Watermelon is a popular summer fruit. It not only soothes the body and mind in summer but also has many nutritional and medicinal properties. Watermelon contains a lot of iron, vitamins, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients. It prevents various types of diseases including night sweats, constipation, intestinal wounds, blood pressure, and kidney problems. On hot days, a lot of salt and water are lost with sweat. Since watermelon is almost 96% water and contains a lot of mineral salts, it helps to fulfill the body’s salt and water deficiency.
The best time for watermelon cultivation is from January to March. However, seeds of hybrid varieties can be planted throughout the month of February-March.
Varieties of Watermelon:
The most popular breed in our country is Sugar Baby. It is an open-pollinated variety with rounded, uniform-shaped dense green covering and a dense red interior. Watermelon usually yields after two and a half months after cultivation. Other available varieties include Asahi Yamato, Adhari, Pusha Bedana, and hybrid varieties such as Sugar Empire, Amrit, Milan Madhu, Sugar Belle, Crimson Sweet, Crimson Glory, Mohini, and Guava.Crimson Sweet, Crimson Glory, Mohini, Guava etc.
However, Patnagra and Madhu F1 hybrid varieties are predominantly cultivated in the Sea area. The Patnagra watermelon variety is characterized by a round green shell with a deep red interior and can weigh between 6 to 7 kg. It reaches maturation in three months. The Madhu variety has a slightly elongated round medium green coat with long spots, a dark red interior, and narrow seeds. Both these varieties are suitable for early, medium, and late-season cultivation.
Cultivation Method:
For improved varieties of watermelon, 15 grams of seeds per plant are recommended, while for hybrid varieties, 5 grams per plant. Basic fertilizers of 30 quintals of cow dung or 2 quintals of neem shell, 20:20:20 kgs of Sujala, and 7 kgs of muriate of potash should be applied per bigha during the final tillage. Additionally, 15 kg of Ipco NPB 10:26:26, 5 kg of urea, and the aforementioned dung fertilizer or neem should be applied per bigha. For hybrid varieties, 45 kg of Sufala (15:15:15) and 3 kg of muriate of potash should be used as basic fertilizers during the preparation. The same amount of fertilizer should be applied again 25 to 30 days after sowing.
Important for Increasing Yield:
To achieve a good yield in watermelon cultivation, careful attention is necessary from the start.
- Varieties should be selected based on the cultivation area and market demand.
- In cold winters, the fruit should be sown in the ground for low temperature.
- The loft should be kept warm by pressing the hay until arrival.
- Three seedlings should be kept in each mat with the remaining seedlings removed.
- The distance between female to female should be 2.5 feet and line to line should be 5 feet. For hybrid varieties, it is better to keep 6 feet to 3 feet.
- It is recommended to spray flower/fruit enhancer after 25 and 45 days after emergence.
- Improved seed will yield 1.5 quintals per plant, whereas hybrid varieties will yield 3 to 4 quintals.
Insect infestation:
Insect infestation has been causing the decline of watermelon cultivation due to the lack of good seeds and various types of insect attacks. Many farmers are being affected by these insect attacks. In case of insect attack in watermelon cultivation, it is important to apply appropriate treatments in the field after consulting with the local agricultural extension officer.
Watermelon is considered a profitable agricultural product in Bangladesh, particularly in the southern part of the country where the plant’s tolerance to salt water allows for widespread cultivation.
