Cantaloupe is cultivated in the humid areas of southern my country. Only by selecting suitable varieties and carrying out facility cultivation and supporting technologies can it be successful. The following is the cantaloupe planting technology that I have compiled for you. I hope it will be useful to you.
Cantaloupe planting technology
1. Biological characteristics
Cantaloupe likes hot, dry and sunny weather. During the breeding period, the temperature is 28-30 degrees Celsius during the day, 16-20 degrees Celsius at night, the ground temperature is 20-25 degrees Celsius, and the lowest limit is above 18 degrees Celsius at 15 centimeters underground. If there is insufficient sunlight and high temperatures during the growth period, the stems and vines will easily become leggy, the female flowers will not easily differentiate, and the fruit will not be easily set or the fruit will be poor. If the night temperature is too high and the temperature difference between day and night is small, although the fruit is large, the texture on the fruit surface will not be perfect, the sugar content will be reduced, and the quality will be slightly poor. When the night temperature is too low, fruit enlargement will be hindered and the fruiting rate will be affected. Therefore, appropriate varieties should be selected depending on the cultivation period.
Melon is a shallow-rooted crop and needs soil with good ventilation. If the soil is too shallow, the roots will not extend well and the fruiting rate will be affected. Therefore, it is ideal to choose soil with good ventilation around the environment, strong water retention capacity and good air permeability. Acidic and neutral is better, and it is suitable for rotation planting with rice, corn, etc.
2. Cultivation and management
(1) Cultivation methods:
1. Cultivation by covering the open field surface with silver-black plastic film cloth: This method can reduce viruses It has many advantages such as preventing the occurrence of diseases, maintaining good soil physical properties, reducing the loss of water and nutrients, and promoting root development, making cantaloupe cultivation more stable.
2. Tunnel greenhouse cultivation: It has the functions of cold protection, heat preservation, rain protection, disease reduction and production period adjustment. The temperature and humidity on the border and inside the shed must be adjusted well.
3. Two-crop cultivation in tunnel sheds: In order to save costs, reduce labor, and shorten cultivation time, two-crop cultivation is adopted. The original cultivation borders, original facilities, materials and equipment were used, only the planting position was changed, and the cantaloupe was planted again. The ones with good drainage, strong fertility retention and longer rotation planting years should be selected. If the soil is not suitable, continuous planting should be avoided. Continuous planting varieties are suitable for those with strong disease resistance or early growth and stability.
4. Simple plastic film cloth room cultivation: This cultivation method has a long history, but due to the slightly higher cost, the cultivation area is not large. Simple plastic film cloth room cultivation, there are two types of cultivation: vertical and crawling cultivation. Vertical cultivation requires more labor and requires precise cultivation techniques. If there is no experience in vertical cultivation, the yield will often be unstable or fail. Climbing cultivation is more extensive and stable, but the number of plants will be smaller. Careful consideration should be given before planting.
(2) Fertilizer and fertilization:
Cantaloupe is a short-term crop, and quick-acting fertilizers are preferred. The amount of fertilizer applied must be determined by considering the fertility of the soil, soil properties, cultivation period, cultivated varieties, etc. The amount of fertilizer applied is also different. Excessive application is not only wasteful, but also affects plant growth and causes physiological disorders. Insufficient fertilizer will affect the plant. Weakness and low yield. Fertilization methods include deep plowing, comprehensive fertilization and furrow fertilization. For soils with deep soil layers, strong fertility retention, and few water injections, it is best to plow deeply and spread the full amount of fertilizer on the entire soil layer as base fertilizer. Top dressing should be supplemented by foliar application of liquid fertilizer. In shallow cultivated soil or sandy land with poor fertility retention, nutrients are easily lost and require large amounts of water. The fertilization method is to use 70% as base fertilizer and apply it in trenches, and 30% as top dressing, apply it in small amounts and multiple times, or install a water spray hose to mix with nutrient solution. Fertilization is most suitable. The appropriate fertilization period is divided into several periods. Cantaloupes require different fertilizer nutrients at different times.
