The Latest Technical Method Tutorial for Greenhouse Cultivation of Honeydew Melon
Honeydew melon is an annual trailing or climbing herbaceous plant of the genus Cucumis in the Cucurbitaceae family. This cultivated variety was introduced from the United States. Using gravel-field small-row shelters plus plastic greenhouses for double-cover forcing cultivation, compared with the traditional method of using only greenhouses or small-row shelters, has the advantages of earlier marketing and better quality, and can also effectively avoid the peak period of disease outbreaks, thereby increasing economic returns. Now let us take a look at honeydew melon greenhouse cultivation techniques!
Growth Habits of Honeydew Melon
Honeydew melon is widely cultivated throughout the country, and is also widely cultivated in temperate to tropical regions of the world. In China, it is mostly grown in Lanzhou, with the product from Qingbaishi Township, Chengguan District, Lanzhou City being the most famous. It prefers dry conditions and is suitable for planting in arid areas. Lanzhou is located in the central part of the Loess Plateau in northwest China, with a continental climate, low rainfall, strong sunlight, and large day-night temperature differences, which are very favorable for the growth and sugar accumulation of honeydew melon.
Cultivation Techniques for Honeydew Melon
1. Site selection and land preparation: It is advisable to choose new gravel land with an open surrounding area and superior microclimate as the cultivation site. In the autumn of the previous year, apply base fertilizer along the sowing rows, using 2000 kg of decomposed cow manure, 25 kg of diammonium phosphate, 100 kg of oil residue or bean residue, and 30 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu. After application, level and firm the soil, cover evenly with gravel, spray with sufficient water, and set aside for later use.
2. Variety selection: Small-ripe red-fleshed honeydew melon, large-ripe honeydew melon, Yellow River Honey, and other varieties. Large-ripe honeydew melon belongs to the thick-skinned non-netted melon type and is the main cultivation variety. Small-ripe honeydew melon has a growth period of 110 days. Because it comes to market early, its cultivation area is quite large, but its quality is far inferior to that of large-ripe honeydew melon.
3. Greenhouse construction: The span and length of the plastic greenhouse depend on the plot. Generally, the width is 3.5-5.5 m and the length is 70-90 m; too long is not conducive to management. Cover the greenhouse 7-10 days before sowing (around February 25) to facilitate the rise of ground temperature. Prepare sufficient bamboo poles and film for building small shelters over the planting rows. The greenhouse film can generally be used for two seasons.
4. Timely sowing: Sowing in early March is advisable. First wrap the seeds in gauze and soak them in warm water at 55°C, allowing them to cool naturally in the warm water. After 12 hours, rinse with clean water, place the seed container under a constant temperature of 25-30°C for germination, and sow after reaching the germination standard. Sow 2 seeds per hole (if the seeds are relatively precious, 1 plump seed per hole may also be selected). The general row spacing and plant spacing is 0.55-0.75 × 0.75 m, with a density of 1300 plants per mu. Immediately after sowing, build small row shelters along the sowing rows inside the greenhouse, and pull the film tight and press it down firmly.
Field Management of Honeydew Melon
1. Seedling stage management: Seedlings begin to emerge about 10 days after sowing. Generally, full emergence is reached in about 2 weeks. As the seedlings grow and the temperature gradually rises, the greenhouse should be ventilated during the day. Gradually open both ends of the greenhouse during the day and press them tightly at night. At the same time, ventilation of the small row shelters should also be gradually increased. Generally, keeping the temperature inside the row shelters at around 30-32°C is advisable. At the seedling stage “5-leaf stage”, the small row shelters can be gradually removed depending on weather conditions.
2. Assisted pollination: Honeydew melon greenhouse cultivation adopts the 3—2—1 pruning method on secondary vines. Artificial assisted pollination should be used during the flowering period to ensure normal fruit set. Pollination is generally carried out in the morning.
3. Ventilation: Ventilation time and intensity should be determined according to the different growth stages of honeydew melon and the weather conditions of the day. The seedling stage occurs in early spring, when meteorological factors outside the greenhouse are changeable, so ventilation should be smaller, with only 4-5 hours of ventilation at noon. As the seedlings grow and the outside weather becomes warmer, ventilation can be gradually increased and ventilation time extended.
4. Temperature management: Generally, it is required that the daytime temperature inside the greenhouse be 30-35°C, and the minimum nighttime temperature should not be lower than 15°C. After fruit set, in order to promote fruit enlargement and sugar accumulation, ventilation should be further increased during the day. Depending on weather conditions, the films at both ends of the greenhouse can be opened during the day. In later high-temperature weather, ventilation openings can even be made by rolling up the film in sections on both sides of the greenhouse during the day, and closed at night. If continuous cloudy days occur, pay even more attention to extending ventilation time to reduce humidity inside the greenhouse.
5. Timely harvest: Honeydew melon and Yellow River Honey both belong to mid-to-late maturing varieties of thick-skinned melon. These two varieties take about 120 days from sowing to harvest. Among them, it takes 55 days from female flower opening to fruit maturity. In addition to harvesting according to fruit development time, harvesting can also be based on the inherent color of these two varieties at maturity. When harvesting, gently press the navel area to feel slight elasticity, and also pay special attention to the skin color of the part of the fruit touching the ground. If the skin color of the ground-touching part of the honeydew melon fruit has turned milky white and is glossy, and that of Yellow River Honey has turned orange-yellow or golden yellow, the fruit is fully mature and can be harvested.
Pest and Disease Control of Honeydew Melon
1. Damping-off: In control, the main goal should be to cultivate strong seedlings, and crop rotation should be done well to improve plant resistance. Dexon solution can also be used for root spraying control.
2. Gummy stem blight: When diseased plants are found, spray the whole plant with mancozeb immediately, then spray once every 5-7 days thereafter. A 100-fold formalin solution can also be used to smear the diseased areas.
3. Powdery mildew: It generally occurs in the middle and late stages of melon growth, mainly damaging leaves. When diseased leaves are found, spray pesticide comprehensively and promptly. A 500-fold solution of 50% wettable carbendazim or an 800-1000-fold solution of 70% thiophanate-methyl can be used for spraying, and a 3000-fold solution of 25% triadimefon can also be used for control.
4. Aphids: Aphid smoke agents can be used for control, and a 1000-fold dimethoate solution can also be used for spraying.