A new type of high-grade greenhouse netted orange-fleshed variety. The fruit is high-spherical, with thick, beautiful netting, and matures about 55 days after flowering. The fruit weighs 1-1.5 kg, the rind is gray-white-green, the flesh is orange, the texture is soft and tender, the flavor is especially fresh and delicious, and the sugar content is generally above 14%. It is not prone to fruit cracking, has strong storage and transport tolerance, and does not drop its stem.

3. Changxiangyu: A large-fruited netted orange-fleshed Hami melon, with vigorous growth and relatively strong resistance to fusarium wilt. The fruit is long-oval, with gray-green skin; the netting is fine, dense, and stable; the fruit weighs about 2.5 kg; the flesh is orange-red; the sugar content is about 16 degrees; the texture is fine and soft with aroma. The whole growth period is about 90 days.

Melon:

1. Mapao melon (variety): The difference from the original variety lies in the slender plant; the flowers are smaller, borne in pairs or in clusters of 3; the ovary is densely covered with fine soft hairs and stiff hairs; the fruit is small, oblong, spherical, or top-shaped, aromatic, not sweet, and the flesh is extremely thin. There is a little cultivation in various parts of northern and southern China, and it has generally escaped to the wild; it also occurs in Korea. It is often not eaten and is used for ornament.

2. Caimelon (variety): The fruit is oblong-cylindrical or nearly club-shaped, 20-30 (-50) cm long, 6-10 (-15) cm in diameter, slightly thicker at the upper part than the lower part, with both ends rounded or slightly truncate, smooth and hairless, light green, with longitudinal lines; the flesh is white or light green, without sweet fragrance. The flowering and fruiting period is summer. It is commonly cultivated in northern and southern China; the fruit is a summer vegetable and is often pickled to make pickled melon.