Farming Guide for Watermelon Plantation

Farming Guide for Watermelon Plantation

Family Name :CucurbitaceaeBotanical name:Citrullus Lanatus

Growing watermelons requires lots of space, lots of sun, lots of water and lots of nutrients. They are greedy, rambling vines, like all plants in thecucurbiteaefamily (e.g. zucchini, squash, pumpkin, cucumbers)Watermelons are not particularly difficult to grow, but because they are so demanding I don't consider watermelons a good plant for beginner gardeners. (You can get lucky if you live in optimum conditions).I also don't consider them a good plant for anyone with restricted space, water, or average soils.

In the true tropics the dry season (winter) is the best watermelon growing season. Watermelons do not cope well with extreme heat or the humid, soggy conditions of our wet season/summer. Fungal diseases and bugs will wipe them out in no time. If you live in a cooler climate, then summer is the time to grow watermelons. You do need at least three months of reliably hot, sunny weather to grow and ripen a watermelon. During that time your average daily maximum temperature should be at least about 20-25C or 70-80F. Warmer is even better.

(There are different watermelon varieties, so if you are at the low end of that, look for a faster maturing variety.)Grow watermelons in full sun. You also need an abundant supply of water and nutrients (good soil).And you need space. As I said, a rambling vine. They like to go wandering and smother everything around them.

Growing watermelons from seed

Watermelons are grown from seed. You may be tempted to use seed out of a melon you bought, but don't waste your time. It is almost guaranteed to be a hybrid. Hybrid varieties are very special crosses that don't grow true to type. (You would end up growing what we call pig melons. A melon variety that's only good for feeding to the pigs)Buy your seed, and if possible buy an open pollinated heirloom variety. Because then you CAN use your own seed next year. The open pollinated varieties are also hardier. You will find a lot more interesting varieties amongst the heirlooms then you cn find in the standard collection of you local gardening centre. Start your watermelon seeds in the ground, right where they are supposed to grow. The soil should be at least 18C for them to germinate.

Unless you have an extremely short growing season, do NOT start your watermelon seed in a pot or punnet. Do NOT buy watermelon seedlings from a nursery.Watermelon seed germinates easily and quickly, within a few days. Watermelon plants outgrow the seedling stage very quickly, and they don't like transplanting. You don't save much time and you end up with a weaker plant.Save yourself this totally needless extra work and stick your seeds in the ground, about two cm or an inch deep.

Watermelons need deep, rich, friable soils. To grow watermelons it helps to raise the soil (make mounds or ridges). Raising the soil has several advantages:

A mound or ridge is free draining (melons don't like wet feet). If you have heavy clay soil, definitely raise the bed.Mounds are also good if the soil is as poor as mine. I just make a mound of good soil with lots of compost in it to grow watermelons. Sometimes I plant them in what's left over from a compost pile after I used most of the compost.If you like growing things in neat rows, or if you want to plant a large area, grow watermelons on ridges, like the commercial growers do.

Rows should be about 2 m (6 ft) apart and the plants spaced at 30 cm/a foot apart. (Sow twice as many as you want, and keep the stronger ones.)

I prefer growing watermelons in clumps on a mound, in several different locations in the garden. (Mixing things up helps keeping pests and diseases at bay.) If you want several hills together, keep them about 2 m apart.The mound should be about one metre square and a foot high. Then I plant about ten seeds in it, in three groups of three to four seeds each. The groups are spaced about a foot apart (30 cm).

After a few weeks I can see which watermelon plants grow the strongest, and I snip off the weaker ones, leaving only one seedling in each group. (Don't pull them up, cut them off. Or you disturb the roots of the others.)

If you have a very small garden but absolutely have to have watermelons, you can try growing them on a trellis. Really.

You need a very strong trellis, you need to train them up the trellis as they aren't climbers, and you need to support the developing fruit so the trellis holds the weight, not the plant.

