Anthracnose this seedborne fungus is hard to detect initially, as it may only appear as small spots on your plants and fruits. Royal seed is the brand of kenya highland seed, established in 1998. Watermelon was widely distributed throughout the remainder of the world by african slaves and european colonists. In fact, that is the main reason for this watermelon cultivation guide.
They are greedy, rambling vines, like all plants in the cucurbiteae family e. Look for these common watermelon diseases this summer. Since the plants get so large, its not really practical to grow watermelons in containers. Watermelon can occupy a lot of space and so having a large land space is ideal. Sow 8 to 10 watermelon seeds in a hill, and push seeds 1 inch into the soil. Land preparation should be carried out early enough to allow thorough soil settling before planting the crop. Clear up land meant for planting by deep cultivation. Therefore you need to prepare soil adding compost or rotted manure. He ventured into it after learning about the high demand of watermelon in 20. Add a balanced fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.
You can grow them on a bigger farm, depending on your market needs. It is a large sprawling annual plant with coarse, hairy pinnatelylobbed leaves and yellow to white. The cultivation process in watermelon farming is quite complicated as you need to plant the seedlings in a specific way to give them better space to germinate. Dont plant when the ground has snow because even the so called hybrid varieties wont be able to tolerate the extreme cold. Work the compost or organic slowrelease fertilizer into the top soil. It is never recommended to grow your water melon in the nursery. Watermelons do best in loamy, somewhatsandy, welldrained soil. Watermelon farmers in uganda agricultural cooperative. Temperatures above 35c or below 10c will slow the growth and maturation of the crop.
It is highly indemand because of the sizes of each fruit that you will get in the end and its unique sweet taste. Watermelon is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world. Jubilee, charleston grey and congo are large, cylindrical varieties, while sugar baby and. The following article details about growing watermelon. Watermelon is a warm season fruit loved by just about everyone. High quality seeds are available at kenya seeds company and simlaw seeds company. Commercial watermelon production 1 watermelon is a warmseason crop related to cantaloupe, squash, cucumber and pumpkin. Treating watermelon problems is often a simple matter, but the first thing youve got to do is figure out whats causing your problems.
Watermelon originally came from southern africa and is now grown in most parts of the world. Common watermelon growing areas in uganda the fruit is grown in most parts of the country however its mostly grown in the following areas. Getting the best from your jambar f1 monsanto africa. Contact us here to buy fresh pineapple and pineapple suckers in uganda quick tips for growing pineapples in uganda. With the basic knowledge in growing such fruit, you will surely succeed. Jun 27, 2015 everything you need to know about growing watermelons is here. Watermelon farming in kenya in 2020 is a very lucrative. Usually the watermelon seed sprouts within a few days. The vines will surely spread out and will require considerable maintenance over time. Watermelon farming in kenya 2020 watermelon growing. I settled for watermelons because they do extremely well in kerio valley. Watermelon can be grown from seed or transplants from a nursery.
They are great sliced, in fruit salads, and the rind is even used hollowed out as a serving basket or bowl. Machakos, kajiado and the coastal region are popular watermelon growers. The idea is premised on harvesting 12,000 watermelons per quarter which. Varieties of water melon watermelon belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. Watermelon farming in kenya is easy to start, the plant requires little management and the market is plenty. Mark your field using the 2ft and 1ft spacing for planting. Watermelons can be grown on any welldrained soil throughout georgia but are particularly well adapted to the coastal plain soils of south georgia. Water melon fruits are normally planted in hills with a spacing of 1. Common varieties of pumpkins grown in uganda there are over 7 varieties of pumpkin grown in uganda, they include sweet cream,bala,dulu,onziga,sunfish,sugar pie, and anderina.
This is why today seeds of gold is showing you how to start a watermelon farming business. Today kuza biashara wants to share some important tips about watermelon farming. Davis onyango, a in homa bay county, has found greener pastures in watermelon production, making a tidy sum from growing the juicy crop. It has been two years since morori, 38, went into watermelon farming, a venture that has brought boundless fortune, making him the only millionaire in his village. He plans to sell some of his fruit in uganda, where grocers have offered between sh300 and sh400 per fruit. Stages of how the watermelon grows home guides sf gate. Watermelon kenya cultivation is cheaper than it is in uganda and tanzania and hence the fruits from kenya fetch a premium in these countries although to them it is a discount.
Watermelons are one of the iconic fruits of summer. In uganda, farmers grow it mainly in the districts of luweero, mpigi, kayunga, bugerere, mayuge, masaka, mubende, masindi and bushenyi. Before the end of this article, you will learn the exact step by step process which successful watermelon farmers use to increase their yield. Growing conditions for watermelons include lots of sunshine during the day and warm nights. How to grow watermelons complete growing guide youtube. Currently, he has a contract to supply at least 1,000 watermelons every week to a fruit trader in kampala and he has committed 35 acres to growing the fruits. Pumpkins are grown across the country mainly for domestic use with the balance being sold for cash. Royal seed company agronomist alex njagi said asali f1 hybrid can give an average of two fruits per plant weighing between 10kg and 12kg. Treat the crowns with fungicide and insecticide before planting.
Watermelon is a wellknown fruit in uganda, enjoyed at any time of the day either before or after a meal. Watermelon is frost sensitive and are monoecious both male and female flowers are produced on the same plant. The tomato is one of the seasonal moneymakers, that farmers should go for. The watermelon is a special kind of berry also known as pepo from the cucurbitaceace family. Traditionally, almost every household has one or two pumpkin plants in the backyard, mainly for domestic consumption. Watermelon farming in kenya, watermelon tips and varieties guide. Watermelon farming, cultivation information guide agri. If you stay in warmer climates, you can direct sow seeds outdoors, but wait until the soil temperature warms to at least 70 degrees to avoid poor germination. She started growing the fruit on her parents threeacre farm with a capital outlay of sh20,000. How to be a profitable watermelon farmer the ultimate. The uganda investment authority uia has outlined business ideas for both local and foreign investors who want to invest in the agriculture sector. Unfortunately, not everybody gets the pleasure, especially when diseases of watermelon plants derail otherwise welllaid garden plans.
