How to Grow Watermelon in a Greenhouse? Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial
The current season is about to enter the peak period for watermelons. Watermelon is one of the must-have fruits for many people in summer, and it has a very wide planting area in our country. Nowadays, watermelons are mostly grown in greenhouses, which allow for better control of temperature and humidity and promote watermelon growth. So how should watermelons be grown in a greenhouse? Below, the editor brings you the cultivation techniques for greenhouse watermelons. Let's take a look!
1. Planting Soil
Whether grown in a greenhouse or in the open field, watermelons must be rotated, and they cannot be continuously cropped with cucurbit vegetables such as cucumber and bitter melon, so as to prevent the harm of soil-borne diseases. We should choose a plot with higher terrain, normal drainage and irrigation, and deep, loose soil to build the greenhouse. Then, before spring sowing, the soil should be deeply plowed about 25 cm to destroy the overwintering sites of pathogens and pests. Use the low-temperature environment to freeze pests to death, then dig the melon furrows to facilitate the growth of the watermelon plant's roots. Next, apply sufficient base fertilizer, controlling the amount according to soil fertility, mainly farmyard manure, and finally make the beds ready for sowing.
2. Propagation Methods
The propagation methods for greenhouse watermelons are generally based on sowing and grafting, with sowing propagation being the most used. Seeds should be selected from varieties with high yield, strong disease resistance, and no pests or diseases. Then put the seeds in warm water at about 50 degrees and stir them for about 8 minutes. Then, when the water temperature gradually drops, the water should be promptly warmed again, lasting for about half an hour. Then use a solution such as trisodium phosphate for seed dressing. After seed dressing, clean them thoroughly, then air-dry them, wrap them in a damp cloth, and place them at a temperature of about 26 degrees for germination. During soaking, a certain humidity must be maintained. When about 85% of the seeds have germinated, they can be sown.
3. Timely Sowing
When the soil temperature remains above 16 degrees, sowing can begin. Before sowing, dig the sowing furrows, water them thoroughly, and then place the seeds in the very center of the sowing furrows. Put one seed in each sowing hole. After sowing, cover with soil and mulch film. Before emergence, the temperature should be controlled at about 22 degrees, with regular watering. After the seedlings emerge, remove the mulch film and carry out ventilation and cooling to avoid excessive growth of seedlings caused by high temperature and high humidity. After the first true leaf appears on the seedlings, ensure sufficient light. Before planting, do a good job of land preparation, disinfection, and fertilization in the field, dig the planting holes, and water them sufficiently to create a suitable growing environment for the seedlings.
4. Field Management
Water and fertilizer are the substances with relatively large demand during watermelon growth. We should reasonably control the amount of water and fertilizer according to the growth of the watermelons and the weather. In particular, note that when watermelons enter the vine extension stage and young fruit stage, topdressing should be done in time to meet the sufficient nutrients needed for watermelon growth. Then pruning should also be done well to prevent too many vines, which can cause crossing and overlapping and affect each other's growth. It can also reduce nutrient consumption and concentrate nutrients on the flowers and fruits. Finally, use the greenhouse to properly adjust temperature, humidity, and light to avoid unsuitable environments affecting watermelon growth.
The above is a brief introduction to greenhouse watermelon cultivation techniques. Compared with open-field cultivation, greenhouse watermelons are easier to manage, have stronger growth capacity, and also bring better planting benefits. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you everyone for reading and supporting.