Fertilizer guide

Both Melon (Cucumis melo L.) and Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) are annual plants of the Cucurbitaceae family and with a creeping and climbing nature.

Melon, originated in Africa and southwest Asia, has a sweet edible, fleshy fruit variable in shape, size and color depending on variety. Surface can be smooth, warty and white-yellowish, green or speckled.

Watermelon is native to southern Africa. Its fruit has a smooth hard rind, usually green with dark green stripes or yellow spots, and a sweet, juicy interior flesh (usually deep red to pink, but sometimes orange, yellow, or white) with many seeds, which can be soft and white or hard and black.

Climate: Melon plant requires warm and not excessively humid climate, so that in humid regions with low insolation its development is adversely affected, showing alterations in ripening and fruit quality. Watermelon is less demanding in temperature than melon.

Melon                                                                      Watermelon

Germination. Minimum 15ºC                               Germination.  Minimum 15ºC
                        Optimum 22-28ºC                                                  Optimum 25ºC
                        Maximum 39ºC
Flowering.     Optimum 20-23ºC                         Flowering.  Optimum 18ºC-20ºC

Developm.    Optimum 25-30ºC                         Developm.  Optimum 23-28ºC

F. ripening.     Minimum 25ºC                              F. ripening.   Minimum 23-28ºC

Humidity: Melon: At the beginning of plant development the relative humidity should be 65-75%, flowering 60-70% and fruit development 55-65%. Watermelon: The optimum relative humidity for watermelon is between 60% and 80%, being a determining factor during flowering.

Soil: Watermelon needs light soils, rich in organic matter and well drained. Deep and loam soils, as well as sandy clay soils are good for watermelon growth too. Melon is less demanding than watermelon. It needs soft, fertile, deep, well ventilated and drained soils.

pH: 6-7

Nutritional requirements

Fertigation recommendations

Foliar fertilizers

Foliar fertilization is the fastest and most effective method to supplement and enrich plant nutrition and to correct nutritional deficiencies when needed. This contributes significantly to higher and better quality productions.

Potassium, Calcium, Zinc and Boron are also applied via foliar. Lima Europe has a wide range of foliar fertilizers and special products for foliar application.

To verify the safe rate under local conditions, it is advisable to spray recommended rate on a few plants. After 3-4 days check the tested plants for scorching symptoms.

Watermelon fertilizer program

 Melon fertilizer program