Maize will be a good idea

lif2uz: Is it adviceable to plant watermelon along with other crops like maiz and cocoyam(mixed croping) on a piece of land?

Pls kindly share pics of ur farm wit us

prettiest1: I am interested. Since I am in Akwa Ibom which you said should be done in October, still have some weeks to make the land available and ready. I will like to contact you when I am ready. Thanks.

I just got the hybrid watermelon from the popular Gosa Market along airport road, Abuja

.

MANGAM: Thank u, am in Abuja.

can i visit your farm sir?

Anytime @ talk2manga@yahoo.com

Katier00: can i visit your farm sir?

@op any hope for we in anambra state?our area seems out of discussion here. heavy rain go gree me plant am here?

MANGAM: Pls kindly share pics of ur farm wit us

No problem. Will do that when I start it.

MANGAM: Anytime @ talk2manga@yahoo.com

thanks sir

Day 5: No rain yet

U can start planting by ending september

roxell120: @op any hope for we in anambra state?our area seems out of discussion here. heavy rain go gree me plant am here?

Presently raining

MANGAM: Day 5: No rain yet

MANGAM: Presently raining

That's good. I am following this thread badly. Nice one bro.

Thank u sholay

sholay2011:
That's good. I am following this thread badly. Nice one bro.

MANGAM]Maize will be a good idea
ok tnx.

The most reasonable thread in a while...

@OP

Kudos to you Sir.
I just clicked the 'follow' link cuz I like this topic.

But I noticed that I dnt get email notification for new posts on nairaland threads.

How do I remedy this?

MANGAM: By elyjay

Watermelon, citrullus lanatus rank third among the world highly cultivated crops, superseded only by potato and tomato in that order. In fact planting watermelon made me become lazy and mono cropper. Before I started planting watermelon, my chief crops were maize, cassava, yam, cocoyam and rice. But after planting watermelon for two years, I abandoned other crops and concentrated on watermelon till today.
When you are considering quick cash in farming, watermelon is among the crops to consider. The gestation is not more than 80 days, money don come. Kudi yaazo. Cultivated all over tropical climate the largest producers are China, Turkey, Iran, Brazil and U. S. A. in that order. It is produced all over in Nigeria from Maiduguri to Lagos and from Sokoto to Calabar.

Time of planting In southern Nigeria
We have three planting seasons: Early planting is in March, Mid season planting and the most lucrative but risky is June 25 to July 15. Late season planting is August 15 to September 15 in Kwara Oyo and northern parts of Ogun state. Planting in south Ogun, that is Ilaro, Ifo, Ota, Idiropo to Badagry in Lagos is September 15 to October 15. This is
because late rains last till December in these areas.
In the Northern Parts; early season planting is in May and late season planting is July. But with functional irrigation in the north, they are able to plant throughout the year .Lake chad basin in Bornu, Hadeja river basin in Kano are the major irrigation projects turning out watermelon all year round in Nigeria. I am aware that when the price goes so high watermelon is imported into Nigeria from Niger, Chad, Benin and Togo republics.

LAND PREPARATION
Watermelon requires loamy soil or silt loam soil it also perform well on heavy soil if it is well-drained. It does not tolerate waterlogging at all. So if planting on heavy soil, ridging will be helpful to improve drainage. On loamy soil, we normally plant on the flat land. Plowing starts immediately on the first rain. Even if the first rain comes in January, plow the land ready for the second operation.
If the second rain comes any time after February 15th, we can plant in Lagos and southern parts of Ogun state. In other parts, Igbogila, Ayetoro, Abeokuta, Odeda and all parts of Oyo state should plant in March. Planting should stop by the end of March. If you risk planting in very early April, you may succeed but if the June rain should start before 15th of June forget it. The tendency is that either the melon will not ripe or you loose a lot to blossom and it rots. Maturity takes a minimum of 75 days. On the second rain or within the stipulated time, harrow or replow and plant immediately. Experience has shown that portions planted immediately after plowing records higher germination percentage than portions planted the following day unless there is overnight rain.

Op Thanks for the great info you are sharing here, please what of People in the East, Enugu state can this do well in My State?

Day 6: We had rain throughout today. Will share pics soon of the farm

Welcome Kericoo, watermelon grow very well in the eastm. U can plant from early October to mid October

Kericoo:

Op Thanks for the great info you are sharing here, please what of People in the East, Enugu state can this do well in My State?

MANGAM: Day 6: We had rain throughout today. Will share pics soon of the farm

Nice! We are waiting.

MANGAM: Welcome Kericoo, watermelon grow very well in the eastm. U can plant from early October to mid October

Ok thanks, wl give it a try

Kindly following even though the chances of my practicing it is very slim. Kudos to d Op.

Day 7: Today the farm is 7days old and counting down to 73days for harvesting.
Today was a very sunny day and this is good for watermelon as the sun will dry up the many water in the soil

I want to share pics of the hybrid watermelon seeds and the local breed seeds. The hybrid are biger in size and more darker in color.

Hybrid seeds

Local breed

MANGAM: Local breed

So which one is the best for planting? The Hybrid or Local one?

MANGAM: Local breed

please how cn i get that hybrid seed

It all depends on what the farmer wants. Some pple don't like the hybrid and in some places the hybrid is less expensive compare to the. Local breed. I will advice u plant both but more of the local breeds

Kericoo:

So which one is the best for planting? The Hybrid or Local one?

U can get the hybrid seeds in ur agro shop or buy one and preserve the seeds

judemorfy: please how cn i get that hybrid seed

Day 8: See how the young melon are doing