Planting density: The distance between planting rows and plants is adjusted according to the cultivation method, cultivation period, vine introduction method, soil properties and variety characteristics. In principle, the distance between two plants should be about 50 cm.
(3) Methods of pruning and pruning: In order to make the cantaloupe bear fruit at the most ideal position and make the fruiting period consistent, pruning and pruning are necessary methods in cultivation. The number of remaining fruits is the key to ensuring quality. Whether the control period is appropriate and the skill of the branches directly affect the yield and quality. This work cannot be ignored in cultivation. Topping and pruning should be carried out on a sunny day, and should be coordinated with spraying work. Try to avoid spraying during the flowering period, otherwise spraying should be done in the evening.
(4) The technique of retaining fruit branches: It is the common wish of everyone to increase the yield per unit area, but when the number of fruits per cantaloupe plant is large, its commercial value is greatly reduced. .
Quality and quantity cannot be achieved at the same time. The principle is that quality comes first and yield comes second. Therefore, it is even more important to retain fruits. 5 to 10 days after the plant bears fruit, when the young fruit is as big as an egg, choose the one with a longer and more straight shape before retaining the fruit. By the way, remove the petals from the flower scars to reduce the invasion of germs. The number of remaining fruits must be determined based on the characteristics of the variety and the growth conditions of the plant.
Only with excellent appearance can the quality be stable. Therefore, when it comes to retaining fruits of cantaloupe, it is advisable to adopt the spirit of excellence, and the number of fruits should be small and not greedy for too much. The fruit retention period should not be too late to avoid affecting fertility. When cultivating in early spring, the fruits left on the predetermined fruiting vines will fail to enlarge if they encounter sustained low temperatures. When the plant grows stronger, it can be left to bear fruit again. If there are few fruits left for the first time, one more fruit can be left per vine, but early-growing varieties are better. Late-growing varieties have slightly lower quality and sugar content, and are not ideal for fruit retention. It is more appropriate to leave single vines than double vines for autumn cultivation, because the fruits are large and the number of fruits is small. The principle is to use 1 fruit per plant. In order to reduce the occurrence of the second fruiting, the female flowers on the non-fruiting vines should be removed immediately during pruning to prevent further fruiting. In principle, the number of fruits left in autumn crops is less than in spring crops.
(5) Water management: Cantaloupe is neither tolerant of dryness nor too wet. The amount of water injected should depend on the development stage of the cantaloupe, soil properties, soil moisture and weather. From the early stages of growth to flowering, it is appropriate for the soil to maintain appropriate moisture so that the plants can grow strong and slowly. When there is too much water, the stems and leaves will become vigorous, affecting flowering and fruiting, and they will be susceptible to diseases. If it is too dry, fertility will be hindered and growth will be poor. Watering should be reduced during the flowering and fruiting period to avoid excessive growth and affecting the fruiting rate. 7 to 20 days after fruiting is the fastest period for fruit hypertrophy. Water is urgently needed and more water should be injected. In particular, soil with poor water retention capacity must be fully watered to promote fruit enlargement.
When the fruit is about to mature, it is best to control water and maintain proper dryness. At this time, if the soil moisture is excessive, the sugar content will be reduced and the maturity period will be delayed. The fruit will easily cause cracking and disease. Fruits without reticulate varieties will The surface is prone to sparse netting, and white-skinned varieties are prone to uneven green and white skin color or fruit? **鄣阒ⅲ?Bayan夤凵醮蟆M?Pushengsujie points in 4 to 20 days During the fruit hardening period, reticulation begins to form on the fruit surface. If there is too much water in the early stages of reticulation, coarse cracks may easily occur, and the reticulation will not be beautiful. Therefore, it is advisable to reduce the water content about 7 days before the reticulation is formed, and then gradually increase the water when the reticulation is gradually completed to promote fruit expansion and perfect reticulation. If the soil is too dry, the texture on the fruit surface will be very fine and incomplete, and the appearance will not be beautiful. When filling water, the roots should be kept as dry as possible. When it rains, the accumulated water in the furrow should be drained as soon as possible to avoid accumulation of water.
