Latest Muskmelon Seed Prices and Planting Methods

Muskmelon is a summer heat-relieving fruit, also known as gangua, tiangua, etc. It is the fruit of the muskmelon, an annual trailing herbaceous plant of the genus Cucumis in the Cucurbitaceae family. It is widely cultivated in temperate to tropical regions worldwide, and its flesh is eaten raw. It is rich in nutrients and very popular among consumers, with extremely high cultivation value. Now let us take a look at muskmelon seed prices and planting methods!

How much is a jin of muskmelon seeds?

The price of muskmelon seeds is about 60 to 80 yuan per jin, but it varies depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin and market. Muskmelon originated in the tropical desert regions of Africa and was introduced to China around the Northern Wei period along with watermelon. It began to be widely planted in the Ming Dynasty, and is now commonly cultivated throughout China. There are many cultivated varieties, and the fruit's shape, color, size and taste also vary by variety.

What varieties of muskmelon are there?

1. Xiangfei: Xiangfei is a muskmelon improved from Xinjiang's “Hongxincui”. The fruit is spindle-shaped, the rind is yellow-green, and the fruit surface has sparse netting. The fruit weighs about 2 kg, the flesh is thick and light orange, the sugar content is between 13 and 16%, and it matures about 40 days after flowering, with strong storage and transport tolerance.

2. Chenglu: Chenglu's fruit is tall and spherical, with coarse, attractive netting, and matures about 55 days after flowering. The fruit weighs 1 to 1.5 kg, the rind is grayish-white-green, the flesh is orange, and the sugar content is generally above 14%. It is not prone to cracking, has strong storage and transport tolerance, and does not drop its stem.

3. Changxiangyu: Changxiangyu grows vigorously and is relatively resistant to fusarium wilt. The fruit is long and elliptical with a gray-green skin and fine, stable netting. The fruit weighs about 2.5 kg, the flesh is orange-red, the sugar content is about 16 degrees, and the flesh is fine, soft and aromatic. The whole growth period is about 90 days.

Growing conditions for muskmelon

1. Soil: The most suitable soil for muskmelon growth and development is loam or sandy loam with deep soil layers, rich organic matter, fertility and good aeration. Soil in which the solid, gas and liquid phases each account for 1/3 is ideal.

2. Water: Muskmelon is drought-tolerant but not waterlogging-tolerant, but because its root system is shallow, it has relatively high requirements for soil moisture, and because the leaves transpire heavily, it has relatively low requirements for air humidity. Especially for thick-skinned muskmelon, the relative air humidity is best controlled below 50%.

3. Temperature: The suitable temperature for muskmelon growth and development is 18 to 25°C. The suitable temperature for flowering and fruiting is 22 to 25°C. Its adaptability is broader than that of cucumber, and its tolerance to low temperatures is also very strong.

4. Light: Muskmelon cultivation requires sufficient light, and the daily sunshine duration should be more than 10 to 12 hours. If 14 to 15 hours per day is maintained regularly, it grows well.

Sowing methods for muskmelon

1. Variety selection: There are many muskmelon varieties, but it is usually necessary to choose varieties with a short growth period, drought resistance, moisture tolerance, disease resistance, and good appearance and internal quality that meet market consumer demand. At the same time, it is essential to understand the variety and determine the planting method according to the variety.

2. Seed disinfection: Muskmelon seeds can generally be soaked and disinfected with 1% copper sulfate or carbendazim. When direct sowing, aldicarb or 3% fenitrothion powder can be used to dress the seeds to avoid damage by underground pests.

3. Sowing time: The suitable sowing period for muskmelon is August to October, and no later than November. For spring sowing, February to March can be chosen, but it is best to ensure harvest at the Qingming and Guyu solar terms. Varieties with a long growth period can be sown early, and those with a short growth period can be sown late.

4. Seedling raising and sowing: For fine cultivation of muskmelon, nutrient pots or nutrient bags can be used for raising seedlings. Nutrient soil is mixed with fine manure, carbendazim, calcium superphosphate 3, and compound fertilizer, then an appropriate amount of water is added, mixed evenly and piled to ferment for 5 to 7 days. Then it is put into bags and sown, with one seed per bag being ideal.

Planting methods for muskmelon

1. Ventilation and hardening of seedlings: Muskmelon seedlings grow rapidly. To prevent excessive growth, water and temperature should be strictly controlled. After emergence, ventilation should be gradually increased to harden the seedlings, with the daytime temperature controlled at 20 to 25°C and the nighttime temperature controlled at about 10°C.

2. Seedling stage management: During the muskmelon seedling stage, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened. Every 5 to 7 days, use compound fertilizer water to water the seedlings once, together with metalaxyl or metalaxyl-copper to prevent root rot. When there are 4 to 5 true leaves, spray once with Bordeaux mixture to prevent powdery mildew and white rust.

3. Pinching and vine training: Muskmelon fruits mainly grow on secondary vines and tertiary vines, so pinching and vine training are necessary to promote fruiting. The six-vine style is generally used. When the vine has 5 to 6 leaves, leave 4 leaves and pinch the tip, keep 2 secondary vines, and afterward keep 3 tertiary vines on each secondary vine.

4. Spreading grass and turning the fruit: Muskmelon fruits that touch the ground are susceptible to damage by the larvae of the yellow squash beetle, causing quality decline or reduced yield, so grass is spread under the vines when training them. When the fruit has grown to half size, turn it at the appropriate time, which also helps avoid pests and diseases and can make the melon's coloring and flavor uniform.

5. Timely topdressing: After pinching the muskmelon vines, use 500 kg of dried human manure and 50 to 100 kg of cake fertilizer per mu, apply it in a ring 10 cm from the roots, cover with soil, and then apply 100 to 200 kg of plant ash. After each harvest, apply 200 to 300 kg of diluted manure and 5 kg of calcium superphosphate per mu.

6. Reasonable irrigation: During the muskmelon seedling stage, control should be the main approach, with appropriate seedling restraint. During the early flowering and fruit-setting stages, combine promotion and control to prevent excessive growth and fruit abortion. In the middle and late stages, management should strengthen irrigation to meet the needs of high temperatures and vigorous growth of melons and vines. Stop watering at the fruit ripening stage to improve quality.