Growing watermelon plants

Slugs and other seedling chomping critters like mulch and they like watermelons. Wait until the watermelons have outgrown the most vulnerable stage (where a slug can demolish them within minutes). Then mulch the area well.Watermelons have very shallow roots and they need lots of moisture. The soil should never dry out, and mulch helps with that.

Mulch also keeps weeds down. Weeding could disturb the shallow roots, so it's better to not let them grow to start with. Watermelons are VERY hungry plants. If your mulch is something like compost or aged animal manures, all the better. (Like all cucurbits, watermelons can handle fairly raw compost and manures.) Otherwise, feed your watermelons regularly with something like pelleted chook manure or another organic fertiliser. (Ideally you should use a high nitrogen fertiliser in the early stages, but cut back on nitrogen and give them lots of potassium once they flower and fruit.)

When the vines are about two metres long, pinch out the tips. It encourages branching.As your watermelon vines grow bigger they will start trying to take over more space. If they start to smother other things you can remind them about sticking to their area by gently moving the tips of the vines, so they grow into the right direction.

Watermelon flowering and fruiting

Watermelons grow male and female flowers on the same vine.The smaller male flowers appear first. The female flowers are much larger (see the photo) and you can't miss them.If you don't see any it could have several reasons: too hot, too cold, not enough water, not enough nutrients... In any way, it means the watermelon plant isn't happy.If the plant does produce female flowers but the little fruit at the base of it shrivels up and dies, then the flowers are not getting pollinated.Watermelon flowers are insect pollinated. If you suspect the insects aren't doing their job, you can do it yourself, just to be sure.

Hand pollination is best done early in the morning. Pull off a few male flowers and remove the flower petals. Then brush the pollen laden stamen against the stigma in the centre of the female flower, so the pollen sticks to it. Easy.The first few female flowers on each branch will give you the best fruit.To grow them as large as possible you can pinch out the tip of the branch after a couple of fruits have set (are starting to swell up).But this isn't an essential step. You can also just let them go...

Problems when growing watermelons

The biggest watermelon pest are the leaf eating beetles (they damage the flowers, too) like spotted and striped cucumber beetles, pumpkin beetles with or without dots, whatever you want to call them.Those orange things...They all look similar and all do the same: chomp away on your watermelon plants...However, if they become a real problem it is mainly a sign that your watermelons are stressed.A healthy watermelon in a balanced environment and in good soil should not attract too many beetles. Also, a watermelon should grow fast enough to cope with a few beetles.

The other main problem with growing watermelons is mildew, a fungus that makes the leaves look as if they were coated with white powder. The fungus thrives in damp, humid conditions.

The best you can do is to avoid getting the leaves wet. If you can't avoid overhead watering, do it first thing in the morning so they dry quickly. Never wet the leaves in the afternoon or evening.

In the tropics you probably won't be able to control the beetles or the mildew, once the build up for the wet season starts. And it isn't worth it anyway... The oppressive heat and the humidity just aren't good conditions for growing watermelons. Grow something that likes humditiy and wait for the next dry season to grow watermelons again.

Watermelons are mainly cultivated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

It is a trailing annual vine with stems 15 m or more in length and branched tendrils having yellow flowers bearing globular to oblong fruits loght green to almost black and either solid or with pale green colour or marbled. striped

VarietiesName of the variety/Source & its CharacteristicsAsahi YamatoIARI, New DelhiMid-season variety, medium sized fruits with average fruit weight 6-8 kg. The rind colour is light green with deep pink-flesh; TSS 11 to 13%. The fruits ripen in 95 days.

Sugar BabyIARI, New Delhi.The fruit slightly small in size, round in shape having bluish black rind and deep pink flesh with small seeds. TSS 11-13%; average weight 3-5 kg. The fruits ripen in 85 days.

Arka JyotiIIHR, BangaloreCross between IIHR-20 & Crimson Sweet; mid-season variety; fruits round, rind colour is light green with dark green stripes and flesh crimson colour, TSS 11-13%. Average fruit weight 6-8kg.

