Land Preparation
Fields should be prepared thoroughly by plowing and harrowing and removing the different types of plant debris. It should also be pulverized and leveled; furrows are made 2 m apart.
Soil Requirement
Watermelon is known to be sensitive to manganese toxicity, a frequent problem in low pH soils. Further research studies indicate an association between high leaf manganese concentration and poor growth and yield of watermelon. Seedling watermelons react to manganese toxicity with stunted growth and yellowish, crinkled leaves. Older plants generally exhibit brown spots on older leaves that may be mistaken for symptoms of gummy stem blight. Manganese toxicity is usually associated with soils having a pH below 5,5. However, in wet seasons the condition may occur at higher pH levels when the soil has been saturated for a period of several days. This condition has been noted in several watermelon fields with pH ranges at 5,8 or slightly higher when the crop was planted flat. Planting watermelons and other cucurbits on a bed is good insurance against manganese toxicity during a wet season. The best solution to manganese toxicity is to apply lime in autumn at rates based on the results of a soil test. A pH of 6,0 should be maintained for maximum yields.
Climate
The crop prefers a hot, dry climate with mean daily temperatures of 22 to 30°C. The crop is very sensitive to frost. Maximum and minimum temperatures for growth are about 35 and 18°C respectively. The optimum soil temperature for root growth is in the range of 20 to 35°C. Melon seed do not germinate well in cold soil. Fruits grown under hot, dry conditions have a high sugar content of 11 percent in comparison to 8 percent under cool, humid conditions.The length of the total growing period ranges from 80 to 110 days; depending on variety and climate (Temperatures above 35°C or below 18°C will slow the growth and maturation of the crop)
Fields should be prepared thoroughly by plowing and harrowing and removing the different types of plant debris. It should also be pulverized and leveled; furrows are made 2 m apart.
Soil Requirement
Watermelon is known to be sensitive to manganese toxicity, a frequent problem in low pH soils. Further research studies indicate an association between high leaf manganese concentration and poor growth and yield of watermelon. Seedling watermelons react to manganese toxicity with stunted growth and yellowish, crinkled leaves. Older plants generally exhibit brown spots on older leaves that may be mistaken for symptoms of gummy stem blight. Manganese toxicity is usually associated with soils having a pH below 5,5. However, in wet seasons the condition may occur at higher pH levels when the soil has been saturated for a period of several days. This condition has been noted in several watermelon fields with pH ranges at 5,8 or slightly higher when the crop was planted flat. Planting watermelons and other cucurbits on a bed is good insurance against manganese toxicity during a wet season. The best solution to manganese toxicity is to apply lime in autumn at rates based on the results of a soil test. A pH of 6,0 should be maintained for maximum yields.
Climate
The crop prefers a hot, dry climate with mean daily temperatures of 22 to 30°C. The crop is very sensitive to frost. Maximum and minimum temperatures for growth are about 35 and 18°C respectively. The optimum soil temperature for root growth is in the range of 20 to 35°C. Melon seed do not germinate well in cold soil. Fruits grown under hot, dry conditions have a high sugar content of 11 percent in comparison to 8 percent under cool, humid conditions.The length of the total growing period ranges from 80 to 110 days; depending on variety and climate (Temperatures above 35°C or below 18°C will slow the growth and maturation of the crop)