Introduction
Whether you love or hate fruits, you cannot ignore a piece of Watermelon after facing the burning sun outside. As it has more than 90% water content, Watermelon is one of the most recommended fruits in summer. This fruit comes from the family of Cucurbitaceae, and its botanical name is Citrullus Lanatus. Watermelon can not only refresh you on a hot summer day, but it can also nourish your body with antioxidants, fibres and vitamins. Therefore, it can also be considered a superfood.
But, have you ever wondered about the process of how our beloved fruit is grown on a large scale and do you also want to grow Watermelon? If yes, then this is the perfect blog for you.
So, let’s quickly dive into the procedure of watermelon production and see the various processes our favourite fruit has to go through before reaching our houses.
Climatic Conditions And Soil For Producing Watermelon
Watermelon requires a lot of sunlight and dry weather conditions for its growth. Therefore, less temperatures pose a threat to the life of watermelons. The best suitable temperature for watermelon growth ranges between 18 degrees to 35 degrees celsius.
The loamy soil is best for growing Watermelon, and fine sand in the soil helps it for its rapid growth. The soil should also be of good drainage, and its pH should be in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. Overall, this fruit requires an average warm temperature.
Preparing The Seedlings
The first step for growing Watermelon is preparing the seedlings. Seedlings are young plants which are very small in size and are grown directly by their seeds. Farmers grow seedlings in a controlled indoor environment to achieve the best quality plants.
Preparing The Soil Before Planting
The soil is prepared almost 5 months before transplanting watermelon seedlings. The initial step in soil preparation is ploughing. Moreover, It is needed to enhance the fertility and drainage of the soil. The next step in soil preparation is tilling the land. It is done to remove the soil from weeds and harmful substances, and the Massey Ferguson 1035 can easily help in both ploughing and tilling tasks.
After this step, farmers coat the fields with black plastic sheets. Black colour absorbs more heat than any other. That is why it is used for covering the soil to increase the temperature of the soil.
The soil is then provided with fertilizers around one week before transplanting. However, this process is not necessary every time. One can implement this step after consulting an expert.
Planting The Watermelon Seedlings
Watermelon seedlings are planted when half of the spring has passed because then there will be no risk of frost, as a little bit of cold can destroy the whole watermelon field. One should also keep in mind that a watermelon plant requires a lot of space for its proper growth. Therefore, the seedlings should be planted with adequate space between them.
Irrigation And Pollination Of Watermelon
Although Watermelon has so much water content, its plant does not require a lot of irrigation. However, excess water can cause the Watermelon to crack, which will not be good for the watermelon field. Usually, farmers stop irrigation when the Watermelon is almost at the last stage of maturity.
The growth of Watermelon depends on some insects and bees to some extent because they are the natural medium for pollination. Pollination is impossible without these mediums.
Fertilizer Broadcasting And Protection Of Watermelon Plant
The common method of providing fertilizers to watermelons is done through drip irrigation systems. The water-soluble fertilizers are added to water which is used in drip irrigation. In this way, irrigation and fertilizer broadcasting can take place simultaneously.
Moreover, the watermelon plant is prone to many kinds of hazards, such as pests, diseases etc. So, the farmers use crop protection chemicals. These chemicals can be sprayed manually, or it can be done by using effective machinery like the
Harvesting – The Last Stage
Almost all kinds of Watermelon are ready to harvest around 3 months after transplanting. Watermelons are needed to be cut carefully by hand. Otherwise, there is a chance that it will crack open, which is not suitable for selling.
After harvesting, it is sent to the storage units, which have not freezing, but cold temperatures comparatively.
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