Meet anita, grew from 1 acre to 7 acres of water melon youtube. Seeds can be planted when the temperature is at mid 70s to 80s. The costs of watermelons in major towns in kenya vary from sh25 to sh40 per kilo. Starting a watermelon farm sample business plan template. Watermelon grows in all parts of the usda planting zones when temperatures range from 65 to 85 degrees fahrenheit. When raising watermelon, garden space is the main issue. Northern gardeners select earlymaturing varieties and grow the plants in black. Common pineapple cultivars grown in uganda smooth cayenne.
Watermelons need space to grow because of their vines, so make sure you space them well. The plant rows should be about 2 metres apart and the spacing between plants should be 1 foot apart. How to grow pumpkin in uganda uganda business travel. Meet anita, grew from 1 acre to 7 acres of water melon.
Today, watermelon is cultivated all over the world on all five continents. With headquarters in nairobi and representatives in tanzania, uganda, rwanda and burundi we are africas leading supplier of open pollinated and hybrid vegetable and herb seeds. With watermelon farming it takes 100 days to grow ksh40. Watermelon grows in all parts of the usda planting zones when. For the grower keen on maximising cabbage production. Annie nyaga is one of the most successful watermelon farmers in kenya. The amount of fertilizers needed varies by location, soil fertility soil analysis, type of onion grown and local recommendation. Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrientrich, welldrained soil with a ph of 6. Why you must plant watermelon this year daily monitor.
His target is to produce over 1,000 watermelons every week. Even today, in semidesert districts of africa watermelons are cultivated as an important source of water during dry periods. When you first encounter anita, the first thing you will notice is her infectious smile. When planting the watermelon seed, each hole for the watermelon seedling needs to be 1 foot deep and over 1. Watermelon farming is a very profitable agribusiness. Soil requirements site and soil watermelons grow best on nonsaline sandy loam or silt loam soils.
Lighttextured fields warm up faster in the spring and are therefore favoured for. Nov 01, 2015 watermelon farming dinner starts here farm 34 duration. The fruit is tradeable and generates a lot of income for farmers who grow it. It is green on the outside and red inside, and very profitable to grow. Pdf production practices of pumpkins for improved productivity. On a hot summer day, nothing tastes better than a nice slice of watermelon. You need at least an acre of land to grow watermelons. They are sensitive to cold temperatures, and even a. Growing pumpkins on a commercial scale is slowly becoming popular among farmers in many parts of uganda. There are mainly two seasons of tomatoes a year, however if one uses irrigation, tomatoes can be.
It also contains niacin, thiamin, vitamin b6, zinc, magnesium and many more nutrients. Make ksh 500,000 per acre in 3 months from water melon. Watermelons grow best on soils that hold water well and have good air and water infiltration rates. Growing the plant in raised rows ensure good drainage. In uganda pineapples are mainly grown south of lake kyoga and in western uganda. There are different kinds of watermelon breeds that can easily grow in kenya. Plan to space the plants about 2 feet apart in a 5footwide hill. But to succeed, you must learn the best farming techniques. From the 88,000 kilos harvested, the farmers will earn a gross income of sh2.
Nov 28, 2018 watermelon citrullus vulgaris is a vining, annual plant with branching tendrils. Growing the vines in raised rows, known as hills, ensures good drainage and will hold the suns heat longer. Watermelon farming in kenya and all you need to know. Amend soil with organic matter such as compost or composted cow manure.
Growing watermelons also requires space, as the plants are vines and take up a lot of room. These are just some of the things you need to address if you want to grow healthy fruits. These vines spread out along the ground and can reach 15 feet in length. Common watermelon diseases tips for treating watermelon. Yields of 20,000 to 40,000 pounds per acre are common. There are many health benefits to watermelon as it is low in calories so it promotes phytonutrients and antioxidants essential for the optimization of health. Commercial watermelon production i foreword ten years have passed since this publication was updated. What number of watermelons can be planted in an acre of.
Jan 19, 2019 watermelon is a wellknown fruit in uganda, enjoyed at any time of the day either before or after a meal. Soil requirements for growing pumpkins pumpkins do well in loamy soils with a good drainage and a high humus percentage. The watermelon is an annual herbaceous trailing plant which belongs to the cucurbitaceous family and goes by the scientific name of citrullus lanatus. We look forward to receiving your feedback in the comment section at the tailend of this article. The fruit is highyielding, matures fast and has a huge market, he says. Watermelon farming, cultivation information guide agri farming. Cooler temperatures and excessive rainfall slows growth, maturity and can. History and background watermelon, citrullus lanatus, is part of the cucurbitaceae family and is thought to have originated in southern arica. Generally, the method of planting also depends on the variety. Watermelon farming in kenya, watermelon tips and varieties. Give plants a fabulous start to the growing season by improving native soil with several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. You want to be sure to keep the area free from weeds.
The chapters in this publication represent the latest information available on successful watermelon production. Try selling watermelons to the neighbor countries, like uganda for a higher price and double your income. The increasing demand for vegetables has contributed to the growing popularity of this crop, particularly in the urban areas. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Growing watermelons requires lots of space, lots of sun, lots of water and lots of nutrients. Among business idea that uia has advised investors to get interested in, is the growing and marketing of watermelons citrullus lanatus. This is a watermelon farming guide for anyone thinking of ways to start a watermelon farm in kenya.
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