Hello, dear reader of our articles on the cultivation of various crops through our network of agriculture for life.
CLIMATE
This type of vegetable grows in a climate between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.
in terms of rain, watermelons need an amount of rain between 400-600 millimeters per season. Too much rain causes the presence of fungal and bacterial diseases that affect the yield.
Since the Watermelon crop does not need a lot of rain, it thrives well during the dry season.
SOIL .
Watermelon crops do not require waterlogged soil to avoid fungal diseases and pests.
This crop needs fertile soil with a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Although the plant has the same ability to withstand soil with a pH of 5.0
SUITABLE FOR WATERMELON FARMING TANZANIA .
On the part of Tanzania, watermelon crops grow well on the coast like Daresalaam, Tanga, Morogoro, Mtwara, Lindi and Pwani where there is warm weather and enough sun.
PREPARATION OF THE FIELD
Prepare the field by cleaning it and plowing it well with a tractor or hand plow, then before planting the seeds, leaves and residues of the diseased field should be removed and completely burned. This will help reduce the spread of troublesome diseases in the farm.
PLANTING
Plant 2 seeds in each hole 2 cm long.
Do not plant in a nursery because watermelon seedlings are very weak during transplanting if they are planted in a nursery, thus leading to the death of the seedlings.
SPACE
Sow the seeds at a distance of 1 meter from stem to stem in a row and 2 meters from row to row.
PLANT REDUCTION
Melon plants begin to germinate, after seven days to two weeks.
After the seeds have germinated, cut more than one seed in each hole, cut one seedling and leave the healthier seedling to continue growing.
NOTE : in reducing seedlings, do not uproot the seedling but cut it to avoid disturbing the roots of the remaining plant. In addition, you can fertilize the soil on the stems to help reduce water stagnation in your plants, you can also put manure instead of fertilizing the soil with the same intention of preventing water stagnation and increasing fertility.
If you have a small plot of land, you can put a wire fence for the melons, but you have to be strong because of the weight of the fruit.
When the plants start to crawl on the wire, it is necessary to direct it to the wire or strong rope and lock it.
MULCHES.
Mulching is grass, plant residues, rice husks or wooden mulches that are used to cover the ground to maintain moisture in the soil, reduce weed germination, plants to crawl up and prevent fruits from coming into contact with the ground/soil.
So after the seedlings have crawled to a certain extent, you can put mulches which can be dry grass on the soil to prevent the loss of moisture as well as to reduce the germination of weeds in your field. Likewise, decomposing mulch adds nutrients to the soil and protects the soil from erosion.
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
Likewise, manure can be applied when the plants are young.
After the plants make flowers, put a potassium fertilizer such as MOP or use a booster such as vegmax and mult K.
If the plants start to produce fruit, put a calcium fertilizer such as yaraliva nitrobar up to 2 or 3 times a week until the fruits are ripe.
NOTE: After the plant produces fruit, thin the fruit and keep three or four fruits per plant stem. This helps the stem to produce large (commercial) fruits with a good shape attractive to the customer.
IRRIGATION
The field should be irrigated regularly when there is no rain or when there is little rain.
The most important time when these plants need water is during the seed germination period, during flowering and about ten days before harvesting. If there is a lack of water, it will cause the formation of fruits that are not good and have a bad shape during the production of fruits, also a decrease in the size of the fruit.
REMEMBER; Do not water the melons in the late evening or at night because it can cause leaf diseases due to the moisture staying for a long time . Similarly, do not water on flowers in the morning or join because you can prevent insects like bees which are very important during pollination.
FLOWERS AND FRUITS
Watermelons produce male and female flowers on the same branch. Male flowers are usually smaller and come out earlier followed by female flowers which are larger. Flowers may not appear or appear if a small amount of water is irrigated, lack of nutrients in the soil and hot/cold weather etc.
Today we have prepared a special article on professional and more profitable watermelon cultivation in Tanzania to inform Tanzanians about this important and profitable opportunity.
Many of my fellow farmers in the country have been doing this farming by following a pattern and not professionally, and that is why you will meet some people if not most of them who complain about the losses they get in this farming.
And this is due to the desire to get a quick profit and get out of life instead of following a specific procedure and experts in agriculture to achieve their goals.
