Detailed Explanation of the Key Cultivation Techniques for Muskmelon

Muskmelon originated in Taiwan, China, and is also known as thick-skinned melon. Because of its high sweetness and fragrant flavor, it is a variety of melon popular with consumers on the market. So how should muskmelon be planted? Let's take a look together.

1. Site selection and land preparation

Choose a plot with convenient irrigation and drainage, good ventilation on all sides, a low groundwater table, loose and fertile soil, and where melon crops have never been grown in recent years; plots whose previous crops were rice and vegetables are even better. After selecting the site, plow deeply and harrow finely. After land preparation, make beds 3 m wide and 0.2-0.3 m high, with a furrow width of 0.3 m between beds, and surrounding ditches 0.5 m wide and 0.4 m deep.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

Before sowing, the seeds can be disinfected for 2-3 hours with a 500-fold dilution of thiophanate-methyl, then washed clean with clear water, placed in a tray containing wet gauze, and covered with a wet gauze cloth for sprouting. Keep the humidity at about 30%, and in 1-2 days the seeds that show white sprouts can be sown. In order to avoid flowering and fruiting during the plum rain season, it is advisable to arrange the sowing period in mid-June. Nutrient bags can be used for raising seedlings, sowing 1 seed per bag. The seedbed should maintain appropriate moisture, and the temperature for raising seedlings should be controlled between 20-25 degrees. If pests and diseases are found, spray pesticides promptly for control.

3. Planting

In order to improve the quality and yield of the fruit and reduce the harm of pests and diseases, trellis cultivation should be adopted, generally with a trellis height of 0.5-1 m and a width of 2 m, and black shade netting covered over the trellis. When the seedlings are about 15 days old and have 1-2 true leaves, they can be transplanted and planted. During planting, the plastic bags should be removed promptly, with plant and row spacing controlled at 2×0.5 m, and two rows planted per bed.

4. Field management

Apply sufficient base fertilizer before transplanting. One week after transplanting, apply the first topdressing, using 2.5 kg of urea per mu diluted with 250-500 kg of water for drenching. For the second topdressing, when the vines grow to 50 cm, apply 50 kg of urea and 15 kg of compound fertilizer per mu in shallow furrows 0.3 m away from the plants, then cover with soil after application. For the third fertilization, at the early stage of fruit expansion, apply 5 kg of urea and 5-7.5 kg of potassium chloride per mu, also by shallow drenching or furrow application 0.3-0.4 m from the plants. Pay attention to weeding one week before plowing. After transplanting, combine the first topdressing with one cultivation and weeding and earthing up, and afterwards act according to the situation.

The above is an introduction to muskmelon cultivation techniques. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.