Arka ManikIIHR, BangaloreThe fruits are round to oval with green rind and dull green stripes. The flesh is deep red, very sweet taste with TSS 12-13%. Average fruit weight is 6 kg. It stands well in transport and storage. Resistant to powdery mildew and tolerant to anthracnose disease.

Improved ShipperPAU, Ludhiana.Fruits large in size with dark green rind, average fruit weight 8-9 kg/ha, moderately sweet with TSS 8-9%.

Special No.1PAU, Ludhiana.Early maturing variety, Fruits are round and small with red flesh and seeds, average TSS is slightly lower than Shipper variety.

Durgapura MeethaARS, Durgapura, RajasthanA late maturing variety, fruits are round rind is thick and light green in colour, flesh sweet and dark red in colour, good keeping quality, TSS 11%, average fruit weight 6-8 kg, seed with black tip and margin. The fruit ripens in 125 days.

Durgapura KesarARS, Durgapura, RajasthanA late maturing variety. Rind is green in colour with stripes; flesh yellow in colour and moderately sweet, seeds are large. Average fruit weight 4-5 kg.

Exotic VarietiesChinaTable PurposeWatermelon Hybrid Yellow Doll, Water Melon Hybrid Red Doll.

USATable PurposeArriba, Athens, Carnival, Celebration, Dumara, Fiesta, Jade Star, Mardi Gras, Regency, Royal Flush, Royal Majesty, Royal Sweet, Paradise, Sangria, Oasis, Star Bright, Ferrari, Sunrise, Baron, Matador, Samos.

Season of PlantingThe land is brought to fine tilth by giving two crosswise ploughing. In North Indian plains, watermelons are sown in February-March whereas in North eastern and western India best time of sowing is during November to January. In South and Central India, where winter is neither severe nor long, these are grown almost round the year.

Methods of PlantingBefore sowing seeds are soaked in luke warm water for 12 hours. The water is drained out and the seeds are kept overnight in a wet gunny bag. This treatment increases the germination percentage. Normally 1.5-2.0 kg of seeds are required for planting one hectare area. Various system of sowing has been adopted depending on the season and system of cultivation.

Furrow methodIn this method, furrows are opened at a distance of 2-3 m apart. Sowing is done on either sides of furrows and the vines are allowed to trail on the ground. 3-4 seeds are dibbled at a distance of 60-90 cm along the furrow.

Pit methodIn case of pit method, pits of size 60 x 60 x 60 cm are dug at spacing of 2-3.5 x 0.6-1.2 m and filled with FYM and soil in equal proportions. Four seeds per pit are sown and finally two to three healthy vines are retained.

Hill methodIn case of planting in river beds pits of size 30 x 30 x 30 cm are dug at a distance of 1-1.5 m. The pits are filled with equal quantities of soil and FYM. the soil is piled up in the form of a hill and two seeds are planted on each hill.

SoilWatermelons can be grown on well-drained sandy to sandy loam, medium black soils rich in organic matter. Alluvial soil along the river beds is also good for production of watermelons. A pH range of 6.0- 7.0 is considered as optimum.

ClimateWatermelon is a warm season crop grown mainly in sub-tropical and hot-arid regions. The crop requires dry weather with abundant sunshine for quality fruit production. Watermelons are susceptible to light frost and are provided with partial protection if grown during winter months. Temperature range of 24-270 C is considered as optimum for the growth of the vines. Cool nights and warm days are ideal for accumulation of sugars in the fruits. The seed germinates best when temperatures are higher than 200 C. High humidity at the time of vegetative growth renders the crop susceptible to various fungal diseases.

Manuring & FertilizationThe fertilizer doses to be applied depend on variety, fertility of soil, climate and season of planting. Generally well decomposed FYM (15-20 t/ha) is mixed with the soil during ploughing. The recommended dose of fertilizer to be applied per hectare is 100 kg N, 50 kgP O and 50 kg K O. Half the 2 5 2 N and entire P & K should be applied before planting. The balance N is given 30-35 days after planting. The fertilizer is applied in a ring at 6-7 cm from the base of the stem. It is better to complete all the fertilizer applications just before the fruit set.

