Mulching can be done in areas where the land is moist or the farmer depends on rain as it prevents fungal diseases. However, farmers using irrigation don’t necessarily need to do mulching. There is presence of pests like the red spider mite which start attacking the plant from when the leaves form up to the fruiting stage.
The most consistent diseases at the fruiting stage are the powdery mildew -mostly in hot and dry areas, and the downy mildew – mostly in cold areas. Calcium is good for fruit development as it ensures that the cell wall is strong. Consistently using nitrogenous fertilizers at the fruiting stage is dangerous as the high nitrogen levels lead to the fruit bursting.
Fruiting stage
In the fruiting stage of a watermelon, there are things a farmer should and should not do. One of the things a farmer should consider doing is turning the fruit. At the fruiting stage, some watermelons will be standing on their bottom side while others will be lying on their side. The farmer should ensure all fruits are lying on their side as this allows the fruit to elongate.
Mulching can be done in areas where the land is moist or the farmer depends on rain. Farmers using irrigation do not necessarily need to do mulching. Mulching prevents fungal diseases from attacking the water melon from below.
Watering.
When watermelon plants get less water, fruit development becomes very poor. When applying fertilizers or chemical sprays and the plant lacks water, there is poor absorption of nutrients from the soil and poor chemical supply within the system. For chemicals to work effectively water is key. Over watering on the other hand leads to the watermelon bursting.
Pests and diseases.
There is presence of pests like the red spider mite which start attacking the plant from when the leaves form up to the fruiting stage. The most consistent diseases at the fruiting stage are the powdery mildew -mostly in hot and dry areas, and the downy mildew – mostly in cold areas. For farmers in East Africa where Syngenta products are available, Ortiva can be used to control the powdery mildew while Dynamec can be used to control the red spider mites.
