Hello, Dedicated farmers of India! here this guide is designed to help you dwell in the world of horticultural crops, which is watermelon. here, we’ll discuss the growth of watermelon
from seed selection to harvesting

A brief overview of watermelon

The scientific name of the watermelon is Citrullus lanatus. It belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae. Watermelon is originated from Africa. In India, watermelons are primarily produced in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Watermelon is a 75-100 day crop. Watermelons are loaded with essential nutrients and they contain a compound called lycopene which has antioxidant properties. Coming to watermelon seeds, are rich in nutrients such as magnesium.

Did you know? Watermelon has the highest amount of water which is 92%, due to which it produces hydration and are refreshing in hot and humid summers. July is declared as the National Watermelon Month.

Why grow watermelon?
Why choose watermelon? Let’s count the reasons!

Nutritional value is High in essential vitamins and minerals.

Low caloric index: It is low in calories and is preferred for people on a diet and weight loss.

High water content: It contains the highest percentage of water for any fruit which is 92%.

Starting your watermelon crop: key steps
Follow these golden rules when you are ready to plant:
Land preparation: The land must be ploughed properly and The seeds must be directly sown or they can transplanted from the nursery.

Variety selection: choose the disease-resistant varieties such as Sugar Baby, Arka Manik, Durgapur Meetha, and seedless varieties F1- Swarna. Hybrid varieties of watermelon are
Arka Jyothi , Suvarnima.

Soil preparation: watermelons perform best in sandy loams and have a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. A soil test is conducted to adjust the pH.

Planting time: The planting period of watermelons is from December to April. This is the ideal season for watermelon.

Seed the treatment: Organically seeds are treated with trichoderma viridae @4g or carbendizim can also used @2g/kg of seeds.

Seedling depth and spacing: The seed rate of watermelon is 1.0 to 1.5kg seeds/acre and hybrid seeds are 300-400 gm/acre. The spacing needed for watermelon is 2.5×0.5m. Mostly in this Crop, sowing can be done in 3 different methods: the furrow method, the pit method and the hill method.

Furrow method: Furrows are used in this method at a distance of 2-3m apart is done. Pit method: In this method pits are opened 60×60×60cm are dug and spacing of 2-3.5×06- 1.2m.

Hill method: Pits of 30×30×30cm dug at distance 1to 1.5m.
follow these guidelines for better quality yield.

Weed control: At the early stages of plant growth at 15-20 days of planting, weeding should be done to prevent weeds. A total of 2 weeding are done which helps in reducing weed problem. Mulching should be done.

Perfect time for growing watermelon: Basically, watermelon is a warm-season crop. The perfect time for growing watermelon is January-February which helps in harvesting during the summer months.

Nutrient management
Maximize growth with smart Nutrition.
Proper nutrition gives a good yield to crop. Farmyard manure (FYM) of 10 tonnes is to be used per acre. The amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium amounts needed are:

Nitrogen: 25kg/acre is required
Phosphorus: 16kg/acre is required
Potassium: 15kg/acre is required

By applying these tips your watermelon crop reaches its full potential.Did you know? Watermelons are very beneficial fruits. These days cancer and diabetes are easily growing diseases but by intake of watermelon, the risk of them is reduced.
Rheumatic arthritis is also reduced.

Irrigation insights
Water requirements: the type of root system in watermelon is the tap root system. So it generally requires less irrigation. In the early stages, irrigations are provided at 3 -4 days intervals. At the time of flowering, irrigation is given on alternate days. The preferred
irrigation is drip irrigation as it uses less water. This method controls weeds and diseases. It also improves the quality of the fruits.

Protecting your crop: Integrated pest management
Guard your melons; fight pests and diseases with intelligence.
The IPM practices that are to be followed are:

Common pests: Watch out for pests like Aphids, fruit flies, red pumpkin beetles, and mites.

Disease prevention: Keep an eye on diseases like Powdery mildew, Fusarium wilt, and Downey mildew.
The fruits that are infected with pests are destroyed.
Ploughing should be done in the soil so that the pupae of pests are killed.
Neem oil @3.0% is sprayed.
Sulphur based fungicides should be avoided.

Harvesting and storage:
Reap the rewards: harvesting and storing your watermelon.

Let’s discuss the best techniques to pick, preserve, and store your watermelons effectively.

When to harvest: the watermelon is harvested based on their maturity indices. They are harvested when they are fully matured. The tendril of the watermelon should be withered and a dull sound should be produced when thumping. The watermelon only matures when it is attached to a tendril. So it should only be plucked when fully matured. The color generally turns into yellow color when it is matured. The yield of the fruit is generally 25-30
tonnes/hectare.

Post-harvest: after the harvest of the fruit, based on the size of fruits grading should be done. Fruits should be categorized.

Storage tips:
Keep the melons in a cool place. they can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. Generally, a temperature of 15°c is maintained that is best for storage of melons.

Essential tools for watermelon farming:

Sprayers: The key role of sprayers is they are mostly used in distributing chemicals for prevention of pests and diseases.

Pruners/sharp knives: This tool is used in the harvesting of melon.

Conclusion:
As we draw to a close, remember that every step contributes to sustainable and profitable farming practices. So we should watch out for every step from seed selection to harvesting.

At Agrigo247, we are committed to supporting your farming journey with expert advice and innovative solutions. We are here to assist you in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities in Watermelon. Let Agrigo247 be your partner in cultivating success.