For increasing the percentage of female flowers, NAA (100 ppm) is sprayed once at two-leaf stage andthe same is repeated after 6-7 days.

IrrigationUsually pits, ridges or beds are irrigated a day or two prior to planting of seeds and the next irrigation, preferably light, is given 4 or 5 days after planting of seeds. Subsequently the irrigation is given at weekly intervals.

In spring-summer crop, frequency of irrigation is very important as water stress during fruit development leads to fruit cracking. Mulching of the hills after sowing reduces moisture loss at the time of emergence and prevents crust formation. It is necessary to keep the moisture well maintained at the root zone, to promote rapid taproot development. Application of water should be restricted to the base of the plant or root zone to avoid wetting of the vines or vegetative parts, especially when flowering, fruit set and fruit development are in progress. Frequent wetting of stems, leaves and developing fruits will promote diseases and rotting of fruits. Frequency of irrigation is reduced when the fruits reach near maturity while it is completely stopped at harvesting stage.

Intercultural OperationsGap Filling and ThinningUnder ideal conditions, the seeds germinate within 8-10 days after sowing. One to two healthy seedlings are retained at each spot while the rest are removed or used for gap filling.

Weed ControlDepending upon the season about 2-3 weeding operations is required. The first weeding should be done 20-25 days after sowing while subsequent weeding are done at an interval of one month. When the vines start spreading, weeding in between the rows, or ridges, becomes unnecessary since vine growth can smother the weeds.

PinchingIn watermelon, apical shoots are pinched when the vines are 1m while allowing the side shoots to grow. This practice gives significantly higher fruit yield. At the initial stages of fruit setting, malformed, diseased and damaged fruits are removed and only 2-3 fruits per vine are retained. This results in increased fruit size and yield.

IntercroppingWatermelons can be profitably grown in the interspaces of newly planted orchards during the initial years provided there are sufficient irrigation facilities.

HarvestingThe crop is ready for harvest in about 75-100 days after sowing depending upon cultivar and season. For local market harvesting should be done at full maturity while for transporting to distant markets, it is done slightly earlier. Maturity in watermelon can be judged from withering of tendril, change in belly colour or ground spot to yellow and thumping test. The mature fruits on thumping gives dull sound as against metallic sound of unripe fruits. The fruit should be separated from the vines with the help of a knife.

YieldThe yield of watermelon varies according to the system of cultivation, variety, season and several other factors. The average fruit yield varies from 20 to 25 t/ha.

Post Harvest TechnologyGradingWatermelons are graded according to their size for local market. Distinction among grades is based predominantly on external appearances. However, watermelons should be symmetrical and uniform in appearance. The surface should be waxy and bright in appearance devoid of scars, sunburn, transit abrasions or other surface defects.

PackagingThe fruits are transported by road in bulk by stacking them on dried grass in trucks.

StorageWatermelons can be stored for 14 days at 15C. For short-term storage or transit to distant markets (> 7 days), watermelons can be stored at 7.2C with 85-90% relative humidity. Extended holding at this temperature will induce chilling injury. Many watermelons are still shipped without pre-cooling or refrigeration during transit. These fruit must be utilized for prompt market sales as quality declines rapidly under these conditions.

Watermelons should not be stored with apples and bananas as the ethylene produced during storagefrom these fruits hastens softening and development of off flavour to watermelons.

Humic acid increases yield substantially in watermelonM.J. PRABUThe farmer has made a net profit of more than Rs.50 lakhs last year

Photo: M.J. PrabuNew technique:If humic acid is used, the cost of cultivation is about Rs. 1,000.Farmers should change with the times and try to implement new technologies if they must succeed. Whether it is one acre or 100 acres, a farmer must be willing to try new techniques and learn from past mistakes.

