How to grow pear-shaped melon? Characteristics and cultivation techniques of an old heirloom melon variety

When it comes to the tastes remembered from summer, many older people mention the pear-shaped melon. It is an old variety of melon (oriental melon), named for its fruit, which is round on top and pointed at the bottom, resembling a pear. The skin is mostly yellow-green with light stripes, and when ripe it has a rich fragrance; the flesh is crisp, juicy, moderately sweet, and carries a distinctive fruity aroma. It was a heat-relieving fruit for many people in childhood. Nowadays, with more and more new varieties on the market, the planting area of the pear-shaped melon has shrunk, but because of its unique flavor and tolerance of rough management, it is still kept in cultivation in some places, and some farmers use it to take a differentiation route and sell it at a good price.

Variety characteristics of the pear-shaped melon

The pear-shaped melon belongs to the thin-skinned melon type. The plant has medium vigor and strong branching ability, with fruiting mainly on secondary and tertiary vines. The fruit is not large, and the thin skin can be eaten together with the flesh, unlike thick-skinned melons that need peeling. Its growth period is short; in open-field cultivation it generally takes only a little over two months from sowing to harvest, and it can also be raised early in greenhouses to hit the market sooner. Overall, this variety has good adaptability and is easier to manage than many new varieties.

Key cultivation techniques

First, site selection and land preparation. Melons fear waterlogging and should not be grown continuously on the same land; it is best to choose a sandy loam plot at higher elevation with convenient drainage, and even better if the previous crop was not a cucurbit. Apply plenty of decomposed farmyard manure as a base fertilizer while preparing the land, and make high beds or high ridges to facilitate irrigation and drainage and reduce fruit rot later on.

Second, sowing and raising seedlings. In open-field cultivation, sow generally after the soil temperature has steadily risen; in early spring, seedlings can first be raised in small arched tunnels or greenhouses. The seedling age should not be too long; transplant on a sunny day when two or three true leaves have grown. Leave enough spacing between plants and rows to ensure ventilation and light penetration, as too dense a planting tends to cause excessive vegetative growth and makes fruit setting difficult.

Third, pruning and removing side shoots. The pear-shaped melon fruits mainly on side vines, so usually pinch the main vine when it has four or five leaves to encourage secondary vines, then select and keep strong secondary vines for fruiting. After the fruit is set securely, appropriately remove old and yellow leaves at the base to improve ventilation and light penetration and reduce disease occurrence.

Fourth, water and fertilizer management. During the vine-running stage, focus on promoting growth and apply a topdressing of nitrogen fertilizer to boost the seedlings; after flowering begins, control nitrogen and increase phosphorus and potassium, which helps improve sweetness and aroma; during the fruit-swelling stage, water demand is high, so ensure an adequate water supply; in the one or two weeks before harvest, control watering, otherwise the melons will be less sweet and will not store or transport well.

Harvesting and precautions

When the pear-shaped melon is ripe, the skin turns from green to yellow-green, the stem end begins to give off fragrance, and it comes away with the stalk when gently broken open; at this point the flavor is at its best. Thin-skinned melons are delicate, so handle them gently when picking and packing; it is best to cut them off with the fruit stalk and a short piece of vine attached, which keeps them fresh longer. In the field, watch for diseases and pests such as powdery mildew, downy mildew and aphids; clear ditches and drain promptly in the rainy season, and use the appropriate treatments in the early stages of disease; buy seeds through proper channels and consult your local agricultural extension department first. Overall, although the pear-shaped melon is a niche old variety, it is easy to grow and good to eat; master the two keys of pruning and water control, and you can grow that remembered sweet flavor back into your own melon field.