Intercultural Operations
Gap Filling and Thinning
Under 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 Control
Depending 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.
Series of chemical application during plant growth
Day Application
12 Spray Tata-Rogger @ 3ml / litre using hand pump
19 Spray Endosulfan @ 3ml / litre and Imida Chloride @1ml / 2litre using hand pump.
25 Endosulfan @3ml/litre, Imida Chloride @1ml/2litre, Humic acid @3ml/litre, Fantac @ 5ml/16 litre
33 Trizophos @5ml/litre, Voltage(Flora) @ 10ml/tank, Humic Acid @ 3ml/litre, Spic Sytozyme 3ml/lit.
40 Trizophos @ 5ml/litre, Chlopyriphos @5ml/litre, Siaptron @ 2ml/litre
50 Voltage(Flora) @ 10ml/tank, Biovita @ 5 ml/litre, Trizophos @ 5 ml/litre
Pinching
In 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.
Inter cropping
Watermelons can be profitably grown in the interspaces of newly planted orchards during the initial years provided there are sufficient irrigation facilities.
Gap Filling and Thinning
Under 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 Control
Depending 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.
Series of chemical application during plant growth
Day Application
12 Spray Tata-Rogger @ 3ml / litre using hand pump
19 Spray Endosulfan @ 3ml / litre and Imida Chloride @1ml / 2litre using hand pump.
25 Endosulfan @3ml/litre, Imida Chloride @1ml/2litre, Humic acid @3ml/litre, Fantac @ 5ml/16 litre
33 Trizophos @5ml/litre, Voltage(Flora) @ 10ml/tank, Humic Acid @ 3ml/litre, Spic Sytozyme 3ml/lit.
40 Trizophos @ 5ml/litre, Chlopyriphos @5ml/litre, Siaptron @ 2ml/litre
50 Voltage(Flora) @ 10ml/tank, Biovita @ 5 ml/litre, Trizophos @ 5 ml/litre
Pinching
In 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.
Inter cropping
Watermelons can be profitably grown in the interspaces of newly planted orchards during the initial years provided there are sufficient irrigation facilities.