Guide complet pour Réussir la Culture de la Pastèque
A guide to grow watermelons
Propagation
waterMelons can be direct seeded, or propagated to a seedling and later Transplanted.
For the direct seeded, the planting depth is about 1cm to 2cm and between row spacing is 1.5-2m, while the intra-plant spacing is 40cm-60cm.
Fertilizer application
At planting, we start with Phosphorus fertilizer eg Yara power, NPK 23:23:0 or DAP
This is to enable the young seedlings form a good roots network a healthy stem and leaves.
Weed control
Weeds should be adequately controlled, especially when the melon plants are young. Weeds which grow upright offer greater competition by fighting for nutrients and shading the melon plants.
Weed control can be achieved by application of black plastic mulches or manual cultivation.
Please note ;I have not come across watermelon selective weeding herbicides.
Diseases and insect pests
Melons suffer most of the diseases and insect pests that attack other cucurbits. Diseases eases such as;
powdery mildew, downy mildew, alternaria leaf spot, anthracnose, and fusarium wilt cause problems under certain conditions.
Insect pests such as:
cucumber beetle, aphids, flea beetles, and Melon fly too cause big problems.
Harvesting
Watermelon is ready for harvest in about 60 to 90 days depending by the location and climatic condition.
