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How To Protect Your Watermelon Farm

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I bet you’re enjoying your Watermelon Farm, planting new seeds every few minutes to keep your production going! But one day, you might visit the farm and find the rodents and pests that have invaded your watermelon farm, or you must have already experienced this situation.

Because it is a fruit farm, melon farms need special attention since rodents, insects, bacteria, and other microbes may easily attack it. Wondering how to protect your watermelon farm and how to keep pests and rodents away from your watermelon territory?

Well, this article is all about answers. It includes instructions on maintaining your watermelon farm and preventing rodents and insects from destroying it.

How To Protect Your Watermelon Farm
“Belinger Farm Watermelon Harvest” via Flickr

Hazards to your Farm

Rodents of many species could be a hazard to the watermelons. Squirrels, voles, chipmunks, and groundhogs are a few examples of rodents that may harm the melons. Many types of birds fall under this category as well. Here are some helpful tips you can follow.

How To Protect Your Watermelon Farm

1. Trellis System

  • It is a major tool to protect the watermelon farm.
  • Mosquitoes, mold, and other soil-dwelling pests are kept at bay by using a trellis system.
  • Since climbing rodents can easily jump onto vines, it’s best to install a trellis system up to the highest point of the land so that rodents will find it hard to reach your fruit.
  • You can also put some netting on top of these trellises if you want extra protection.

2. ScareCrow

  • You can also use a scarecrow to keep rodents out.
  • It may sound ridiculous, but the noise and movement created by the scarecrow will keep them away.
  • Also, remember to remove dead vines from time to time since these are not only very dangerous for you, they can also become a home of pests even after your harvest.

3. Natural Repellents

  • Another way to protect your melon farm is to use natural repellents.
  • You can make your spray by mixing hot pepper sauce, garlic, dish soap, and water.
  • Spray this mixture onto the soil of your melon farm using a spray bottle, especially in areas where rodents are likely to show up.

4. Bird Netting

  • If you want maximum protection for your melon field, use bird netting.
  • It is a mosquito net specially made to keep birds and other flying insects out of your melon territory.
  • The bird net may be helpful in the wild since it might help prevent rodents like squirrels from getting into your garden.
  • It’s also beneficial against snakes, such as rat snakes and large king snakes.

5. Hot Caps

  • Rodents are not the only problem you may be facing.
  • You also need to worry about mold, insects, and other microbes. This is where hot caps come in.
  • Hot caps are little tents put over the developing fruit that protect it from frost while allowing the plant to breathe.
  • You can easily make your own hot cap out of black plastic bags or some other non-transparent material.
  • You can also buy them in stores, depending on how much you want to spend.

6. Floating Row Covers

  • Another way to protect your crop is by using floating row covers.
  • These are lightweight and easy to use.
  • This material covers the plants while allowing air and water through but keeps insects away from it.
How To Protect Your Watermelon Farm 2
“Water melon in Concepcion Philippines” via Wikimedia

7. Melon Cages

  • To protect your melons from being eaten by rodents, installing a melon cage is one way to do it.
  • You can make a cage by using chicken wire and inserting it into the soil.
  • You can place the cages over your fruit as soon as they start to grow.
  • This protects them from rodents and other animals.
  • You can also use unchewable plastic cages that are reusable.

8. Use Pest Control

  • You can use organic pest control by simply spraying water on your crops with a hose and adding soap to them for better results.
  • You can also try scattering mothballs around the farm to deter rodents.

General Care Tips

1. Remove the Punctured Fruit

  • If there’s any rotten melon on the farm, remove them immediately as this attracts insects and rodents.
  • Rodents and insects can also be controlled if they are always kept in check.
  • Make sure that the farm is clean from dead leaves, rotting fruits, and rotten melons.
  • Pests and rodents will continue to affect your farm if there is food supply available for them on the farm, so make sure that you remove any fallen leaves or fruits from the ground regularly.
  • Also, reduce the number of seeds planted on one section of land as this keeps your production going without resulting in too many plants in one area.

2. Do not Plant More than One Variety

  • Rodents are usually very fond of specific types or one type of food crop.
  • If you have multiple varieties of fruit on your farm, they will be attracted to only one kind for sure.
  • So plant different varieties in different areas of your field.
  • Also, since most rodents are active during the night, it is recommended to water your plants in the evening.

3. Be Patient with Watering

  • Since melons are very sensitive to cold weather, watering them at the correct time is very important.
  • Ensure that you do not spray too much water on your plant, as this can damage it.
  • Applying a small amount of water frequently is better than applying a large amount of it occasionally.
  • Make sure that you are patient with the water supply, but at the same time, be aggressive enough to kill any insects or rodents before they can cause any damage.

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Conclusion

Rodents and pests can be very annoying, especially if they constantly destroy the fruits on the farm without you knowing it.

However, as long as you try your best to take care of the farm, you will surely have healthy and delicious watermelons. It is also important that you pick up fallen fruits as soon as possible since they can be a haven for pests.

If you want to produce clean fruits free from pest or rodent damage, follow these tips above and protect your watermelon farm. You will surely notice an increase in your harvest from now on, and it will be trouble-free as well!

Good Luck and Happy Farming!