(1) Seedling

Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water at 55°C for 10 minutes, stir until the water temperature is about 30°C, and continue to soak for 8 to 12 hours. Then wash it and wrap it in coarse cloth and place it in a suitable temperature for germination. After 17 to 20 hours, it can germinate. Open field live broadcasts are all hole-sown, with 5 to 6 seeds or about 3 buds per hole. Use containers such as nutrition pots, grass pots, paper cups, and small flower pots to raise seedlings. Seedling age is about 30 days. The temperature of the nursery bed is 25~30℃ during the day and 15~20℃ at night. When the seedlings have 3-4 true leaves, they can be planted.

(2) soil preparation and application of base fertilizer

Melon is most suitable for cultivation on sandy soil or loam soil with leeward sun, deep soil layer, good drainage and high terrain. It is also suitable for growing melons in river beaches, ripe wasteland or night tide land. The land should be deeply plowed after the crops are harvested in the previous autumn, and after sufficient drying, it is beneficial to eliminate underground insect pests and diseases. Be careful not to select plots with melons as the previous crop. The amount of basal fertilizer applied accounts for about 2/3 of the total amount of fertilizer applied. Generally, 2500-3000 kg of manure or compost, 20-30 kg of superphosphate, and 250-300 kg of plant ash are applied per 667 square meters.

(3) Planting density

Cultivation in protected areas generally adopts stand cultivation. The plant spacing of reticulated melons is 40~45 cm, and the row spacing is 80~100 cm; the plant spacing of light-skin melons is 30~35 cm, and the row spacing is 80~100 cm. The density of open-field climbing cultivation should be reduced accordingly, and wide and narrow rows should be used for colonization, with about 1,000 plants per 667 square meters.

(4) Field management

After planting, water the root water. After observing the seedlings, it is found that there are tender leaves at the growth point, indicating that the seedlings have been slowed down. At this time, if the soil is dry, the seedling slowing water should be watered once before noon. If the soil humidity is high, the slowing seedling water can be omitted. In order to promote the growth and development of roots and form a strong root group, watering is generally stopped before fruiting. Generally do not water during the flowering and pollination stage to avoid fruit drop. After the fruit is set, in order to promote the expansion of the fruit, take a small amount of watering. After the fruit volume stops hypertrophy, gradually reduce the frequency of watering, reduce the water content of the soil, and facilitate the accumulation of sugar.

The type of fertilization for thick-skinned melons is organic fine fertilizers with high phosphorus and potassium content, such as oil cake fertilizer, dried human manure, and duck manure. Nitrogen fertilizers should not be applied alone in the late growth stage, but compound fertilizers can be applied. Topdressing is often carried out in 4 to 5 times, 1 time at the seedling stage, 2 times at the seedling stage, and 1 or 2 times at the fruiting stage.

(5) Pruning and topping

Pruning and topping are the key technical measures in the field management of melon. Through pruning and topping, the balanced development of vegetative growth and reproductive growth can be ensured, thereby increasing the fruit set rate and promoting fruit development. Pruning techniques are mainly based on the flowering and fruiting habits of different varieties. The female flowers of general varieties do not occur on the main vine, and most of them are born on the sub-vine or sun-vine. Therefore, topping is required for cultivation. There are mainly the following methods of pruning:

①Single vine pruning seed vine results This method is generally adopted for stand cultivation in protected areas. That is, when the seedlings grow to about 20 cm and tendrils appear, use nylon ropes to suspend the vines to induce them to grow upright. When the main vine grows to about 25 leaves, topping is carried out, and the sub-vines between 10 and 15 leaves are selected as the fruiting vines, and the sub-vines with less than 10 leaves and more than 15 leaves are removed. From the fruiting vines, first keep a strong fruit vine, remove the other vines, and leave 1 to 2 leaves for topping. In production, it is necessary to flexibly control the melon node position according to the growth of the plant.

This method can be used in both vertical and open field cultivation. When the vines grow to 4 to 5 true leaves, topping is carried out, leaving two vines and removing them. After Sun Man set fruit, leave 3-4 leaves for topping. When the vines grow around 8 leaves, remove the growing points.

There are other 3-vine and 4-vine pruning methods, which should be determined according to the characteristics of the variety and the cultivation method.

Climbing melon vines in open field cultivation should pay attention to pressing the vines. The time of pressing the vines is generally from the beginning of spreading the vines to the sealing of the vines, and pressing once every 4 to 5 knots. The specific method varies from place to place. The vines can be pressed with clods and branches, or a section of the vines can be buried in the ditch.

(6) Fruit lining melon pad

In order to make the fruit clean and beautiful, color evenly, reduce fruit diseases and insect pests, and when spraying, avoid direct contact with the fruit by pesticides. After the fruit is preserved, spread grass under the vines to avoid contact with the ground, or at an appropriate period (when the melon grows to half size) ), turn the melon once so that the underside of the fruit turns to the side. After the fruit is preserved in the upright cultivation, the stem should be hung with a string and fixed on the horizontal iron wire of the pillar to prevent the vine from breaking and the fruit falling off.

(Note: This article is reproduced for reference only)