Cultivation

Melon greenhouse cultivation

Cucumis melo L.

Growing melons in a greenhouse requires vertical plant training on a trellis, thinning of ovaries, and strict humidity control to prevent fungal diseases.

In the reference 252 varieties crop Melon, where this is mentioned in the description.

In greenhouse conditions, melons are primarily trained to a single stem by removing side shoots up to the 11th–13th leaf and pinching off fruit-bearing shoots above the 1st–2nd leaf after the ovary. Due to the weight of the fruits, they must be suspended in nets attached to the trellis to prevent stem damage. The number of ovaries per plant is strictly limited: usually, one to seven fruits are left depending on the varietal characteristics.

Cultivation technology involves maintaining air humidity at no more than 70%, as higher levels provoke Ascochyta blight, anthracnose, and Fusarium wilt. An important feature is the 'shatrik' phase—a period of slow main stem growth during the first weeks of life, during which the root system develops. Two weeks before harvest, irrigation is reduced, and one week before it is stopped completely, which helps increase the sugar content of the crop.

For greenhouse cultivation, F1 hybrids with a high abundance of female flowers or partial parthenocarpy, as well as shade-tolerant forms, are selected. Since melons tolerate transplanting poorly, seedlings are planted at the age of 20–30 days exclusively in pots or peat cups, ensuring the integrity of the root ball.

General information about the subject — on the page Protected cultivation.

Sources8

Varieties of Melon mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.