Key Points for Water and Fertilizer Management of Melon Seedlings and Pest and Disease Control During the Seedling Stage in Greenhouses
Melon has always been a fruit people love, and in recent years its planting area has gradually expanded. To achieve high yields, the first thing to do is proper seedling stage management of melon. So how should melon seedlings be managed? Let's find out together.
1. Temperature Management
Melon seeds have high temperature requirements when the seedlings emerge from the soil; keeping the seedbed temperature between 25-30 degrees is necessary to ensure the seeds sprout successfully. From emergence until the cotyledons unfold, it is important to prevent prolonged low temperature and high humidity, which can cause leggy seedlings and damping-off disease, so cold protection measures should be taken at night. After the first true leaf appears, seedling hardening and light management should be carried out to prevent the seedlings from growing leggy, maintaining daytime temperatures between 26-32 degrees and nighttime temperatures between 12-16 degrees. If the temperature is too high, ventilation can be increased.
2. Water and Fertilizer Management
Before the melon seedlings emerge, there is no need to water. After emergence, as temperatures gradually rise, the seedlings evaporate a large amount of water during growth, so water should be supplemented in time to prevent the seedlings from wilting due to lack of water. When watering, it is best to do so in the morning on a sunny day, controlling the water temperature at 20-25 degrees to avoid the water temperature being too low, which would lower the soil temperature and affect the normal growth and development of the root system. If the seedlings show signs of nutrient deficiency, a low-concentration potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can be sprayed 1-2 times along with watering, which can quickly supplement the nutrients the seedlings need. One week before transplanting, watering should be stopped to prevent the soil from becoming loose.
3. Light Management
In the early stage of seedling growth, when temperatures are suitable, cold protection covers should be removed early and put on late; in the middle stage of seedling growth, attention should be paid to ventilation. If the seedlings are found to be wilting during ventilation, the vents should be closed promptly, and after the seedlings recover to normal, the vents should be slowly opened again. If high-temperature and strong-light weather occurs, shade nets can be used at noon or water can be sprayed to cool down, to prevent the seedlings from being scorched by high temperatures and growing leggy.
4. Pest and Disease Control
The main diseases of melon seedlings include rhizoctonia rot, fusarium wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and phytophthora blight. They are mostly caused by high-temperature and high-humidity environments, so attention should be paid to field ventilation, and after rain, drainage should be carried out promptly to reduce humidity to prevent disease. The main pests include aphids and red spider mites, which can be controlled with abamectin. When controlling pests and diseases, attention should be paid to the concentration of the pesticide, and spraying is best done around 4 PM, making sure to spray both sides of the leaves.
The above is an introduction to the key points of melon seedling stage management. We hope it helps you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.