(6) Methods to promote fruiting: When the weather is good, complete the vine introduction and pruning operations before fruiting, so that there is an appropriate space between the vines, sufficient lighting and good ventilation, and the fruiting vines are planted first. Top off and select good female flowers to produce fruit. Under these conditions, the results are quite stable in most cases. In case of bad weather or indoor cultivation, if there are no vector insects, it is advisable to carry out artificial assisted pollination. On the day of flowering of hermaphrodite flower varieties, lightly pollinate the stigma with a watercolor pen. Promote results. Spring cultivation often encounters cold currents, lowering temperatures, poor flowering, weak pollen vitality, and low fruiting rates. Therefore, fruiting accelerators are used to improve fruiting. Cantaloupes should be quality-first, and natural fruiting (using insect vectors or artificial pollination) is the most ideal way to bear fruit.
(7) Fruit melon matting, bagging and fruit hanging: In order to make the fruit clean and beautiful, the peel coloring is completely and evenly, to reduce fruit diseases and insect pests, and to avoid direct contact with pesticides on the fruit when spraying, and finally retain the fruit. It is good for fruit bagging and melon matting. When cultivating vertically, after retaining the fruit, use a string to hang the fruit stem and fix it on the horizontal line of the pillar to prevent the melon vine from breaking and the fruit from falling off.
3. Harvesting and packaging
(1) Determination of the appropriate harvest period.
The sugar content of cantaloupe increases rapidly around the maturity stage of the fruit. If harvested too early, the sugar content will be low and the meat quality will be poor. Harvesting too late will affect storage and transportation capacity, so the appropriate harvesting period should be Fruits are best when their sugar content has reached their highest point and the quality has not yet softened. Early-growing varieties are generally easy to shed their stems and have poor storage and transportation properties, so they should be harvested close to their stems being shed. Late-maturing varieties should not be harvested too early, otherwise the sugar content will not reach the standard. In most cases, the suitable harvest period of cantaloupe varieties can be comprehensively determined according to the following methods.
1. Changes in peel color: When the fruit matures, varieties with easily discolored peels will turn into yellow, orange, yellow-green, milky white, etc. The appropriate harvesting period can be determined based on the discoloration of the peel.
2. Separation marks occur around the fruit pedicle: Harvest when the fruit stem and fruit insertion part begin to show signs of cracks and before the peduncle is removed.
3. There is yellowing characteristic around the fruit stem or fruit pedicle: Most non-reticulated varieties have this characteristic when harvested during the low temperature period.
4. The old leaves on the fruit vines have symptoms similar to yellowing and magnesium deficiency.
5. Calculate the number of days to maturity: used as a marking method to determine the maturity period.
6. Harvest and test food: Harvest 2 to 3 fruits for food test first, and investigate the sugar content and quality at the same time to determine the appropriate harvest period.
(2) Harvest.
It is better to harvest in the morning when the temperature is low. After harvesting, the fruits should be placed in a cool place to avoid overlapping. After the fruit temperature and respiration drop, they can be graded, packed and packed. In most cases, cantaloupe has an after-ripening effect, and the quality is best after 2 to 3 days at room temperature after harvesting, which is the suitable eating period. The longer the cantaloupe is stored, the lower its sugar content will be.
IV. Pests, diseases and prevention
(1) Cine blight.
Light yellow or even dark brown concentric striated sunken lesions appear on the leaves, and in short, cracks occur. The stem first develops a soaked part, which secretes reddish-brown grease, and finally turns into gray-brown cork-like dry lesions, which are characterized by small spots (spores) on the lesions. Lesions often occur on the roots or stem nodes, and the roots often swell, causing the entire plant to wither and die (commonly known as head failure).
