pWatermelon belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes squash, pumpkin, and cucumber. Watermelon is a favorite produce for desserts that may be eaten all year round. Watermelons come in two shapes: spherical and elliptical. The outer rind can be any shade of green, ranging from light to dark green, or it can be solid, marbled, or striped. Popularly for harvesting, farmers often choose Mahindra 475 DI for inter-city transportation.
Guide to Growing Watermelon Organically
In tropical regions, watermelon is a warm-season crop year-round. If the right varieties are chosen and given the proper care, high-quality watermelons can be grown in the tropics. Learn more about the cultivation process of growing watermelon organically:
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Watermelon Seed Rate and Plant Spacing
A seed rate of 1.5 to 2 kg is required to seed an acre of land. Plant the watermelon seeds at a distance of 2 meters between rows and 1 meter between each hole. Water the soil frequently to maintain moisture content if there is not enough rainfall. If you are utilizing irrigation, it is best to have a watering plan because when the pattern varies, the fruit gets stressed and it impacts both the spray program and the development of the fruit.
Make holes that are 45 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 30 cm deep. Fill the hole to a depth of 15 cm using a mixture of topsoil and two spades full of manure. Put two seeds in each hole. Watermelon vines need a lot of room. In a year, two crops can be sown.
When the first or second rain falls, usually in February or early March, plant the first crop (the moisture content is low at this point, but increases as the plant established and the growing season progresses). The crop planted now will be available for purchase in May or June. Plant the second crop in September (the season is increasingly closing in at this point, so there is less moisture).
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Irrigation Requirement in Organic Watermelon Farming
Watermelon is a dry-season crop. It must be planted with proper irrigation. The Watermelon beds are irrigated two days before sowing and then again 5 days after sowing the seeds. As the plant grows, irrigation is done every week. While irrigating, water must be controlled to the root zone of the plant. Wetting of vines or other vegetative parts must be avoided, particularly during flowering or fruiting time as wetting can lead to the withering away of the flowers, fruits or even the plant as a whole.
Also, wetting of the vegetative parts can lead to the development of fungal diseases. Moisture must be maintained near the roots so that the plants develop a taproot system. As the fruits near maturity, irrigation frequency is reduced, and it is completely stopped during the harvesting stage. This helps in developing sweetness and flavor in the fruit.
Do not overwater a Watermelon once it has begun to set fruit, or its developing natural sugars will be diluted. The leaves of a Watermelon commonly wilt in the hot afternoon sun. Water immediately if the leaves wilt before noon or if they appear stressed by heat or drought. Never allow the vine itself to become dry. A soaker hose or drip irrigation is the best way to deliver water to Watermelon roots; overhead watering may encourage the development of fungal diseases that commonly attack leaves.
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Pollination in Organic Watermelon Farming
On the same plant, the male and female flowers are distinct. In order to promote healthy fruit development and set, bees transport pollen from bloom to blossom. Pollination will increase with the aid of wild bees. One hectare of plants should be sufficiently pollinated by one hive of bees under typical circumstances.
Pruning watermelons is not necessary. However, since the initial fruit on the main vine is too close to the crown and would interfere with later fruit setting, it is preferable to remove it as soon as possible.
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Organic Manures and Fertilizers in Watermelon Farming
Watermelons have large feeding loads. When planting, use an organic fertilizer. Throughout the gardening season, mist watermelon plants with liquid fertilizer and seaweed extract. Reduce the amount of nitrogen after the blooming stage. Apply potassium and phosphorus as needed until right before harvest.
Watermelons can withstand a pH range of 5.6 to 8.0. Plants that grow watermelon thrive in soils that are high in organic matter. Soil aeration can be enhanced by applying compost at a rate of 5 to 6 tons per acre.
In the Tropics, growing watermelon is advised to be accomplished by mulching the bed surface with straw. Mulching helps to manage weeds and gives tendril support in addition to preserving soil moisture, preventing nutrient loss, and improving soil aeration. Rice straw and sugar cane leaves make excellent mulch materials.
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Feeding Plants in Organic Watermelon Farming
Use commercial organic planting mix or aged compost and manure to prepare planting beds. Raise the soil to a depth of 12 inches. Before planting in the fall, spread several inches of old manure throughout the planting beds. During the growing season, watermelons can be side-dressed every two to three weeks with compost, dung tea, or a diluted fish emulsion solution.
Early in the growing season, watermelons may be side-dressed with an even organic fertilizer, like 10-10-10; however, after flowers and fruit begin to show, reduce nitrogen and increase phosphorus and potassium; use a 5-10-10 fertilizer.
Covering the organic materials throughout the composting process is necessary to stop nutrients from leaking out.
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Organic Pest and Disease Management in Watermelon Farming
Viruses: A number of viruses may be the cause of your curled, mottled, or yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and lower yields. The viruses, which are spread by sap-sucking insects like aphids and whiteflies, are incurable once they infect a plant, so it is best to remove them.
Pyrethrins are a pair of natural chemical compounds with strong insecticidal action that can be used to control a severe infestation.
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When and How to Harvest Watermelons
It might be challenging to choose the right time to harvest watermelons, and requires some experience. For bush types to attain maturity, allow 80 to 90 days; bigger varieties may require up to 100 days. These indicators ensure your watermelons are ripe for harvesting. The Mahindra Novo 655 DI is reliable and capable of tasks like transporting harvested watermelons in agricultural operations. Farmers looking for an efficient solution can also check the Mahindra Novo 655 DI Price, making it a valuable investment for agricultural operations.
Conclusion
To assure market quality, watermelons must be gathered at the proper maturity stage and handled carefully enough to prevent damage. Melons of superior quality have a strong, symmetrical shape, are visually appealing, fresh, and have a decent color. Depending on the cultivar, the exterior rind color can range from a rich dark green to a gray color.
The transition of green to brown tendrils on vines is a crucial sign of a watermelon’s ripeness. It will be simple to remove a ripe watermelon fruit from the vine. Watermelons should be picked before the vines turn yellow, as this would indicate that the fruit is too mature. The texture and color of overripe flesh are mealy and reddish-orange.