Best Watermelon Seeds
The most popular ticket seed is Sukari F1 , although in stores there are many better ones with different varieties such as:
- Arashani F1 – from Syngenta
- Apoorva F1 - kutoka seed
- Sugar F1 – From East Africa seeds
- Sugar king F1 – from Africasia
- Juliana F1 – from Kiboseed
- Zebra F1 – From Balton
- Pato F1 – From Agrichem
This type of vegetable grows in a climate between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.
in terms of rain, watermelons need an amount of rain between 400-600 millimeters per season. Too much rain causes the presence of fungal and bacterial diseases that affect the yield.
Since the Watermelon crop does not need a lot of rain, it thrives well during the dry season.
SOIL .
Watermelon crops do not require waterlogged soil to avoid fungal diseases and pests.
This crop needs fertile soil with a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Although the plant has the same ability to withstand soil with a pH of 5.0
SUITABLE FOR WATERMELON FARMING TANZANIA .
On the part of Tanzania, watermelon crops grow well on the coast like Daresalaam, Tanga, Morogoro, Mtwara, Lindi and Pwani where there is warm weather and enough sun.
PREPARATION OF THE FIELD
Prepare the field by cleaning it and plowing it well with a tractor or hand plow, then before planting the seeds, leaves and residues of the diseased field should be removed and completely burned. This will help reduce the spread of troublesome diseases in the farm.
PLANTING
Do not plant in a nursery because watermelon seedlings are very weak during transplanting if they are planted in a nursery, thus leading to the death of the seedlings.
SPACE
PLANT REDUCTION
After the seeds have germinated, cut more than one seed in each hole, cut one seedling and leave the healthier seedling to continue growing.
NOTE : in reducing seedlings, do not uproot the seedling but cut it to avoid disturbing the roots of the remaining plant. In addition, you can fertilize the soil on the stems to help reduce water stagnation in your plants, you can also put manure instead of fertilizing the soil with the same intention of preventing water stagnation and increasing fertility.
If you have a small plot of land, you can put a wire fence for the melons, but you have to be strong because of the weight of the fruit.
MULCHES.
So after the seedlings have crawled to a certain extent, you can put mulches which can be dry grass on the soil to prevent the loss of moisture as well as to reduce the germination of weeds in your field. Likewise, decomposing mulch adds nutrients to the soil and protects the soil from erosion.
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
Apply fertilizer and plant one week after the watermelon sprouts: NPK type industrial fertilizers or fertilizers with nitrogen such as yaramila winner amount of 10 to 20 grams should be applied when the plants start to crawl in order to sell to you.
After the plants make flowers, put a potassium fertilizer such as MOP or use a booster such as vegmax and mult K.
If the plants start to produce fruit, put a calcium fertilizer such as yaraliva nitrobar up to 2 or 3 times a week until the fruits are ripe.
NOTE: After the plant produces fruit, thin the fruit and keep three or four fruits per plant stem. This helps the stem to produce large (commercial) fruits with a good shape attractive to the customer.
IRRIGATION
The field should be irrigated regularly when there is no rain or when there is little rain.
The most important time when these plants need water is during the seed germination period, during flowering and about ten days before harvesting. If there is a lack of water, it will cause the formation of fruits that are not good and have a bad shape during the production of fruits, also a decrease in the size of the fruit.
REMEMBER; Do not water the melons in the late evening or at night because it can cause leaf diseases due to the moisture staying for a long time . Similarly, do not water on flowers in the morning or join because you can prevent insects like bees which are very important during pollination.
FLOWERS AND FRUITS
Watermelons produce male and female flowers on the same branch. Male flowers are usually smaller and come out earlier followed by female flowers which are larger. Flowers may not appear or appear if a small amount of water is irrigated, lack of nutrients in the soil and hot/cold weather etc.
Pollination is done by insects and if there are no insects you can pollinate by hand.
This is done by cutting the male flowers with a knife and pollinating the female flowers, the first female flowers on the branch are the ones with the best growth, you can cut the branch so that it does not continue to grow after the fruit is produced, this leads to bigger fruits. This can be done mostly in the Morning.PROFITABLE CULTIVATION OF ONION WATER
INSECTS AND DISEASES OF WATERMELONS
There are various types of watermelon insects that attack leaves and flowers, and some attack fruits, there are also fungal diseases that attack plants.
Diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew and others should be controlled before they cause harm to the plants. In order to find out the medicines for diseases, it is good to take a sample and take it to the pharmacy and agricultural inputs to get the right medicine. The drug Mancozeb can be used to treat the above diseases.