Prevention and treatment method: Use Mankunin 800 times liquid spray. Once every 5 to 7 days, 4 to 5 times in a row.
Apply mankunin or 53.8% copper hydroxide to 10 times of water on the diseased stems, once every 5 to 7 days when the disease occurs.
(2) Downy mildew.
The disease usually starts from the old leaves at the base. It appears as small light yellow spots that are not obvious at first, and then become polygonal yellow-brown obvious lesions bounded by the veins. The lesions are dry and easy to break; the lesions on the back of the leaves There are gray and black colors, and the leaves die prematurely.
Prevention and treatment methods: 1. Spray Lusujing 400 times liquid every 7 days and once every 3 to 4 days when the disease occurs.
2. Redomir 500-800 times spray.
(3) Bacterial spot disease.
The leaves initially appear water-soaked or have angular spots, which soon turn gray-brown, and the tissue ruptures to form small holes.
Prevention and treatment method: spray foliar spray with 1000 to 1500 times liquid of 10% Kukunin powder, once every 7 to 10 days.
(4) Powdery mildew.
White powder appears on the stem leaves (especially the back side of the leaves), and then turns gray, with small black particles appearing, and the leaves yellow and fall.
Prevention and treatment method: Spray 3000 times of powdery rustic acid once every 7 days, and once every 4 to 5 days for 3 to 4 consecutive times during the onset of the disease.
(5) Silver leaf whitefly.
Damage situation: In addition to adults and larvae directly feeding the plant solution, they also spread viral diseases. Adults and larvae secrete honeydew, which attracts ants or other insects to cause serious damage, induce black coal disease, and affect photosynthesis. Key points of cantaloupe cultivation technology
(1) Season and variety selection
Since cantaloupe is resistant to high temperatures but not cold, it can only be cultivated in a fully enclosed automated greenhouse without seasonal restrictions. , and in the absence of heating or good insulation facilities, such as glass or plastic greenhouses, choose a season with less rainfall, good sunshine, and large temperature differences. The Jianghuai Plain, Shanghai, Zhejiang and other places must rush to mature before the rainy season. Guangdong and other places choose the autumn with less rainfall, and Hainan and other places choose the dry season. Due to the large investment and high cost of soilless cultivation, it is best to choose high-quality varieties with strong disease resistance, reticulated patterns, good quality, and unique appearance and flavor.
(2) Planting methods
Soilless cultivation is divided into two cultivation methods: hydroponics and matrix culture.
Hydroponics is to let the roots of cantaloupe float in the nutrient solution or apply nutrient solution to the roots. Substrate culture is to cultivate cantaloupe in a solid matrix and then add nutrient solution. There are also sufficient organic fertilizers mixed into the matrix. In the middle growth period, as needed Then topdress with organic fertilizer, and only drip water, not nutrient solution, during the entire growth period. The better method for hydroponics of cantaloupe is the deep flow cultivation method adopted by Zhuhai and Dongguan Agricultural Sciences Research Institutes in Guangdong. The cantaloupe grown by this method is large and uniform in shape, but the management of nutrient solution is strict and the technical requirements are high. There are two types of substrate cultivation methods for cantaloupe: substrate plus nutrient solution cultivation method and organic substrate cultivation method. Substrate cultivation is easy to grow and manage, but individual melons are small and the fruit shape is not uniform enough. Organic substrate cultivation is simple, easy and low-cost, but it is difficult to understand and control the nutritional status of the substrate and is prone to uneven nutrient supply.
