Watermelon is an important cucurbitaceous vegetable in India. It is an excellent desert fruit and its juice contained 92% water along with Proteins, Minerals and Carbohydrates. Watermelons is major river-bed crop of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

In Maharashtra, near about 662 hectare area is under watermelon cultivation.
 

Watermelon grows well in deep fertile and well-drained soil. It gives best result when grown on sandy or sandy loam soil. Soil having poor drainage capacity are not suited for watermelon cultivation. Follow crop rotation as continuous growing of same crop on same field leads loss of nutrients, poor yield and more disease attack. pH of soil should be in between 6-7. 

Arka Jyoti: Mid season hybrid, fruits are round, light green skin with sweet flesh (11-12%). Suitable for growing in south as well as in north region.

Arka Manik: Fruits are oval shape, skin color is light green, flesh is of deep red color with TSS 11-12%. Gives resistant to powdery mildew, downey mildew.

Asahi Yamato: This variety gives medium sized fruits with weight of 6-8kg. Ready to harvest in 95days. Flesh is of deep pink color. TSS 11 to 13%. It gives an average yield of 105-125qtl/acre.

Sugar Baby: Fruits are this variety are of small size, round shape and fruits average weight of 3-5kg. Skin is of bluish black and flesh is of deep pink color. seeds are of small size. TSS 11 to 13%. It gives yield of 72qtl/acre.

Other States Variety

Varun, Yuvaraj, Aayesha, Madhubala, chetan, NS 295, NS 34, NS 450, Arjun, Sumo, KSP 1081, Lalima, Pakeeza, Khushboo, Nina Astha, Mithas and Raja.

Exotic Varieties: China - Watermelon Hybrid Yellow Doll, Water Melon Hybrid Red Doll. USA - Regency, Royal Flush, Royal Majesty, Royal Sweet, Paradise, Ferrari, Sunrise etc.

Durgapur Kesar: Late maturing variety, having green, striped fruits. Fruits are sweet in taste with yellow flesh and large seeds.

Durgapur Lal : Variety having dark red flesh and high sweetness.

Durgapur Meetha: Fruits are round with light green color. Fruits are having excellent keeping quality. Ready to harvest in 125days.

Improved Shipper: Fruits are dark green with red flesh and having moderate sweetness.

Pusa Bedane: Slow growing, seedless hybrid. Fruits are having thick rind, crisp and deep pink flesh. Ready to harvest in 105days.

Special No 1: Early maturing variety with small, round fruits having red flesh. TSS is on lower side compared to improved shipper.

Charl Stan Gray: Fruits are large with red flesh and less seeds. Gives average yield of 100qtl/acre.

Plough land and bring to fine tilth. Watermelon can be direct seeded or transplant in nursery and then transplanted to main field.

Time of sowing
Optimum time for watermelon cultivation is from January to February, so that fruits are ready for marketing in April – May month. In Konkan and some areas of Western Maharashtra, it is cultivated in second fortnight of October month to first week of December month.  

Spacing
Depending upon sowing method spacing may get vary. In Pit method use row to row spacing of 2-3.5m and 0.6-1.2m between two plant.
 
Sowing Depth
Sow seeds at depth of 2-4cm.

Method of sowing
For Sowing different methods of planting like Furrow method, Pit method and hill method can be used depending upon climate and season.

Furrow Method: Sowing is done on either side of furrows. Sow 3-4 seeds (After germination keep only healthy seedling) at a time and keep plant to plant distance of 60-90cm.

Pit Method: Sow 4seed in Pit. For that make pit of 60x60x60cm at distance of 2-3.5m between two rows and 0.6-1.2m between Plant. Fill pit with well decomposed cow dung and soil. After germination keep only one seedling.

Hill method: Similar to Pit method. In this, pit of 30x30x30cm pits are made at distance of 1-1.5m. Two seed are sown per hill.

Seed Rate
For sowing one acre land, seed rate of 1 to 1.5kg is required.

Seed Treatment
Before sowing treat seed with Carbendizim@2gm/kg of seeds. After chemical treat seeds with Trichoderma viiridi@4gm per kg of seeds. Dry seeds in shade and then do sowing immediately.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

20-25days before sowing, apply Farm Yard Manure or well decomposed cowdung@6tonnes per acre and mix well in soil. Watermelon required Nitrogen@40kg, Phosphorus@20kg and Potash@20kg in form of Urea@90kg, Single Super Phosphate@125kg and Muriate of Potash@35kg per acre.
 