Mr. V. Veeraraghavan, Mudaiyur village, Thirukazhikundram, (about 5 kms from the temple) Tamil Nadu, is a good example of how a farmer with only 2-3 acres as ancestral property, successfully grows watermelon in 120 acres.

From childhood I wanted to achieve something big. After my diploma in mechanical engineering I decided to do farming. I knew that farming in 2-3 acres would not help.

Short cropsLuckily, I came into contact with Mr. Raja Inthren, a private agricultural consultant who advised me to take up large lands on lease and grow some short-term crops which fetch a good price.

After some initial hunting for lands Mr. Veeraraghavan took 120 acres on lease for cultivation and started growing watermelon.

Why did he choose watermelon when there are hundreds of other crops?

Watermelon is a short term crop (60 days) and if done in large acreage a farmer can earn a good profit, he says. Unlike the regular (red flesh) watermelon variety, the farmer is also growing yellow (mythila), also called next generation or ice pack variety, and orange (devyani) varieties.

There is very good demand for the yellow and orange varieties, especially from star hotels, as the supply of these two varieties is low, he says.

No particular seasonThe most distinguishing feature of these varieties is that they grow all through the year, unlike the red ones which are available only during summer.

Chemical fertilizers are applied in 100 acres and humic acid used in the remaining 20 acres to grow the watermelons.

Mr. Raja initiated me into the beneficial effects of using humic acid. I decided to experiment in 20 acres and surprisingly found the yield increased from 10 tonnes to 12 tonnes per acre after using the acid. I soon plan to cultivate all the 120 acres using humic acid alone, he says.

But what about the cost of cultivation using this acid?

If a farmer cultivates a crop in 20 acres, the expense for buying the fertilizers and sprays comes to about Rs. 10,000. But if he uses humic acid, then he needs to spend only about Rs. 1,000.

Low expenseMy expenditure in 20 acres after using the acid has drastically come down. Other farmers should also start using this acid and realise its benefit, he emphasises.

Farmers can purchase the acid from Neyveli Lignite Corporation of India, phone: 0414-2257149 and Dr. Ilango, Senior lecturer, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, mobile: 9443208619.

The cost of a one litre bottle is Rs.25. It should be diluted in 2 litres of water and sprayed for an acre, or can also be mixed with the soil (diluted in about 10-20 litres of water) and sprinkled. The farmer also uses two magnet blocks which he attaches to the irrigation pipeline. By sticking the magnets he says:

Physical propertyThe physical property of water is altered while the chemical property remains the same. For example, during drip irrigation the nozzles in the drip tube get blocked after some time due to the salts (such as magnesium, potassium) present in the water.

When the magnets are attached to the main pipeline this blockage problem does not occur, he says.

For those who do not have drip facility the magnets must be attached to the main pipe which delivers the water to the irrigation channel.

Marketing channelsThe problem with our farmers today is they think their job is over once the crop is harvested.

Farmers must become more aware about the marketing avenues for their crops. They should grow only those crops which have marketable qualities, he stresses.

At present, along with his produce, the farmer is also sourcing from several other farmers. Any interested farmer can contact me and I am ready to help him to market his produce, he says.

In the last one year Mr. Veeraraghavan has sold nearly 10,000 tonnes of fruits and has made a net profit of more thanRs.50 lakhs.

For details readers can contact Mr. V.Veeraraghavan, Mudaiyur village, 603 109, Thirukazhikundram, Tamil Nadu, mobile: 9894145143.

Watermelon cultivation through precision farming An experienceTop

I have practiced the precision farming in watermelon in last year (2009). I would like to share the experience of watermelon cultivation.I have cultivated watermelon in 2.2 hectares of my land through precision farming drip irrigation system. I used Numhems companys Pukeeza variety in one hectare of land and in remaining one hectare of land I cultivated Apoorva variety of Seminis Companys.

