What are the precautions for fertilizing watermelon? A quick look at the latest key points

The peak season for watermelon production can be said to be July and August every year. At this time, all kinds of watermelons can be seen all over the streets, but at this time you will find that many watermelons do not taste very good. Some are hollow, or some have no moisture, some have a lot of moisture but no sugar, and some watermelons are too small and not plump, so they can only be sold at a low price and cannot make money. Some growers also say the yield is not high, with only a few melons per plant. Today, Qinnong.com shares here some issues to note when fertilizing watermelon, so that the melon field can increase production and produce high-quality watermelons. Let's take a look.

1. Base fertilizer

Base fertilizer is the foundation of planting any crop. Only by applying base fertilizer well can quality and yield be guaranteed, so watermelon planting is no exception. When applying base fertilizer, we need to fertilize according to the soil fertility of the planting site. In general, on average, about 3,500 jin of farmyard manure, 200 jin of cake fertilizer, 100 jin of compound fertilizer, and 40 to 50 jin of base fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer are needed per unit, evenly scattered on the prepared land.

2. Full-stand seedling fertilizer

Full-stand seedling fertilizer is something to be done when watermelon seedlings break through the soil and grow to 10 to 15 cm, because the speed of seed germination and growth is uneven, and the field looks uneven. So at this time we should apply an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer and urea to promote the growth of the melon seedlings. Although it can be broadcast directly, the seedlings at this time are relatively fragile, so special care is needed, otherwise they will be burned to death. Therefore, it is generally best to dissolve nitrogen fertilizer and urea in water for irrigation, and at the same time do not place it too close to the roots. The amount of nitrogen fertilizer cannot be too much. About 5 to 10 jin of nitrogen fertilizer and urea is enough per mu.

3. Strong seedling fertilizer

Strong seedling fertilizer generally should wait until the melon seedlings grow to 50 to 60 cm before it can be applied. When applying strong seedling fertilizer, first remove the tip of the main watermelon seedling, then fertilize. This can prompt the melon seedlings to grow new side branches and make the side branches grow thicker and more vigorous, which can increase watermelon yield. The fertilizer dosage should be relatively uniform, and nitrogen fertilizer or potassium fertilizer should not be applied in a biased way. Therefore, on average, about 10 jin of nitrogen fertilizer, about 20 jin of potassium fertilizer, and about 40 jin of compound fertilizer are needed per mu. Stir them evenly, then dig a small hole near the roots of the watermelon, scatter an appropriate amount of mixed fertilizer into each hole, then cover with soil, and finally water each plant once so that the nutrients are more easily absorbed.

4. Flower-promoting fertilizer

Flower-promoting fertilizer, as the name suggests, is to promote the flowering period, that is, it needs to be applied one week before watermelon flowering. At this time, we generally focus on phosphate fertilizer. When the flowers bloom, the nutrients required are very large. If the nutrients are insufficient, it will lead to flower and fruit drop. In order to protect the fruit, we must apply sufficient nutrients. On average, 300 jin of phosphate fertilizer, 100 jin of potassium fertilizer, and 50 jin of compound fertilizer are needed per mu. The most important thing is that at this time, some nutrient solution specially for fruit protection needs to be sprayed onto the flowers.

5. Fruit-setting fertilizer

Wait until the set watermelon is as big as an egg, and you need to carefully observe whether the fuzz on it is already gone. Only then can fruit-setting fertilizer be applied. Applying fertilizer too early will cause the already set watermelon to die and drop. When applying fruit-setting fertilizer, note that you can apply a little less each time, and topdress again every ten days or so, in multiple applications. This fertilization method is the most correct. Fruit-setting fertilizer is generally mainly potassium fertilizer, about 10 jin per mu on average, and a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be mixed in at the same time. This can promote watermelon expansion and sugar accumulation.