Reasons Why Watermelon Seedling Leaves Won't Grow and How to Fix Them

What should you do when the leaves of the watermelon seedlings you planted curl up and they refuse to grow? Today I will show you the strategy and steps to follow, and before long the watermelon seedlings will grow lush and leafy and produce big, sweet watermelons.

1. Pests and Diseases

Mosaic virus: the leaves are mottled yellow and green, shriveled and twisted, and the plant also becomes short and spindly. Even more frightening, it can also make the watermelon fruit deformed and send its sweetness plummeting! This is caused by a virus, and once pests such as aphids and whiteflies take a bite, the virus spreads like crazy.

First aid method:

1Once you find a diseased seedling, immediately pull it up by the roots, seal it in a plastic bag and carry it out of the vegetable garden. Never leave trouble behind.

2Hang yellow sticky insect traps in advance and spray imidacloprid to control aphids, cutting off the chain of virus transmission.

3.Spray once a week with a 0.2%monopotassium phosphate solution.

Spider mites: these tiny insects hide on the undersides of the leaves and frantically suck the leaf sap. Soon yellow-white spots appear on the leaves, and in severe cases the whole leaf turns yellow, withers and curls!

Solution:

1.Use soapy water diluted 50times, moisten a cotton swab and gently wipe the undersides of the leaves, taking out both eggs and adults in one go.

2.Choose pyridaben or abamectin, dilute with water according to the instructions and spray, 3times a day, for 2-3consecutive treatments to wipe them out completely.

3.Buy predatory mites online and release them among the melon seedlings; they are the "natural enemies"of spider mites.

2. Not Enough Nutrients

Watermelon seedlings need plenty of nutrients. Poor soil and a single type of fertilizer will cause the leaves to turn yellow, thin and soft, and new leaves will be slow to emerge; the plant grows slowly and may even develop "stunted seedlings" - completely stopping their growth!

Fertilizing method:

1.Add water to bean cake and ferment it sealed for 1month, dilute it 20times and pour it along the edge of the pot, once a week.

2.Dissolve 5grams of monopotassium phosphate in 1liter of water, and spray the foliage once every 10days, while also watering the roots, to promote roots and strengthen seedlings at the same time.

3.Before planting watermelon seedlings, mix decomposed sheep manure or worm castings into the soil for long-lasting slow-release fertility that will let the seedlings grow well.

3. Too Little Watering

Watermelon seedlings have shallow roots and fear both waterlogging and drought. The leaf edges dry out and curl, the soil surface turns white and cracks, and when you touch the soil, everything below 2cm is bone dry - this is the signal of a water shortage!

Watering method:

1.Check the soil every morning; when the surface is dry, water thoroughly until water seeps slightly from the bottom of the pot, but do not let the pot accumulate water.

2.During the high temperatures of summer, water once before 9in the morning and once after 6in the evening, and avoid watering at midday, which scalds the roots.

3.Spread a layer of straw or pine needles around the melon seedlings; this reduces water evaporation and also prevents weeds from stealing nutrients.