Model Cultivation Techniques of Interplanting Tomatoes with Muskmelon in Sunlight Greenhouse

The following is a rewritten and improved version of the original Chinese text, translated into English. It has been restructured for clarity, coherence, and natural flow while maintaining all the key information from the original. The content has been expanded to ensure it exceeds 500 characters. --- **1. Variety Selection** Choosing the right varieties is crucial for successful crop production. For watermelons, select varieties that are resistant to cold, low light, diseases, and offer high yield, excellent quality, and good commercial value. Recommended options include Silicon Valley Xinkang, Xiyan No.5, Heimi No.5, and Jindi No.2. For melons, consider Tai Nong No.2, Yin Di No.3, and Early Health Snow Dense. For tomatoes, varieties like Shanghai 903, American Red Sword, and Strider are ideal due to their adaptability and high productivity. **2. Planting Schedule and Seasonal Arrangement** Summer melons should be planted between late August and early September, with harvesting taking place from late December to January, ideally before February to meet the demand for New Year and Spring Festival markets. Tomatoes are typically planted in mid-October and mid-November, with seedlings placed between melons in mid-late October and mid-December. Harvesting occurs from mid-February to mid-June, depending on the variety and growing conditions. **3. Seedling Cultivation** **3.1 Nutrient Soil Preparation** For both watermelons and tomatoes, avoid using soil from fields where similar crops have been grown for 3–5 years. Use topsoil from wheat, legumes, or onion/garlic fields, and mix it with fully decomposed organic fertilizer. For watermelons, mix the soil with manure in a 1:5 ratio, adding 0.25 kg/m³ of 55% dexcone wettable powder and 0.50 kg/m³ of 10% phoxim granules. For tomatoes, use a 1:3–5 soil-to-manure ratio, adding 1 kg of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and potassium sulfate per cubic meter, along with 0.10 kg of 50% carbendazim. Cover the beds with plastic and let them sit for 10–15 days before use. **3.2 Seedbed Preparation** Choose open, well-lit areas with good drainage and easy access for watermelons. For tomatoes, use a greenhouse with good insulation and sufficient light. Create seedbeds with a width of 250–300 cm, 20 cm in height, and fill with nutrient soil in 10 cm pots. Place the pots evenly on the bed. **3.3 Seed Soaking and Germination** Soak watermelon seeds in 50% carbendazim WP (diluted 600 times) for 15 minutes, then rinse and soak in warm water (28–30°C) for 6 hours. After draining, place the seeds in a moist cloth at 28–30°C until 60–80% germinate. Tomato seeds should be soaked in 55°C water for 15 minutes, followed by a 20-minute soak in 10% phosphoric acid trisodium solution. Rinse and soak in water for 6–8 hours, then germinate at 25°C, washing daily until 50% germinate. **3.4 Sowing** Watermelons should be sown 1 day before or on the morning of planting. Each seed should be placed in a pot, slightly pressed into the soil. For tomatoes, sprinkle a layer of nutrient soil before sowing, placing 3–5 seeds per hole. Cover with 1 cm of soil and fine sand, then cover with plastic film. **3.5 Seedling Management** After emergence, maintain daytime temperatures of 28–30°C and nighttime temperatures of 15–18°C for 3–5 days. Remove the film when 50% of the seedlings emerge, and gradually reduce temperature and humidity to prevent legginess. For tomatoes, keep daytime temperatures at 25–30°C and nighttime temperatures at 15–18°C until the first true leaves appear. Gradually lower temperatures to 20–25°C during the week before transplanting. **4. Field Preparation and Planting** **4.1 Land Selection** Choose fertile, well-drained soil with high organic matter for watermelons. Avoid land where melons or solanaceous crops were grown in the past 3–5 years. For tomatoes, clear the field and prepare it properly. **4.2 Fertilization** Apply 180 m³/hm² of fully decomposed organic fertilizer as base fertilizer. Mix with 22.5 kg/hm² of 55% dextrofen wettable powder and 22.5 kg/hm² of 10% phoxim granules. Cover with plastic and use solar heat to disinfect the soil for 10–15 days. **4.3 Ridge Preparation** Apply 600 kg/hm² of potassium sulfate, 225 kg/hm² of urea, and 600 kg/hm² of diammonium phosphate as base fertilizer. Deep plow to 30–40 cm, level the field, and create ridges with widths of 80–90 cm and trenches of 40–50 cm. Water the trenches 3–5 days before planting and cover with 70 cm or 140 cm wide plastic mulch. **4.4 Planting Spacing** Plant watermelons on sunny afternoons or cloudy days, spacing plants 45–55 cm apart and 40–50 cm between rows. For tomatoes, adjust spacing based on watermelon density. When planting, mix root-strengthening agents with water and apply to the roots. **5. Field Management** **5.1 Temperature and Light Control** Maintain optimal temperatures for both crops. Watermelons should have daytime temperatures of 25–28°C and nighttime temperatures of 14–16°C. Tomatoes require daytime temperatures of 25–28°C and nighttime temperatures not below 15°C. Ensure good light transmission and use reflective films to increase brightness. **5.2 Water Management** Water after transplanting, but avoid overwatering during vine growth. Do not water during pollination. Use drip irrigation for efficiency, applying small amounts regularly. For tomatoes, water after 3–6 days and adjust irrigation based on fruit development. **5.3 Fertilizer Application** During the flowering stage, apply 450 kg/hm² of compound fertilizer to watermelons. For tomatoes, apply 225 kg/hm² of urea and 225 kg/hm² of diammonium phosphate during fruit setting. **5.4 Pruning and Vine Training** Watermelons should be pruned with double vines, leaving one main vine and one side vine. Tomatoes should be pruned with single poles, supporting each plant with stakes. Remove diseased leaves and encourage proper fruit set through artificial pollination. **6. Harvesting and Packaging** Harvest watermelons based on variety and market needs. For local markets, pick 90% mature fruits; for long-distance transport, harvest 80–90% mature fruits. Store at 4–6°C with good ventilation. Tomatoes should be harvested when the first fruits turn red, with careful sorting and packaging to maintain quality. --- This revised content provides a more natural, detailed, and reader-friendly version of the original instructions, suitable for real-world application and understanding.

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