Watermelon farming Guide
Long Thread
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Long Thread
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The most Grown watermelon type and highly Market demanded is the Zebra type with dark green stripes.
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-Oblong in shape
-Average fruit weight 6 – 15 kgs
-Deep red flesh, crispy & firm
-Good shelf life for long distance transport
-Yield Potential of 18g25 tons per acre
Maturity it's takes 60–90 days to maturity depending by the area grown.
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-Average fruit weight 6 – 15 kgs
-Deep red flesh, crispy & firm
-Good shelf life for long distance transport
-Yield Potential of 18g25 tons per acre
Maturity it's takes 60–90 days to maturity depending by the area grown.
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Climatic Requirements
-Long, warm growing periods
-Bright, hot days (27 –35 o C)
-Warm nights (16 –21 oC)
-Cool Temp & Excessive. Delay germination, Slows growth, poor fruit setting, hallow fruit
-High humidity: Susceptible to various diseases & Reduce the flowering
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-Long, warm growing periods
-Bright, hot days (27 –35 o C)
-Warm nights (16 –21 oC)
-Cool Temp & Excessive. Delay germination, Slows growth, poor fruit setting, hallow fruit
-High humidity: Susceptible to various diseases & Reduce the flowering
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Soil Requirements
-Sandy loam
-Rich in organic matter & good drainage
-Heavy textured soils: Slower crop development & Cracked fruits
-Soil pH: 6–7
-Apply lime if soil pH is too low or as guided by soil analysis Results.
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-Sandy loam
-Rich in organic matter & good drainage
-Heavy textured soils: Slower crop development & Cracked fruits
-Soil pH: 6–7
-Apply lime if soil pH is too low or as guided by soil analysis Results.
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Propagation:
WaterMelons can be direct seeded, or propagated to a seedling and later Transplanted.
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WaterMelons can be direct seeded, or propagated to a seedling and later Transplanted.
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Planting:
Seed Requirements & Sowing Method
-Seed Rate: 500–600 gms per acre
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
Row spacing: 2 -2.5 metres
Plant spacing: 40cm-60 cm
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Seed Requirements & Sowing Method
-Seed Rate: 500–600 gms per acre
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
Row spacing: 2 -2.5 metres
Plant spacing: 40cm-60 cm
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2. Double row system:
Row spacing: 2-3m
Plant spacing: 40cm- 60 cm
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
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Row spacing: 2-3m
Plant spacing: 40cm- 60 cm
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
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Fertilizer.
Planting
We plant with a phosphorus based fertilizer(DAP, 23.23.0 ) at a capacity of 50 to 100kgs per acrea or as advice in soil analysis results .
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Planting
We plant with a phosphorus based fertilizer(DAP, 23.23.0 ) at a capacity of 50 to 100kgs per acrea or as advice in soil analysis results .
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Top Dress:
1st fertilizer: 50kgs 23:23:0 at 14 to 20 Days after Planting.
2nd FERTILIZER 23:23:0,+ CAN at 30 to 45 days Days after Planting.
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1st fertilizer: 50kgs 23:23:0 at 14 to 20 Days after Planting.
2nd FERTILIZER 23:23:0,+ CAN at 30 to 45 days Days after Planting.
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Micronutrients are also needed at this stage. Eg Ca, Bo, Fe, zinc & Mg spray at Vegetative, flowering and fruit setting stage.
3nd fertilizer 17:17:17 at 60 days after transplanting at a rate of 50kgs per acre.
High potassium Foliar fertilizer is also need at this stage
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3nd fertilizer 17:17:17 at 60 days after transplanting at a rate of 50kgs per acre.
High potassium Foliar fertilizer is also need at this stage
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PLEASE NOTE; You can use the 3 fertilizer application regime or 2. Applications is done by judging time or nature of the crop.
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Weed control
They should be completely controlled,especially when the melon plants are young. Weeds which grow upright offer competition by fighting for nutrients and shading the plants.
Weed control can be achieved by application of black plastic mulches or manual weeding
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They should be completely controlled,especially when the melon plants are young. Weeds which grow upright offer competition by fighting for nutrients and shading the plants.
Weed control can be achieved by application of black plastic mulches or manual weeding
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Diseases such as;
Powdery mildew, downy mildew, alternaria leaf spot, anthracnose, and fusarium wilt cause problems under certain conditions.
Insect pests such as:
Cucumber beetle, Red spider mites, Thrips aphids and Melon fly too cause big problems.
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Powdery mildew, downy mildew, alternaria leaf spot, anthracnose, and fusarium wilt cause problems under certain conditions.
Insect pests such as:
Cucumber beetle, Red spider mites, Thrips aphids and Melon fly too cause big problems.
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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
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-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
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Harvesting
Precautions:
-Immature fruits have poor color and taste.
-Over mature fruit is fibrous and not palatable
Yield:
-Average yield 15 tons/acre
-Yield potential 25 tons/acre under good agronomic management practices.
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Precautions:
-Immature fruits have poor color and taste.
-Over mature fruit is fibrous and not palatable
Yield:
-Average yield 15 tons/acre
-Yield potential 25 tons/acre under good agronomic management practices.
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Harvesting: Watermelon is ready for harvest in about 60 to 90 days depending by the location and climatic condition.
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