Tutorial on Cultivation and Management Techniques for Bringing Watermelons to Market Early

In recent years, there have been more and more off-season fruits and melons. The reason is that people have gradually come to understand that if a product can enter the market early, it can quickly capture the market and thereby obtain greater economic benefits. The same is true for watermelons. With the continuous development of planting techniques, in some areas watermelons can already be eaten on the market around April. So how is the technique for bringing watermelons to market early achieved? Let us learn about it together below.

1. Seed selection work required for bringing watermelons to market early

Watermelon seed selection requires attention to two points: one is the adaptability of watermelons to the climate of the planting area; the other is the market sales situation of the watermelons being planted. Regarding climate adaptability, growers can choose suitable melon seedlings according to local climate conditions. Regarding market adaptability, there are currently two main melon types on the market, one is seeded watermelon, and the other is seedless watermelon. Planting experience tells us that seeded watermelons can achieve early maturity and early market entry through a series of planting techniques, while seedless watermelons have a relatively longer maturity period. Growers can choose both seeded watermelon and seedless watermelon types for planting, preferably in a ratio of four to six. Using these two physical techniques for pest control can effectively eliminate most pests that seriously harm the growth of melon seedlings, such as cutworm-type pests and fly-aphid-type pests. Seeded watermelons can be used by growers and merchants for early market entry and market capture, while seedless watermelons can make up for it later and consolidate the market. The combination of the two brings out the best in each other, which is beneficial for growers and merchants to obtain considerable economic returns and can also meet consumer demand. At present, among seeded watermelons, the Black Beauty series varieties have shown relatively good field planting results, while among seedless watermelons there is Nongyou Xin No. 1, and growers can make reasonable choices.

2. Reasonable and timely sowing

To bring watermelons to market early, choosing a suitable sowing time is crucial, and adopting scientific and reasonable sowing methods is indispensable. Timely sowing requires consideration of local climate conditions, temperature, and other factors. Taking the author's location as an example: the average temperature in winter and spring is 14°C, and after March, the temperature gradually rises. Growers can sow and raise seedlings in greenhouses during December and January of the following year. At the end of January and the beginning of February of the following year, growers can transplant the cultivated watermelon seedlings into field greenhouses. The matters needing attention in sowing and seedling raising are as follows: first, before sowing, the seeds must be disinfected to do a good job in disease prevention; second, after the seeds germinate, sufficient root water and adequate nutrition must be ensured; third, artificial enhancement of light intensity is needed.

3. Field management: heat-preservation cultivation

⟦NL>To bring watermelons to market early, sowing and seedling raising must be done early, that is, sowing and seedling raising need to begin around December in winter. Using these two physical techniques for pest control can effectively eliminate most pests that seriously harm the growth of melon seedlings, such as cutworm-type pests and fly-aphid-type pests. The climate in December in winter is still relatively cold, and only by ensuring suitable temperature can the sowing and seedling raising of watermelons proceed normally. The initial stage of sowing and seedling raising has stricter temperature requirements, so this stage is carried out in greenhouses. Only after the watermelon seedlings have grown for about one month are they transplanted into field greenhouses. In short, to bring watermelons to market early, temperature is key in the watermelon planting process, so the cultivation method in greenhouses is the main means.

4. Field management: thinning seedlings and reasonable close planting

⟦NL>After watermelon seedlings in field greenhouses grow to a certain stage, the seedlings will intertwine with each other. This is because the density of seedlings is too high when planted locally, so field thinning is very necessary. Too high a seedling density will seriously affect the normal growth of the seedlings and is not conducive to bringing watermelons to market early. However, if the seedlings are planted too densely or too sparsely, it will directly affect watermelon yield. Therefore, growers must, according to the actual situation of their own melon fields, reasonably plan the number of melon seedlings per unit area in their fields, plant at a reasonable density, and carry out field thinning in a timely manner.

5. Field management: irrigation techniques

⟦NL>During the watermelon planting process, water demand is high, so sufficient water must be ensured and irrigation must be actively carried out to ensure that watermelons can be brought to market early. Irrigation in watermelon field planting management should adhere to the principle of "high frequency, low amount." This irrigation method is more beneficial to watermelon growth. The irrigation technique that conforms to this principle is the currently widely used drip irrigation under film technique. This irrigation technique can not only ensure sufficient water in the watermelon field through all-weather spraying, but also save water.

6. Field management: pest control

⟦NL>In the watermelon planting process, to bring watermelons to market early, it is necessary to ensure normal watermelon growth and avoid the impact of pests. Using pesticides is one method, but with the development of science and technology, when planting watermelons today we can reduce the use of pesticides as much as possible. After all, the use of pesticides has too many obvious and hidden negative effects. Growers can use physical techniques such as frequency-vibration insect-killing lamps and yellow sticky insect traps to control pests. In field greenhouses, install one frequency-vibration insect-killing lamp on average every 3 to 4 sq m, and hang 3 to 4 yellow sticky insect traps measuring 20 cm by 40 cm and coated with machine oil every 100 sq m. Using these two physical techniques for pest control can effectively eliminate most pests that seriously harm the growth of melon seedlings, such as cutworm-type pests and fly-aphid-type pests. Moreover, the economic investment in frequency-vibration insect-killing lamps and yellow sticky insect traps is one-time and can be used for a long time, which can effectively reduce growers' planting costs. In addition, the use of physical techniques does not have a series of negative effects associated with pesticide use. It not only has a good insect-killing effect but can also ensure the excellent quality of watermelons and improve the safety quality of watermelons.

The above is the cultivation technique for bringing watermelons to market early collected and organized by Qinnong Network for everyone. Fruit growers may refer to it as appropriate. This technique can both ensure the quality of watermelons and at the same time achieve early market entry for watermelons. Bringing watermelons to market early not only allows consumers to taste delicious watermelons earlier, but also increases fruit growers' economic returns considerably, achieving two goals at once.