Apply whole amount of Phosphorus, Potash and half quantity of Nitrogen at time of seed sowing. Apply remaining quantity of Nitrogen, 30-45days after sowing near vines base, avoid touching it and mixed well in soil.   

when crop is of 10-15 days old, for good growth of crop along with good quality, take spray of 19:19:19+Micro-nutrients@ 2-3gm/Ltr of water. Prevent flower drop and increase yield up to 10% take spray of Humic acid@3ml + MAP(12:61:00)@5gm/Ltr of water at flowering stage. After 55days of sowing spray 13:0:45@100gm + Hexaconazole @25ml/15Ltr water for fast development of fruits and protection against powdery mildew. 65days after sowing to increase in fruit size, sweetness and color take spray with 0:0:50 @1.5kg/acre using 100gm/15Ltr of water.
 

Keep bed weed free during early stage of growth. In absence of proper control measures, weed can cause yield loss of 30%. 15-20days after sowing, carry out intercultural operations. Depending upon severity and intensity of weeds, two to three weeding are required. 

For quick germination of seeds apply irrigation Immediately after sowing. Apply remaining irrigation at interval of 5-7days. At time of fruit formation and development, give irrigation at interval of 8 to 10days.
 
Avoid over irrigation also at time of applying irrigation, should not wet the vines or vegetative parts, especially during flowering and fruit-set. To get better sweetness, for better flavor; stop irrigation or reduce watering 3-6days before harvesting.
 

• Pest and their control:
  

Aphid and Thrips: They suck the sap from the leaves resulting in yellowing and dropping of leaves. Thrips results in curling of leaves, leaves become cup shaped or curved upward.

If infestation is observed in field, to control spray the crop with Thiamethoxam@5gm/15Ltr of water. If infestation of sucking pest and powdery/downy mildew is observed, take spray of Thiamethoxam and 15days after spraying, spray with Dimethoate@250ml+Tridemorph@100ml/200Ltr of water.

Fruit fly: It is serious pest. Females lay eggs below epidermis of young fruits. Later on maggots feed on pulp afterward fruits starts rotting.

Remove and destroyed infected fruits away from field. If infestation is observed, at initial stage take spray of Neem seed kernal extracts@50gm/Ltr of water. Take spray of Malathion@300ml + Jaggery@100gm in 200litre of water 3-4times at 10 days interval.

Anthracnose: Anthracnose affected foliage appears scorched appearance. 

As a preventive measure, treat seed with Carbendazim@2gm/kg of seed. If infestation is observed in field, take spray of Mancozeb@400gm or Carbendazim@400gm/200liter of water.

• Pest and their control:
  

Powdery Mildew: Patchy, white powdery growth appears on upper surface of leaves also on main stem of infected plant. It parasitizes the plant using it as a food source. In severe infestation it causes defoliation and premature fruit ripening.

If infestation is observed take spray of water soluble Sulphur@20gm/10Ltr of water 2-3 times with interval of 10 days.

Sudden wilt: It can affect crop at any stage. Plant get weak and give yellow appearance at initial stage, in severe infestation complete wilting is observed.

Avoid water logging in field. Destroy infected parts away from field. Apply Trichoderma Viride@1kg/acre mixed with 20kg FYM or Well decomposed Cowdung. If infestation is observed, take spray of Mancozeb or Copper Oxychloride@400gm/200liter or Carbendazim or Thiophanate-methyl@200gm/200liter of water.

Leaf Miner: Maggots of leaf miner feed on leaf and make serpentine mines into leaf. It affects the photosynthesis and fruit formation.

If infestation of leaf miner is observed, spray of Abamectin@6ml/15Ltr of water should be done to get rid of leaf miner.

If tendril near stem gets dried also whitish color of fruit which touch to ground get yellowish then assume that fruit is ready for harvesting. On thumping melon if it sounds hollow (usually as a dull thump or thud) then it is ready for harvest and immature fruit sounds dense. Dont pick immature fruits as they ripe only when attached to vine. Immature fruit don’t have rich sugar content or color. To harvest ripe fruit, cut stem 1" from fruit with a pair of sharp pruners or knife. Fruit can be stored in a cool humid environment.

Grading is done on basis of size of fruit. It can be store for 14 days at temperature of 15°C. Do not store watermelon with apples and banana as it developed off flavor along with softening of fruit.