A detailed guide to melon seedling cultivation techniques: master the key points for growing strong seedlings
Melons are widely distributed across various regions of China and are a very common fruit. In rural areas, they can even be seen growing wild along country roads. Melons are rich in carbohydrates and vitamin C, making them a fruit with relatively high nutritional value. Nowadays, the area under artificial cultivation is also growing larger and larger, so how should we raise seedlings before planting? Below, the editor brings you the seedling cultivation techniques for melons. Let's take a look together!
1. Seed selection and sun-drying
Take seeds from fruits that are free of pests and diseases and growing vigorously. When selecting seeds, be careful not to dirty them, and choose plump seeds that do not differ much in size. Then wash the seeds with clean water, cleaning the flesh and mucus off the seed coats. Then, on a sunny day, place the washed seeds evenly on plastic film to sun-dry them. While sun-drying, turn the seeds at regular intervals to ensure they receive even light and improve the effect of sun-drying. The main purpose of sun-drying is to increase the seed germination rate and promote seed germination and sprouting.
2. Seed treatment
After sun-drying, place the seeds in warm water at about 58 degrees for soaking. During soaking, stir the seeds constantly to ensure they are heated evenly. If the water temperature drops during soaking, promptly heat it back to the appropriate temperature. After about 30 minutes, remove them and air-dry the moisture. Then place the seeds in a pre-prepared container, pour in warm water at about 25 degrees, and soak them for about 7 hours. After soaking, remove them, rub clean the mucus remaining on the seed coats, wrap them in a damp cloth, and place them in an environment of about 28 degrees for germination. Once the radicle emerges, sow at the appropriate time.
3. Sowing at the right time
After all the preparatory work is done, sow at the appropriate time. First, prepare the seedling bed, mix the nutrient pots, and apply enough base fertilizer. Then control the planting density and sow at the right time. When sowing, place 1-2 seeds in each nutrient pot. After sowing, cover with fine soil, water thoroughly to promote seed germination, and then cover with a layer of plastic film. Strengthen field management. Apart from one watering after sowing, no watering is needed before the seedlings emerge. Keep the temperature at about 28 degrees, do a good job of raising the temperature, and provide sufficient conditions for the seeds to germinate and sprout.
4. Seedling stage management
After the seeds successfully emerge, keep the temperature at about 24 degrees, not too high and not too low, and the maximum temperature must not exceed 31 degrees. When the nighttime temperature is below 8 degrees, do a good job of insulation. After the seedlings emerge, observe the field conditions, and water appropriately when the soil is found to be turning white. Then, one week before transplanting, control the amount of watering. Do a good job of ventilating the greenhouse to prevent the seedlings from growing leggy and affecting the growth of the melons. When the seedlings grow to about 5 leaves, they can be transplanted and planted at the appropriate time.
The above is a brief introduction to melon seedling cultivation techniques. Melons have relatively strong growth ability, and they also have high yield and good quality. However, after transplanting, everyone should also do a good job of field management to ensure the healthy growth of melons. If you want to know how to manage them specifically after transplanting, you can check the related articles on this website! That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting us.