Planting
Season of Planting
The 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 Planting
Before 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 method
In 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 method
In 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 method
In 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.
Days to maturity
It is usually 80 to 90 days for baby bush varieties and 90 to 100 days or more for the larger varieties.
Spacing
Seeded Watermelon
In large-scale production, few seeded varieties are currently grown. Watermelons are planted on flat beds 2 m wide and 20 cm to 30 cm high. In direct-seeded plantings, seed is placed 1,2 cm to 1,9 cm deep. After thinning and side-dressing, furrows are re-formed to the condition prior to furrow irrigation. For transplants, a single drip irrigation tape is laid 15 cm to 20 cm below the bed surface. Black plastic film, 1,8 m wide, is then laid flat on 2-m beds to heat the soil and reduce weeds. Seeds or transplants are then planted directly through the plastic. Transplants are set 60 cm to 90 cm apart. About 15 cm of the plastic is covered with soil at the edges to hold the mulch in place.
Seedless Watermelon
Common seedless watermelon planting configurations are 1 row of the seeded variety (pollinator) for every 2 to 3 rows of the seedless variety. However, other novel configurations are being used. The most popular is the mixing of seedless and pollinator varieties within the same row. In within-row plantings, the ratio of seedless to pollinator plants ranges from 2:1 to 5:1. As the seedless to pollinator ratio increases, the number of beehives should be increased to ensure pollination.
Season of Planting
The 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 Planting
Before 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 method
In 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 method
In 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 method
In 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.
Days to maturity
It is usually 80 to 90 days for baby bush varieties and 90 to 100 days or more for the larger varieties.
Spacing
Seeded Watermelon
In large-scale production, few seeded varieties are currently grown. Watermelons are planted on flat beds 2 m wide and 20 cm to 30 cm high. In direct-seeded plantings, seed is placed 1,2 cm to 1,9 cm deep. After thinning and side-dressing, furrows are re-formed to the condition prior to furrow irrigation. For transplants, a single drip irrigation tape is laid 15 cm to 20 cm below the bed surface. Black plastic film, 1,8 m wide, is then laid flat on 2-m beds to heat the soil and reduce weeds. Seeds or transplants are then planted directly through the plastic. Transplants are set 60 cm to 90 cm apart. About 15 cm of the plastic is covered with soil at the edges to hold the mulch in place.
Seedless Watermelon
Common seedless watermelon planting configurations are 1 row of the seeded variety (pollinator) for every 2 to 3 rows of the seedless variety. However, other novel configurations are being used. The most popular is the mixing of seedless and pollinator varieties within the same row. In within-row plantings, the ratio of seedless to pollinator plants ranges from 2:1 to 5:1. As the seedless to pollinator ratio increases, the number of beehives should be increased to ensure pollination.