Water melon
- Thread starter bmrao2002
- Start date
Hi
watermelon is summer season crop and also has good market in summer. Sowing of this watermelon seeds should be done in the month of Jan- feb, perticularly in central and south India. So if you want to cultivate watermelon, you should immidiately go for sowing, so that your produce will come in market in peak season. Remember, there should be facility of sufficient irrigation to meet the requirement of summer crop.
A watermelon plant thrives best in a warm and humid climate. Watermelon plants need good sunlight and have to be well watered. You could either sow the seeds or buy saplings from a nursery. Some of the popular varieties of watermelon include Charleston Gray, Triple Crown, Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby and Black Diamond. Here are a few tips to grow watermelons in your backyard.
When you plan to cultivate watermelons, choose an area that has good sunshine and is protected from winds. However, make sure there is ample air circulation in the space you have selected.
Next important step is to make the soil fertile by adding organic fertilizer and tilling it well. A sandy, fertile loam that retains moisture, yet is well drained is the best soil for the cultivation of watermelons. You prepare the soil by adding manure, compost and leaves and blending it well with the soil by tilling. Water the patch regularly to keep it moist. This is done prior to either sowing or transplanting the watermelon saplings.
If you are using seeds, soak them in compost tea for a few minutes prior to sowing. Make small hills in the watermelon patch. Plant a couple of seeds in each hill by making a hole of 1-inch depth. However, if you are transplanting the saplings, remove them from the polythene cover in which they were initially grown. Slowly place them in 1 to 2-inch deep holes. Remember to allow space between two plants.
Keep the watermelon patch clean. Once a week add slow release fertilizer. The size of the fruit depends on the fertility of the soil. Once in a while spray the plants with seaweed or liquid fertilizer. Reduce the usage of nitrogen fertilizers once the watermelon plants start to flower. However, add potassium and phosphorous fertilizers until the harvest time.
Lot of Indian varieties are also available from Namdhari, Nunhems.
A variety released by IIHR- Arka Manit
An advanced generation derivative of modified back cross between IIHR 21 Crimson Sweet. Angular stem with light green deeply lobed foliage. Fruits oval with light green rind colour and grow to dark green stripes. Deep crimson flesh with granular texture, pleasant aroma, very sweet(TSS 12-15%) Average fruit weight 6 kg. Seeds small with dark brown specks on the testa. Triple resistant to powdery mildew, downey mildew and anthracnose. Duration 110-115 days. Yield 60 t/ha.
Regardsd
Ashwini
watermelon is summer season crop and also has good market in summer. Sowing of this watermelon seeds should be done in the month of Jan- feb, perticularly in central and south India. So if you want to cultivate watermelon, you should immidiately go for sowing, so that your produce will come in market in peak season. Remember, there should be facility of sufficient irrigation to meet the requirement of summer crop.
A watermelon plant thrives best in a warm and humid climate. Watermelon plants need good sunlight and have to be well watered. You could either sow the seeds or buy saplings from a nursery. Some of the popular varieties of watermelon include Charleston Gray, Triple Crown, Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby and Black Diamond. Here are a few tips to grow watermelons in your backyard.
When you plan to cultivate watermelons, choose an area that has good sunshine and is protected from winds. However, make sure there is ample air circulation in the space you have selected.
Next important step is to make the soil fertile by adding organic fertilizer and tilling it well. A sandy, fertile loam that retains moisture, yet is well drained is the best soil for the cultivation of watermelons. You prepare the soil by adding manure, compost and leaves and blending it well with the soil by tilling. Water the patch regularly to keep it moist. This is done prior to either sowing or transplanting the watermelon saplings.
If you are using seeds, soak them in compost tea for a few minutes prior to sowing. Make small hills in the watermelon patch. Plant a couple of seeds in each hill by making a hole of 1-inch depth. However, if you are transplanting the saplings, remove them from the polythene cover in which they were initially grown. Slowly place them in 1 to 2-inch deep holes. Remember to allow space between two plants.
Keep the watermelon patch clean. Once a week add slow release fertilizer. The size of the fruit depends on the fertility of the soil. Once in a while spray the plants with seaweed or liquid fertilizer. Reduce the usage of nitrogen fertilizers once the watermelon plants start to flower. However, add potassium and phosphorous fertilizers until the harvest time.
Lot of Indian varieties are also available from Namdhari, Nunhems.
A variety released by IIHR- Arka Manit
An advanced generation derivative of modified back cross between IIHR 21 Crimson Sweet. Angular stem with light green deeply lobed foliage. Fruits oval with light green rind colour and grow to dark green stripes. Deep crimson flesh with granular texture, pleasant aroma, very sweet(TSS 12-15%) Average fruit weight 6 kg. Seeds small with dark brown specks on the testa. Triple resistant to powdery mildew, downey mildew and anthracnose. Duration 110-115 days. Yield 60 t/ha.
Regardsd
Ashwini