A GUIDE TO GROW WATERMELON
Thread
1/18
Thread
1/18
Most Grown watermelon type and highly Market demanded is the Zebra type with dark green stripes.
-Oblong in shape
-Average fruit weight 6 – 15 kgs
-Deep red flesh, crispy & firm
-Good shelf life for long distance transport
-Yield Potential of 18-25 tons per acre
2/18
-Oblong in shape
-Average fruit weight 6 – 15 kgs
-Deep red flesh, crispy & firm
-Good shelf life for long distance transport
-Yield Potential of 18-25 tons per acre
2/18
Maturity it's takes 60–90 days to maturity depending by the area grown.
Climatic Requirements
-Long, warm growing periods
-Bright, hot days (27 –35 o C)
-Warm nights (16 –21 oC)
-Cool Temp & Excessive.
3/18
Climatic Requirements
-Long, warm growing periods
-Bright, hot days (27 –35 o C)
-Warm nights (16 –21 oC)
-Cool Temp & Excessive.
3/18
Delay germination, Slows growth, poor fruit setting, hallow fruit
Soil Requirements
-Sandy loam
-Rich in organic matter & good drainage
-Heavy textured soils: Slower crop development & Cracked fruits
-Soil pH: 6–7
4/18
Soil Requirements
-Sandy loam
-Rich in organic matter & good drainage
-Heavy textured soils: Slower crop development & Cracked fruits
-Soil pH: 6–7
4/18
Propagation:
WaterMelons can be direct seeded, or propagated to a seedling and later Transplanted.
Planting:
Seed Requirements & Sowing Method
-Seed Rate: 500 –600 gms per acre
5/18
WaterMelons can be direct seeded, or propagated to a seedling and later Transplanted.
Planting:
Seed Requirements & Sowing Method
-Seed Rate: 500 –600 gms per acre
5/18
For the direct sowing, the planting depth is about 1cm or double the size of the seed.
They can be planted in single or double rows.
Single row system:
Row spacing: 2-2.5m
Plant spacing: 40-60 cm
2.Double row system:
Row spacing: 2 –3m
Plant spacing: 40cm- 60 cm
6/18
They can be planted in single or double rows.
Single row system:
Row spacing: 2-2.5m
Plant spacing: 40-60 cm
2.Double row system:
Row spacing: 2 –3m
Plant spacing: 40cm- 60 cm
6/18
Site selection
Wetermelon should be planted where not other melon family crops have been grown before.
Always consider where Cereals,Legumes, Pulses have been grown for at least 2 seasons
7/18
Wetermelon should be planted where not other melon family crops have been grown before.
Always consider where Cereals,Legumes, Pulses have been grown for at least 2 seasons
7/18
Fertilizer and Manure application.
Manure capacity is 5-8 tons/acre or as adviced in soil analysis results.
Fertilizer.
Planting
We plant with a phosphorus based fertilizer(DAP or Yara power) at a capacity of 50 to 100kgs per acrea or as advice in soil analysis results.
8/18
Manure capacity is 5-8 tons/acre or as adviced in soil analysis results.
Fertilizer.
Planting
We plant with a phosphorus based fertilizer(DAP or Yara power) at a capacity of 50 to 100kgs per acrea or as advice in soil analysis results.
8/18
Top Dress:
1st fertilizer: 50kgs 23:23:0 or vegetative fertilizer at 14 to 20 Days after Planting.
2nd fertilizer Yara liva Nitrabor and Yara Mila winner at 30 to 45 days Days after Planting.
9/18
1st fertilizer: 50kgs 23:23:0 or vegetative fertilizer at 14 to 20 Days after Planting.
2nd fertilizer Yara liva Nitrabor and Yara Mila winner at 30 to 45 days Days after Planting.
9/18
Micronutrients are also needed at this stage. Eg Ca, Bo, Fe, zinc & Mg spray at Vegetative, flowering and fruit setting stage.
3nd fertilizerYara Mila winner at 60 days after transplanting at a rate of 50kgs per acre.
10/18
3nd fertilizerYara Mila winner at 60 days after transplanting at a rate of 50kgs per acre.
10/18
3nd fertilizerYara Mila winner at 60 days after transplanting at a rate of 50kgs per acre.
High potassium Foliar fertilizer is also need at this stage eg Malti K.
PLEASE NOTE; You can use the 3 fertilizer application regime or 2. Applications is done by judging time
11/18
High potassium Foliar fertilizer is also need at this stage eg Malti K.
PLEASE NOTE; You can use the 3 fertilizer application regime or 2. Applications is done by judging time
11/18
Weed control:
Weeds should be completely controlled, especially when the melon plants are young. Weeds which grow upright offer greater competition by fighting for nutrients and shading the melon plants.
12/18
Weeds should be completely controlled, especially when the melon plants are young. Weeds which grow upright offer greater competition by fighting for nutrients and shading the melon plants.
12/18
Weed control:
Weeds should be completely controlled, especially when the melon plants are young. Weeds which grow upright offer greater competition by fighting for nutrients and shading the melon plants.
13/18
Weeds should be completely controlled, especially when the melon plants are young. Weeds which grow upright offer greater competition by fighting for nutrients and shading the melon plants.
13/18
Diseases and insect pests:
Melons suffer most of the diseases and insect pests that attack like other cucurbits.
Diseases such as;
Powdery mildew, downy mildew, alternaria leaf spot, anthracnose, and fusarium wilt cause problems under certain conditions.
14/18
Melons suffer most of the diseases and insect pests that attack like other cucurbits.
Diseases such as;
Powdery mildew, downy mildew, alternaria leaf spot, anthracnose, and fusarium wilt cause problems under certain conditions.
14/18
Insect pests such as:
Cucumber beetle, Red spider mites, Thrips aphids and Melon fly too cause big problems.
15/18
Cucumber beetle, Red spider mites, Thrips aphids and Melon fly too cause big problems.
15/18
Maturity Indicators
-Immature dark green fruits turns to light green or yellowish
-Tendrils or pigtails on veins starts drying
-The ground spot on the belly of the melon turns yellow
-Mature fruits produce soft hallow sound
16/18
-Immature dark green fruits turns to light green or yellowish
-Tendrils or pigtails on veins starts drying
-The ground spot on the belly of the melon turns yellow
-Mature fruits produce soft hallow sound
16/18
Harvesting
Precautions:
-Immature fruits have poor color and taste.
-Over mature fruit is fibrous and not palatable.
17/18
Precautions:
-Immature fruits have poor color and taste.
-Over mature fruit is fibrous and not palatable.
17/18
For best Agriculture content and watermelon growing guide join my YouTube channel,subscribe and learn.
youtube.com
Like and comment on the first tweet
#Letsgrowtogether
18/18
youtube.com
Like and comment on the first tweet
#Letsgrowtogether
18/18
Loading suggestions...