Hami melon is well-known for its attractive appearance, crisp texture, delicious taste, and superior flavor, making it a popular choice among consumers. Its market potential is strong, offering good economic returns. However, Hami melon is originally from Xinjiang, China, and thrives in dry, sunny, and heat-rich environments. Due to its weak resistance to humidity, sensitivity to low temperatures, and poor tolerance to low light, cultivating Hami melon in other regions presents significant challenges. The key to successful local cultivation has remained a major issue for many years.
To address these challenges, we have spent several years introducing, testing, and demonstrating techniques tailored for early spring cultivation of Hami melon in our region. Gradually, we developed a set of suitable technical practices that help achieve high-quality production.
Yield structure and goals:
1. Early planting using four-layer film-covered ground climbing method, with standard pipe sheds. The density is around 500-550 plants per mu.
2. The yield per mu should exceed 2,000 kg. The first batch of fruits produces 2 melons per plant, with an average weight of about 1.0 kg, ready for sale before and after May 1st. The second batch yields 2 melons per plant, averaging 1.5-2.0 kg, with a commercial rate of at least 85%.
3. The fruit has a beautiful appearance without blemishes, high maturity, and a central sugar content over 14%, meeting the safety standards for edible agricultural products in Shanghai.
Main cultivation techniques:
1. Timely sowing and strong seedling management:
Sowing should not be too early, usually around mid-January. We use multi-film coverage combined with electric heating beds for seedling production. Nutrient soil is collected from rice fields that haven't been used for cucurbit crops for several years, sterilized, and mixed in proper proportions. Seeds are soaked and germinated before sowing. Seedlings are managed with the "two highs and two lows" method, focusing on cooling down the seedlings a week before transplanting. Disease prevention includes spraying "Amisida" 1-2 times if needed. Seedlings are about 30 days old with three leaves and one heart.
2. Land selection, site preparation, and scientific fertilization:
We choose rice paddy fields that have not been planted with melons for the past three years, with good drainage and high elevation. During site preparation, we focus on building raised beds. The "three ditch" system must be deep outside the shed to prevent waterlogging. Basal fertilizer includes 400-500 kg of organic fertilizer plus 50 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer, avoiding excessive nitrogen to reduce disease risk. Two months before planting, we cover the greenhouse with plastic to warm the soil, prepare planting holes, and lay mulch. The mulch must fully cover the area to reduce humidity and prevent diseases. Planting occurs when the temperature inside the shed reaches at least 10°C, preferably on sunny days between 9 am and 2 pm. After planting, water is applied as needed, with a water temperature around 12°C, and the plastic is covered promptly.
3. Standardized management and safe operations:
(1) Temperature control and light regulation: After ventilation, the shade cloth is removed. On sunny days, small sheds inside the main greenhouse are taken down, and the plastic is covered by 2 or 3 pm. This helps raise the ground temperature, improves root growth, increases light exposure, and enhances photosynthesis. Daytime temperatures should be maintained at 28-30°C, and nighttime temperatures not below 10°C. When the vines reach the fruiting stage, moderate temperature reduction promotes fruit setting, while increasing the day-night temperature difference during fruit expansion improves quality. Watering should be moderate based on plant needs, and ventilation helps regulate humidity.
(2) Pruning and pollination: Double-vine pruning is used, allowing for two harvests. Pruning begins from the clover to the four-leaf stage. Hami melon plants grow vigorously, so regular pruning reduces disease risk. Artificial pollination is used, with the first fruit set around the 12th node. After fruiting, thinning ensures each vine produces a high-quality melon in the right position.
(3) Disease prevention and growth regulators: To improve resilience, plant growth regulators may be added. A compound fertilizer solution can be used for long-coarse fertilizer, and 10-15 kg of potassium sulfate or compound fertilizer can be applied for fruit swelling. Watering should be stopped halfway through the harvest period.
(4) Disease and pest control: Hami melon is susceptible to diseases like blight, bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew, and downy mildew, as well as pests such as locusts and red spiders. Pesticides like thiophanate-methyl, chlorothalonil, imidacloprid, and avermectin can be used, but proper intervals between application and harvest must be observed.
4. Timely harvesting and quality assurance:
Harvest only when the fruit meets the variety's characteristics. After harvest, grade and package the melons, and ensure timely market listing.
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