1. Timely sowing and cultivating strong seedlings should be based on local climate conditions to determine the sowing period, aiming to set fruit before the rainy season begins. It is usually recommended to sow between late February and mid-March. Use insulated seedbeds and nutrient-rich pots for seedling cultivation, with a seed usage of about 100 grams per mu. Before sowing, soak the seeds in hot water (around 70°C) and let them cool naturally. Soak for one hour, then germinate at 25–30°C. Once the seeds sprout, check the germination bed regularly and transplant the sprouted seeds into prepared nutrient pots. During the seedling stage, ensure proper insulation. In case of cold waves, use heating cables or incandescent lamps in the seedbed. Maintain humidity by watering only when necessary—“see dry, see wet.†Ten days before planting, begin hardening off the seedlings to prepare them for outdoor conditions.
2. Isolation is crucial to maintain variety purity. Ensure that no other melon or zucchini varieties are grown within a 500-meter radius of the seed production field to prevent cross-pollination and maintain genetic integrity.
3. Soil preparation should involve selecting fields that have not been used for melons in the past two years. The plot should be elevated, with loose, fertile soil and good irrigation and drainage systems. Ditches should be 0.2 meters deep and 0.5 meters wide, while the planting beds should be 4.5 meters wide. Each bed should be shaped into a smooth ridge. The length of each bed can be around 30 meters, with ditches 0.3 meters wide and 0.35 meters deep. Apply base fertilizer 0.35 meters away from the ditch, using 3,000 kg of manure and 60 kg of compound fertilizer per acre. Finally, lay a 1-meter-wide plastic film for planting lines. In mid-April, transplant seedlings with two to three true leaves, spacing them 0.45 meters apart, resulting in approximately 600 plants per acre.
4. Field management includes several key steps: After transplanting, water and fertilize once the seedlings have survived. When the plants have 2–3 true leaves, apply clear water to the roots. Top-dress with 15 kg of urea and 30 kg of compound fertilizer per acre, but avoid applying this during the fruit-setting stage. Once fruits start forming, apply 20 kg of urea per acre after the fruits reach about 500 g in weight. Avoid watering on rainy days. During high temperatures and dry periods, irrigate with “running water†every 5–7 days.
5. After the vines begin to grow, train them properly. When the main vine produces a strong side vine, allow it to grow and press the vine once it reaches 0.5 meters in length. Ensure that vines from opposite rows do not cross, keeping them neat and aligned. Usually, two vines per plant with one fruit are kept, with the main vine being used for the first 2–4 female flowers. If the plant has sufficient nutrients, an additional fruit can be retained on the side vines.
6. Pollination assistance is essential to improve fruit set and seed yield. Melon flowers typically bloom around 7 am. Collect male flowers and transfer pollen using a brush or directly apply it to the female stigma. Artificial pollination should be completed by 10 am. Introduce bees during flowering to aid in natural pollination.
7. Protect the fruits once they are stable. Place grass under the melons to prevent rotting. During high temperatures, cover the fruits to avoid sunburn and manage pests effectively.
8. Seed selection involves two stages. First, select young fruits weighing about 500 g, ensuring they display typical variety characteristics and are healthy. Remove any sterile, diseased, or weak plants. A second selection is made when the fruits are fully matured, which generally takes about 40 days after fruiting. During the growing process, mark open female flowers when 50–60% of them are open. Harvest the fruits 40 days after marking, according to their maturity. Harvest the leaves just before they turn yellow and wither. After harvesting, store the melons in a cool, dry place for 15 days before extracting the seeds.
9. Seed collection, drying, and storage should be done on a sunny day. Select seeds with thick flesh and small central cavities. After removing the seeds, rinse them thoroughly until all mucus is gone. Avoid using iron containers, as they can darken the seeds. Do not expose the seeds directly to sunlight on concrete surfaces; instead, spread them on bamboo mats, keeping them thin for even drying. On the first day, dry the seed coat slightly without full exposure to prevent cracking. Do not pile the seeds until they are fully dried. Store the fully dried seeds in a cool, dry location. Based on several years of practical experience, following this method has increased average seed yield per acre to 25 kg, with a maximum of up to 40 kg.
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