Cultivation Practices

In the beginning stage of cultivation, I ploughed the land twice per month and applied farm yard manure at the rate of 2 loads per hectare. Then ploughed the land to get good tilth. Before last ploughing, applied 6 bags of D.A.P.+ 3 bags of Potash. After leveling the land, I digged a small canal and placed lateral pipes above the canal. Fixed at the rate of 1 lateral pipe per 5 feet and Irrigated for few minutes. Then, sowed one seed at every place of dripper.

I got loan from Bank for one hectare and remaining capital spent by myself to install drip system. For that, horticulture department gave 258 Kg of Potassium Nitrate fertilizer. From the day of transplanting, I gave 5 Kg potassium Nitrate + 5 Kg Urea through drip irrigation at three days interval.

After 15 days of planting, I have removed the weeds by engaging labourers. First weeding done at 3 Days after planting. Then, made a pit near every plant. Mixed 4 bags of potash + 4 bags of Urea and placed evenly into every pit and closed. I adjusted the lateral pipes properly to irrigate over the pit. After 35 days of planting, applied 3 bags of 150 Kg Calcium ammonium Nitrate and irrigate the field evenly by the drippers. Second hand weeding done at 40th day of planting. After 30th day and 40th day of planting, applied 10 liters of Humic acid evenly by the drip irrigation. In between this practice, I applied Potassium Nitrate + Urea at the rate of 5 KG/ha at three days of interval.1. Sprayed Tata-Rogger @3ml/lit. at 12th day after planning by using hand pump.

2. Then, sprayed Endosulfan @3ml/lit. and Imida Chloride @1ml/2lit at 19th day after planting by using hand pump.

3. After 25th day of planting,

Endosulfan @3ml/lit.Imida Chloride @1ml/2lit.Humic acid @3ml/lit.Fantac @ 5ml/16 lit. sprayed by using the hand pump.

1. 33 days after planting,

Trizophos @5ml/lit.Voltage(Flora) @ 10ml/tankHumic Acid @ 3ml/litSpic Sytozyme 3ml/lit. sprayed by using the hand pump.

1. 40 day after planting

Trizophos @ 5ml/lit.Chlopyriphos @5ml/lit.Siaptron @ 2ml/lit. sprayed by using sprayer.

1. 50 day after planting

Voltage(Flora) @ 10ml/tankBiovita @ 5 ml/lit.Trizophos @ 5 ml/lit. sprayed by using sprayer.Cost of Cultivation1Ploughing 7 ploughsRs.10,000

2Farm Yard Manure- 4 loadsRs.4,000

3D.A.P. Fertilizer -10 bagsRs.5,000

4Potash Fertilizer-7 bagsRs.1,645

5Urea Fertilizer-7 bagsRs.1,820

6Calcium Ammonium Nitrate- 3 bagsRs.2,250

7First hand weedingRs.1,600

8Second hand weeding Rs.2,000

9Forming ridges Rs. 600

10Spraying pesticidesRs.13,660

11Labour cost for sprayingRs. 3,000

Total Rs.45,575

(Included the cost of 258 Kg Potassium Nitrate was given by horticulture department)Income

Nunhems Pukeeza variety watermelon /1 hectare of landAt first harvest got 55 tones of watermelon andI sold this at Rs.3100/ton 55*3100 Rs.1,70,500

At second harvest got 6 tonnes of watermelonand I sold this at Rs.1000/ton 6*1000 Rs.6000

TotalRs.1,76,500

Seminis Apoorva Variety watermelon/1.2 hectare of landAt first harvest got 61 tonnes of watermelon and I sold at Rs.3100/ton 61*3100

Rs.1, 89,100

At second harvest got 4 tonnes of watermelon and sold this at Rs. 1000/ton 4*1000 Rs.4,000

TotalRs.1, 93,100

Income from 2.2 hectares of land totally - Rs.1, 76,500 + Rs. 1, 93,100 = Rs.3, 69,600Expenditure =Rs.45,575Net income =Rs. 3, 24,025Contact Address:C.Muruga PerumalS/o V.M. ChinnappanVeppurchekkadiThandarampathu(T.K.)Thiruvannamalai District-606706Ph.No. 90479990521