Deep flow hydroponic technology has the characteristics of deep, flowing and suspended. Deep refers to the fact that the planting tank containing the nutrient solution is relatively deep, and the other is that the liquid layer of the nutrient solution is relatively deep, so that the roots of the plants can penetrate into the deeper nutrient solution. The total amount of nutrient solution in the entire planting system The composition, concentration, pH, moisture, temperature, etc. of the nutrient solution are not prone to rapid changes during plant growth. The environment for root growth is relatively stable, and nutrient supplementation and adjustment are convenient. Flow means that the nutrient solution circulates, which can increase the concentration of oxygen and reduce harmful metabolites secreted by the roots. Suspension means that the plants are suspended and planted above the nutrient solution surface, so that the root neck of the plant is away from the liquid surface, part of the root system grows deep into the nutrient solution layer, and part of the root system is exposed between the nutrient solution surface and the planting board That part of the moist air is conducive to the roots absorbing oxygen.
There are various types of deep-flow hydroponic facilities. The cement-brick structure deep-flow hydroponics facility is most commonly used in my country. The facility consists of four major parts: a planting tank, a colonization board, a liquid storage tank, and a nutrient solution circulation system. . The width of the planting trough is generally 100 to 150 cm, the depth in the trough is controlled at about 12 to 15 cm, and the length of the trough is 10 to 20 meters. The nutrient solution can be directly filled in the planting trough. The colonization board is made of a white polystyrene board with a higher density and a harder body (commonly known as a foam plastic board) with a thickness of 2 to 3 cm. The colonization board is drilled with colonization holes for placement of the colonization cups. Each colonization board is Place a colonization cup into the hole. The liquid storage tank is generally built underground. A water pump is used to pump the nutrient solution from the underground liquid storage tank into the planting tank. Once the nutrient solution in the tank reaches the preset water level, it will flow into the storage tank from the return pipe due to gravity. In the liquid pool, the cycle repeats. The nutrient solution circulation system includes liquid supply pipes, water pumps, valves that regulate flow, etc.
There are many nutrient solution formulas for cultivating cantaloupe. Yamazaki formula and South China Agricultural University formula are suitable for the cultivation of cantaloupe. However, cantaloupe has different nutrient requirements at different growth stages. Generally, 0.5 doses are used in the seedling stage, one dose is used in the initial flowering stage, and 1.2 doses can be used in the later stages of fruit development. It also needs to be increased or decreased according to the temperature. Low temperature increases the concentration. , high temperature reduces concentration. The management of nutrient solution in deep flow hydroponics is that the nutrient solution circulates for 14 hours a day to increase oxygen. The depth of the nutrient solution is 7 to 10 centimeters, and each cantaloupe plant occupies 24 liters of nutrient solution. The tank surface must be sealed, otherwise moss will grow and compete for nutrients. Measure the conductivity of the nutrient solution every 5 to 7 days, add new fertilizer, and keep the conductivity between 2 and 2.2. Add clean water to the storage tank every day based on evaporation and absorption to maintain the original water level in the tank. In the entire production process, from facility cleaning, disinfection, sowing, planting to harvesting, each link must be assigned to individual responsibilities. At the same time, complete management files must be established to seek a scientific management system.
In matrix plus nutrient solution cultivation, the addition of nutrient solution is not recycled. Except for a small amount of nutrient solution added to the matrix that flows out of the matrix and cannot be absorbed and utilized by the plants, the rest is accumulated in the matrix. Therefore, the nutrient solution The addition and supplementation will depend on the weather conditions, the water-holding capacity of the substrate and the growth of the plants. Compared with hydroponics, solid substrates have stable performance, simpler equipment, and easier management. There are many types of substrates used for substrate culture, and the commonly used substrates include the following two types: one is organic substrates, such as peat, sawdust, carbonized rice husk, bagasse, coconut bran, etc. The other type is inorganic matrix, such as sand, vermiculite, rock wool, perlite, slag, foam plastics, etc. In order to overcome the shortcomings of a single matrix in terms of air permeability and water retention during production, several matrices are often mixed and used, which is called a mixed matrix. Such as peat plus perlite, coconut bran plus perlite, sawdust plus mushroom residue, etc.
