When is the best time to plant cantaloupe seeds?

Cantaloupe seed planting time

Hami melon is an annual plant. It usually takes about 1-2 days for Hami melon to germinate, but this requires that the seed processing work is done well. Its growth cycle is about 3-4 months. April of each year is the best time to plant Hami melon, and it is best to sow and plant at this time.

How to plant cantaloupe seeds

1. Preparation for sowing: Hami melon should not be planted continuously. It is best to rotate with other crops for more than five years. In addition, Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae and Solanaceae crops should not be planted around the planting site. The planting site requires loose soil, general fertility, and sandy loam rich in organic matter. Before planting, it is best to carry out summer and autumn plowing, with a deep plowing of 25-30cm, and winter irrigation to help reduce alkali and mature the soil, which can eliminate weeds and overwintering pests in the soil.
2. Sowing: Before sowing, choose excellent varieties and do a good job of seed processing. After carefully selecting the seeds, soak them in 200 times formalin for 2 hours, and then rinse them with clean water 2-3 times. In areas with a high incidence of viral diseases, first disinfect and sterilize them with chemicals, then treat them at a constant temperature of 40℃ dry heat for 24 hours, and then germinate and sow them.
3. Arch shed: The arch shed can be made of bamboo strips, bamboo poles, or cold-drawn wire, but bamboo strips are generally used. The arch shed is about 100 cm high, so that the staff can enter and operate. The bamboo strips are sharpened at both ends to be inserted into the ground, and then hemp ropes and plastic ropes are used to connect each arch frame, and finally covered with plastic. The plastic must be laid flat to maintain light transmittance. After covering, it must be compacted with soil to prevent wind damage.
4. Field management: Generally, seedlings will emerge 3-5 days after sowing. At this time, the film should be broken in time, and the seedlings should be checked and replanted in time. When the seedlings grow to 1-2 true leaves, thinning should be started. Leave 2 pigs in each hole. Remove diseased and weak seedlings when thinning. When 4-5 true leaves are formed, the seedlings should be fixed, and one healthy seedling should be left in each hole.

Cantaloupe seed collection

Hami melons usually bloom in mid-April and mature in mid-to-late June, but depending on the variety, different batches of Hami melons mature and are available on the market from May to October. If you want to get Hami melon seeds, you can open the purchased Hami melons, take out the seeds, and store them in a dry place.

Cantaloupe seeds

Hami melon seeds are white and feel thin. They come in a variety of shapes, including oval, ovate, hammer-shaped, and long stick-shaped. They vary in size. When planting, it is best to soak them in warm water.