Watermelons are also attacked by insects that live in leaves, flowers and fruits. KARATE type medicine will help to kill insects of leaves, flowers and fruits.
HARVESTING AND STORAGE OF WATERMELONS
Water lilies are usually ready to harvest 80 to 100 days after planting.
Harvest when the fruit is fully ripe by cutting the stem where it starts from the branch as in the picture.
Avoid injuring the fruit by cutting the stem where it holds the fruit.
Store in a cool place 15 to 20 degrees C. Store well in a dry place away from extreme heat.
BEING PROFITABLE.
profit is recognized immediately after the income and production costs used are known.
INCOME
One acre with a size of 70 × 70 meters takes 2450 seedlings for a space of 1 by 2 meters of watermelons in the field.
If you reduce the fruits in each stem and you are left with four fruits, you will get 9,800/= watermelons per acre.
In many parts of Tanzania, the price of a watermelon with a good reputation is 2,000/= to 3,000/= shillings. If
a farmer sells watermelons at a price of 2,000/= per fruit, the farmer will get an amount of 19,600,000/= (nineteen million and six hundred thousand) per acre. one.
If the farmer sells at a price of 1,000/= per fruit, then the farmer will get 9,800,000/= (nine million and eight hundred thousand per acre)
This cost will go higher or lower depending on the number of fruits you got in one acre and the seller's price. So you can get more profit if you increase the care of your farm and follow the procedure in the cultivation of this crop.
COST
Watermelon requires fertilizer, water, chemicals to kill insects and diseases as well as field preparation, the cost of which does not exceed Tsh. 500,000/= in intensive care
NOTE: The costs included in that 500,000/= are for fertilizers and medicines only.
Because the costs of farms and workers vary according to the area concerned
AUTHOR'S ADVICE . It is good for the farmer to know the market for his produce or find a market by signing a contract with companies or big buyers before starting a production project, not only for watermelon but also for other fruit and vegetable crops
INSECTS AND DISEASES OF WATERMELONS
There are various types of watermelon insects that attack leaves and flowers, and some attack fruits, there are also fungal diseases that attack plants.
Diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew and others should be controlled before they cause harm to the plants. In order to find out the medicines for diseases, it is good to take a sample and take it to the pharmacy and agricultural inputs to get the right medicine. The drug Mancozeb can be used to treat the above diseases.
Watermelons are also attacked by insects that live in leaves, flowers and fruits. KARATE type medicine will help to kill insects of leaves, flowers and fruits.
HARVESTING AND STORAGE OF WATERMELONS
Water lilies are usually ready to harvest 80 to 100 days after planting.
Harvest when the fruit is fully ripe by cutting the stem where it starts from the branch as in the picture.
Avoid injuring the fruit by cutting the stem where it holds the fruit.
Store in a cool place 15 to 20 degrees C. Store well in a dry place away from extreme heat.
BEING PROFITABLE.
profit is recognized immediately after the income and production costs used are known.
INCOME
One acre with a size of 70 × 70 meters takes 2450 seedlings for a space of 1 by 2 meters of watermelons in the field.
If you reduce the fruits in each stem and you are left with four fruits, you will get 9,800/= watermelons per acre.
In many parts of Tanzania, the price of a watermelon with a good reputation is 2,000/= to 3,000/= shillings. If
a farmer sells watermelons at a price of 2,000/= per fruit, the farmer will get an amount of 19,600,000/= (nineteen million and six hundred thousand) per acre. one.
If the farmer sells at a price of 1,000/= per fruit, then the farmer will get 9,800,000/= (nine million and eight hundred thousand per acre)
This cost will go higher or lower depending on the number of fruits you got in one acre and the seller's price. So you can get more profit if you increase the care of your farm and follow the procedure in the cultivation of this crop.
COST
Watermelon requires fertilizer, water, chemicals to kill insects and diseases as well as field preparation, the cost of which does not exceed Tsh. 500,000/= in intensive care
NOTE: The costs included in that 500,000/= are for fertilizers and medicines only.
Because the costs of farms and workers vary according to the area concerned
AUTHOR'S ADVICE . It is good for the farmer to know the market for his produce or find a market by signing a contract with companies or big buyers before starting a production project, not only for watermelon but also for other fruit and vegetable crops