Substrate cultivation can be carried out in large cultivation tanks or bag cultivation, with regular and quantitative drip irrigation of nutrient solution. You can choose any formula. If enough organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer are applied to the substrate, you can only drip water without dripping nutrient solution. Organic substrate cultivation promoted by the Vegetable and Flower Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, also known as organic ecological soilless cultivation technology, adds peat or sawdust to slag as a substrate, and then applies sterilized chicken manure, compound fertilizer and other fertilizers. During the entire growth period, only Dripping clear water without using nutrient solution is a lower-cost type of soilless cultivation. It is currently being promoted and used in cantaloupe cultivation.
(3) Seedling cultivation technology
Hydroponics uses hollow nutrient cups filled with pebbles to sow seedlings. Place the cup in a pool of flowing nutrient solution. 2 seedlings will be born after 7 to 10 days. It can be transplanted when it has true leaves. Insert the cup into the hole of the cover of the hydroponic tank, and the roots are soaked in the nutrient solution. There is no slowing down process for the seedlings, and they grow very quickly. If substrate culture is used, ordinary seedling cups or seedling trays can be used. After the seedlings emerge, pour 0.2 doses of nutrient solution and transplant the seedlings when they have 2 true leaves.
(4) Techniques of planting and pruning
When planting cantaloupe seedlings, attention should be paid to keeping the root system in good condition and not to damage the roots. When transplanting to a hydroponic planting cup, there is no need to take off the seedling matrix. Move the seedlings together with the matrix directly into the planting cup. They can be fixed with a small amount of gravel, or they can be placed directly into the planting cup without fixing. That’s it. When planting, control the planting density. Generally, 1,200 plants per 667 square meters of greenhouse or greenhouse should be planted. The principle is ventilation, light transmission, and no shade. Otherwise, photosynthesis will be affected, serious diseases will occur, the fruits will be smaller, and the yield will not be high.
In greenhouse cultivation, single vine pruning method is used to lift the main vine with nylon rope to induce the vine to rise. Usually, fruits are left on the sub-vines at the 13th to 16th nodes of the main vine for artificial assisted pollination. When the young fruit grows to the size of an egg, a fruit with a correct shape and good growth is selected (sometimes small-fruited varieties can also be left 2 fruits), remove the lateral branches below the melon node as early as possible, leave 3 leaves on the melon seed vine for picking, and remove all the lateral vines above the fruit node. You can also leave one leaf and remove it to increase the light and area. The main vine is 26 to 28 Top the leaves. When the fruit weighs 0.5 to 1.0 kilograms, it is advisable to use a plastic net bag to set off the fruit. The net bag should be tightly wrapped and hung to prevent the fruit from falling.
(5) Disease prevention and control
If there are no good control measures for soilless cultivation of cantaloupe, diseases and insect pests will occur more seriously and sometimes be devastating. Therefore, in addition to strict cleaning and disinfection of planting facilities, effective chemical prevention and control measures must be taken during production. The diseases that harm cantaloupe mainly include vine blight, powdery mildew, downy mildew, and root rot. Among them, the occurrence of vine blight is difficult to control. Measures to prevent vine blight include:
①Keep dry around the base of the stem.
②Tightly cover the cultivation bed to reduce water evaporation.
③Strict pruning.
④ Timely prevention and treatment. When a diseased plant is discovered, immediately mix thiophanate methyl with virulent vitriol or mycozinc wettable powder at a mass ratio of 1:1, then add water to mix into a thicker agent (in the form of a paste), and apply it to the base of the stem. And around the rhizomes, apply about 10 cm of stems, once every 4 to 7 days, and spray fungicides on the leaves at the same time for better results. If the substrate or the planting tank or other items containing the nutrient solution are not thoroughly disinfected, root rot may occur. Carbendazim, chlorothalonil, and diclofenac can be used to prevent and control it. When powdery mildew and downy mildew begin to occur locally, symptomatic medication (colloidal sulfur for powdery mildew and virus-killing alum for downy mildew) several times in a row is more effective.