Fundamentals of Agriculture and Sericulture, Volume 5

Melons and Vegetables

Planting Melons Including cucumbers

Essential Techniques for the Peasantry original: "Qimin Yaoshu." This is a famous agricultural treatise written by Jia Sixie in the 6th century, which the editors of this manual frequently quote as an authoritative source.

Method for Harvesting Melon Seeds: Every year, one should first select from the primary parent plant.

When harvesting seeds from a melon, cut off both ends and take only the seeds from the center. The melon fruit naturally grows opposite the leaves. This ensures the fruit sets well and the seeds mature early. If you use seeds from the "middle generation" This refers to fruits that develop later on the vine, the vines will grow excessively long, and fruit will only set after the second or third leaf node; these also mature late. Planting "early" seeds results in fast maturation but smaller melons, while planting "late" seeds results in slow maturation but larger melons. Regarding the instruction to remove the two ends: seeds near the stem produce melons that are curved and thin; seeds near the blossom end produce melons that are short and bitter. Furthermore, when harvesting seeds, take them from the most delicious melons while they are being eaten. Mix them immediately with fine chaff, sun-dry them until they are nearly dry, and then rub them clean.

Good quality fields, or land where small beans or millet were previously grown, are the best choices for planting.

Fundamentals of Agriculture and Sericulture The "Nongsang Jiyao," the title of this collection.
Essential Techniques for the Peasantry The "Qimin Yaoshu," a classic farming manual.
Planting Melons The specific subject of this section.
Method for Harvesting Melon Seeds The traditional protocol for selective breeding.
Melons and Vegetables The broader category for this volume.
Cucumber Included here under the general category of melons.
Melon Seeds The focus of this page's horticultural advice.