How to grow muskmelon in open fields? The latest planting techniques and methods tutorial

Muskmelon, also called sweet melon, is a very sweet and fragrant fruit, and it is grown fairly widely in our country. With the spread of greenhouse technology today, many regions cultivate it using greenhouse techniques. So how do you grow muskmelon well in open fields? Follow the editor to learn about it.

1. Soil and variety selection

To cultivate sweet melon, choose a plot with deep soil, loose and fertile soil, and relatively high terrain. The surroundings should have good ventilation, convenient drainage, and no pollution, so that green, harmless sweet melon can be produced. For open-field cultivation of muskmelon, choose varieties with early maturity, good fruit set, attractive fruit shape, strong disease resistance, and good quality, such as Elizabeth, Ruoren, Xialong, Xuefeng Honey No. 2, and others.

2. Seed treatment

For open-field cultivation of muskmelon, first treat the seeds before sowing. First choose suitable seeds, place them in the sun to dry for one day, then disinfect them in a diluted thiophanate-methyl solution for 15 minutes; this can provide excellent sterilization and disinfection. After the seeds are sterilized and disinfected, it is also necessary to soak the seeds and promote germination. First put the seeds into warm water at 50-60 degrees and soak them for about 6-8 hours; note that the water temperature must not be lower than 30 degrees. After soaking, wrap them well in a wet cloth and keep the temperature between 30-32 degrees. After one day, when the radicle emerges, they can be sown.

3. Seedling raising and transplanting

Sow the seeds on loose, breathable soil, keep the temperature no lower than 15 degrees, and water them appropriately. Generally, seedlings emerge in about one month. After 3-5 leaves have grown, transplant them into the field for planting. When transplanting, in order to avoid late frost, carry it out early. For transplanting, choose mid-to-late March, and transplant when the seedlings have three leaves and one heart. 15-30 days before transplanting, a shed can be put up to raise the ground temperature. Before planting, water the seedbed thoroughly, then transplant with soil. The planting row spacing should be 90 cm and the plant spacing 50 cm.

4. Fertilizer and water management

Applying more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer during the growing period can increase the sugar content of sweet melon, while applying too much nitrogen fertilizer will reduce the sugar content. After the sweet melon sets fruit, apply 10 kg of potassium sulfate per mu, which can effectively increase the sweetness of sweet melon by 1-2 degrees. Spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution at the early fruiting stage can significantly increase sweetness and yield. Proper irrigation during the rapid fruit expansion period can also significantly increase yield and improve variety quality. When the number of sweet melons reaches its peak, if the melon leaves are found to be wilting during the day, furrow irrigation can be used. When irrigating, control the irrigation amount, and after irrigation, apply pesticide.

The above is an introduction to open-field muskmelon cultivation techniques. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.