Melons

Melons

Watermelon, melon, pumpkin and zucchini are cultivated in industrial volumes both in table and fodder varieties in many arid regions of the world.

Peculiarities

All melons are demanding on heat and light; react to the weediness of the field and to the application of herbicides. It is recommended to include SatoSoil® improvers in the pre-sowing soil conditioning to reduce the weediness of the field and the best soil protection. Cereals, legumes, corn and fodder meadow grasses are considered the optimal predecessors of melons.

Seed treatment of watermelons and melons with SatoHum® K composition before sun exposure increases their germination and seedling even growth.

As start incorporation, it is proposed to use Sato® Turbo liquid organo-mineral dressing, which have a long-lasting effect thanks to humic and fulvic acids. Sato® Turbo products act as nitrogen-fixing complexes, gradually releasing minerals, which affect the amount of fertilizer applied and the efficient uptake of macronutrients by growing plants. Melons are vulnerable to excess nitrogen; in conditions of rain and moderate temperatures, leaves and stems can become rusty, caused by fungal spores.

All melons are known for their natural drought tolerance. The main weight gain of fruits occurs without the participation of a large amount of moisture. Therefore, caring for melons is reduced to the systematic loosening and destruction of weeds, burying of lashes so that they serve as adventitious roots, and spot foliar treatment of plants, starting from the stage of flowers pollination, for which bumblebee and bee hives are purposefully installed, and ending by foliar treatment with nutritional supplements substances.

Watermelons, melons and pumpkins are borophilic crops, in addition to complex nutrition at the fruit filling stage, it’s recommended to feed them with liquid formulation SatoHum® Complex for even growth and synthesis of necessary phytohormones and sugars. SatoHum® K is indicated for aphids, mosaic and powdery mildew.

Signs of nutrient deficiency in melons

lightening of leaves, green midribs - lack of phosphorus;
general yellowing of the leaves - iron deficiency;
small pale green leaves and elongated shoots - lack of direct rays of light and nitrogen starvation;
deformation of leaves and fruits - lack of boron;
small fruits, whitish sides - lack of calcium.

4 Sato® Steps - recommendations for fertilization and top dressing for watermelons, melons, zucchini, pumpkins

SOILS

SEEDLINGS

GROWTH

HARVEST

SatoSoil® Biome

Top dressing of open and greenhouse soils
0,5 – 1 kg/m²

Single pre-sowing soil fertilization
0,5 – 1 kg/m²

Organic soils feeding
Incorporation to a depth of 16 cm
0,5 – 1 kg/m²

SatoHum® K or
Sato® Turbo NPK

Watering the soil improver
0,2 – 0,6 ml/m²

SatoHum® K

Seedling treatment

10 ml/10 l water

Seeds germination

Simultaneous seedlings germination

Sato® Turbo NPK
Starting complex nutrition with minerals

10 – 15 ml/10 l water

SatoHum® Complex

Application via fertigation systems
1,8 – 2,8 ml/10 m²

Sato® Turbo NPK

Correction of macroelements deficiency
1,8 – 2,8 ml/10 m²

SatoHum® K

Foliar system treatment of raspberry and currant shrubs
30 – 40 ml/10 l of water

SatoHum® K /
Sato® Turbo K-B

Correction of potassium and boron starvation
1,5 – 3 ml/10 m²

SatoHum® Complex

Feeding with amino acids

1,8 – 2,8 ml/10 m²

SatoHum® K

In organic farming, it’s used in any non-root irrigation no more than 3 times per growing cycle
15 – 20 ml/10 l of water

SatoHum® Complex

Berry filling

Increasing caliber and sugars
2 – 3,4 ml/10 m²

WARNING AND GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS: 4 Sato® Steps is a comprehensive crop care system that provides the basic crop needs for the main 12 macro, meso and micronutrients for an optimal growing cycle and unlocking the potential of each crop.

SOILS: In pre-sowing application of SatoSoil® improvers, the minimum rate is introduced; when autumn applying, the maximum rate is recommended. When applying Sato® Turbo organo-mineral fertilizers after SatoSoil® improvers, the minimum rate is applied; if the soil hasn’t been treated, the maximum rate is applied. For irrigation, it’s recommended to activate granulates (soil improvers) with SatoHum® K liquid formulation or Sato® Turbo NPK liquid organo-mineral product.

SEEDS/SEEDLINGS/VEGETATION BEGINNING: Treatment of seeds and seedlings with SatoHum® K formulation is compatible with treatment by classical protectants without reducing the rates of their application, and helps to increase the viability of seedlings, the development of the plant and its fruitfulness.

GROWTH: Our SatoHum® solutions have a guaranteed composition with high content of humic and fulvic acids with amino acids of plant origin. It is not recommended to exceed the total applying dose of SatoHum® liquid formulations over 6 l/ha/season, starting from the germination/seedlings phase. If SatoHum® K is used for prophylactic purposes, it is recommended to apply the minimum dose.

HARVEST: Simultaneous fertilization with several SatoHum® products is not expected, excepting the soil improver’s activation. It’s not recommended to exceed the specified application rates. For single, not systemic application of SatoHum® products, the maximum dosage of the product is recommended.