Detailed Explanation of Current Field Management Techniques for Watermelon
The following measures should be taken for current watermelon field management: 1. Dig drainage and irrigation ditches properly: For those where the ditches dug before planting do not meet the requirements, the main ditch, surrounding ditch, middle ditch and bed ditch should be opened in a timely manner. The depths of the ditches are respectively: main ditch 1.5m, middle ditch 1.0m, middle ditch 0.8m, bed ditch 0.4m. The ditches must be unobstructed between each other...
The following measures should be taken for current watermelon field management:
1. Dig drainage and irrigation ditches properly: For those where the ditches dug before planting do not meet the requirements, the main ditch, surrounding ditch, middle ditch and bed ditch should be opened in a timely manner. The depths of the ditches are respectively: main ditch 1.5m, middle ditch 1.0m, middle ditch 0.8m, bed ditch 0.4m. The ditches must be unobstructed between each other to prevent weeds, silt or other debris from blocking the ditches. Only by doing a good job of the drainage and irrigation system in the melon garden in this way can the normal growth of watermelon be prevented from being affected by rainwater scouring the garden and water accumulation in the melon field, which would also lead to the occurrence and spread of pests and diseases.
2. Strengthen artificial pollination: Watermelon is a cross-pollinated insect-borne flower. This period is the pollination and fertilization season for most watermelons in our county. For this reason, in this rainy and low-temperature weather, it is difficult to complete pollination and fertilization by relying on insect activity. In addition, pollen is easily washed away when it rains, and excessive humidity will also hinder pollen germination, etc. Therefore, artificial supplementary pollination of watermelon is the key to watermelon cultivation management this year. The method is: before the male flowers open, pick several hundred male flowers in a hurry and put them on a plate to let them open naturally. After the rain, seize a sunny or cloudy day to carry out artificial pollination. When pollinating, take one male flower, remove the petals to expose the stamens, gently dab the stamens on the stigma of the female flower, and then cover it with a paper bag to prevent rainwater from washing the stigma. The movements should be light and accurate, and do not touch the stigma heavily.
3. Apply topdressing skillfully: Due to continuous low temperature and rain, the root system has a relatively poor ability to absorb fertilizer, and fertilizer in the soil is also easily lost. Even if the melon seedlings are still growing well at this time, some chemical fertilizer should be properly supplemented or foliar topdressing should be carried out when the rain stops and turns sunny. The amount of this supplementary fertilizer should not be too much, so as not to cause excessive vegetative growth. Specifically, the number of fertilizer applications should be determined according to the conditions of the land and the seedlings.
4. Train and arrange the vines: This period is originally the season for vine training, but due to continuous rainy weather, vine training or vine arrangement should be postponed until the weather is clear. 2-3 days after the rain turns sunny, carry out reasonable vine training according to the variety and planting density. Generally, our county mostly uses two-vine and three-vine training methods. In addition, vine arrangement should not only be done on a sunny day, but also in the afternoon of a sunny day, so that the vines are less likely to be broken. When guiding the vines, use your fingers to gently pinch the leaves, and never grab the vine stems, so as to prevent the fine hairs on the vines from being injured.
5. Pay attention to pest and disease control: Due to the weather, during this period, go to the field in a timely manner to observe the occurrence and trends of pests and diseases. Diseases in this period, such as anthracnose, phytophthora blight, fusarium wilt, etc., are prone to occur, develop, and even break out. Therefore, melon growers must promptly detect and control them. Otherwise, the consequences are difficult to predict. For normal management in this period, after each rain, whether it is sunny or cloudy, high-efficiency, low-toxicity, broad-spectrum pesticides for pests and diseases should be sprayed promptly to prevent the occurrence and outbreak of various diseases.