Watermelon Grafting Technique Tutorial: Detailed Explanation of the Latest Method

To prevent diseases in watermelon cultivation and also to obtain certain excellent traits, grafted seedlings are used for planting. Generally, squash is used to graft watermelon, because squash has a strong root system, and after grafting there are certain benefits for the watermelon itself. The specific operation method of watermelon grafting is the main content introduced in the following article. Let's take a look together!

1. Selecting the Rootstock

First, select the watermelon variety to be grafted, and choose squash, bottle gourd, or winter melon as the rootstock. Generally, squash is chosen more often, so here squash is used as an example for introduction. Choose a squash variety with strong adaptability and excellent quality as the rootstock.

2. Soaking Seeds to Promote Germination

First, soak the squash seeds to promote germination and sow them for seedling cultivation. It is best to use container seedling cultivation, as it is easier to manage. After sowing and emergence, you can begin soaking the watermelon seeds, then sow them. When the squash seedlings grow to two true leaves, the watermelon has just about emerged, so the squash will not be too old. Squash can be soaked and stirred in 60°C hot water, and watermelon soaked in 50°C hot water for disinfection. Then both need to be soaked in warm water at around 25°C. After the seeds absorb water and swell, they can be washed, drained, wrapped in a damp gauze, and placed in an insulated box to promote germination, taking them out to rinse once a day.

3. Preparing Nutrient Soil

For container cultivation, it is best to prepare some nutrient soil for growth, using soil, river sand, peat, pond mud, and some decomposed peanut shells mixed together as nutrient soil. After mixing, it can be spread out to dry on clean ground, and formalin can be sprayed on the nutrient soil for disinfection and sterilization. After three days, it can be put into containers for sowing.

4. Preparing Tools

Prepare some razor blades, as well as bamboo skewers. The bamboo skewers should be smaller than the squash stem. Also prepare disinfectant alcohol, cotton swabs, or cotton. One blade can be broken in two for two people to use. The bamboo skewers must be smooth, not rough, and one end must be whittled into a slanted cross-section. Then also prepare some bamboo strips and plastic bags. After grafting is completed, bamboo strips need to be arched over and covered with plastic bags.

5. Grafting

The main introduction is the common insertion grafting method, because this method is convenient, fast, and has a high survival rate. First, disinfect the tools, then use a blade to cut off the heart leaf at the top of the squash, then you can apply some alcohol. Next, use a bamboo skewer to insert diagonally about 2 mm below the squash growth point. Remove the bamboo skewer, then use a blade to make a slanted cut on the watermelon seedling 1 cm below the cotyledons, then insert the watermelon seedling into the squash growth point. Be careful not to let it fall off, and the watermelon seedling stem should not be too large. Afterward, use bamboo strips to build up a plastic film cover, or place it directly in a small arch shed for cultivation.

For watermelon grafting rootstock, suitable gourd crops can be selected. There is more than one grafting method, but insertion grafting is the easiest to survive, has relatively simple procedures, and is the most convenient to use in production. Therefore, this grafting method is mainly introduced.