Cultivation of watermelon

Watermelon is now widespread in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world and is mostly grown for fresh consumption of the juicy and sweet flesh of mature fruit. Watermelons require long, warm growing periods. Bright, hot days (27 – 35°C) and warm nights (16-21°C).

Watermelon is propagated by seed. In general, seed rate of 2-3 kg/ha for small-seeded type and 4-5 kg/ha for large seeded type is sufficient.

Watermelons grow best on non-saline sandy loam or silt loam soils. Light-textured fields warm up faster in the spring and are therefore favoured for early production.

Fine sands produce the highest quality melons when adequate fertilizer and water are provided. Windbreaks are advisable on sandy soils to reduce “sand blast” damage and stunting of young seedlings caused by spring winds.

Water deficits during the establishment of watermelons delay maturity and may cause gaps in production. Water stress in the early vegetative stage results in reduced leaf area and reduced yield. Sandy soils may require more frequent, lighter applications than heavier soils to prevent moisture stress. Irrigate the field before dibbling the seeds and thereafter once a week. Irrigation should be given at regular intervals of time. Irrigation after a long dry spell results in cracking of fruit.

Days to maturity: It is usually 80 to 90 days for baby bush varieties and 90 to 100 days or more for the larger varieties.
Cultivation of watermelon

Cultivation of apple

The cultivated apple probably originated in southwest Asia where forests of wild Malus species were known to grow.

The apple has been cultivated in Europe and Asia for many hundreds of years but wild apples were eaten long before attempts were made to domesticate them.

Standard trees moderately vigorous, upright-spreading, spurring fairly, freely and basitonic.

Widely adaptable, but performs best in areas with warm summers, high light intensity and adequate water-supply.

An apple tree can be grown from an apple seed, but because cultivated apples are hybrids, the offspring will probably resemble the wild apple.

Cultivation is practiced only in young plantings when land has been cleared from woods or when an old orchard site is renovated.

The land must be fairly level and free of the tendency to erode. It is essential that the soil be so managed as to prevent the competition of other vegetarian near the trees during the first few years they are in the orchard.

To obtain sufficient production, fertilizing will be necessary, depending on soil fertility.

Apples are mostly ripe in autumn, and then they can be picked. Not all varieties can be picked at the same time.
Cultivation of apple

History of mango in India

Mango cultivation probably originated in India, and it was estimated that mango cultivation to have began at least 4000 years ago.

This fruit is intimately associated with the history of India agriculture and civilization and it enjoys a royal status in the country when compared to the other growing places. Ancient Sanskrit literature described the mango as ‘king of fruits;. Ayurvedic medicine recognizes mangoes as an aphrodisiac and in some ancient n texts it is written that the ripe mango increases sexual energy and stamina.

The first group of people to spill the beans and initiate trade of the fruit were peripatetic Buddhist monks four or five centuries BC. A mango tree is depicted in friezes on the stupa of Bharut, which was constructed around 100 BC.

Available records indicate that the soldiers of Alexandra the Great has come across grove in Indus Valley. 

Traders and monks from India possibly introduced superior elections of mango into South-east Asia: however, vegetative propagation was unknown in India until after the arrival of the Portuguese in Goa in the 15th century.

During Mughal time, Akbar the Great paid the greatest tribute to mango who established an orchard of one lakh mango trees, designated as ‘Lakh-Bagh’ in Darbhanga in erstwhile Bihar State.

The mango tree and fruit are referred in the travelogues of ancient travelers including Huan tsang, Ibn Hankal and Ibn Batuta of which the Chinese traveler Huan-tsang is the first one to bring mango to the notice of the outside world during 632-645 AD.
History of mango in India

Grapefruit Fruit

Food Fruit
Grapefruit, common name for the fruit of a variety of citrus. The variety probably originated in Jamaica; it was introduced to Florida in the 16th century by Spaniards. Grapefruits are borne on small trees that rarely exceed 6 m (20 ft) in height. The dense foliage consists of shiny, dark-green leaves with winged petioles. The large white flowers produce yellow, globe-shaped fruit in grapelike clusters.

The fruits vary from 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) in diameter and consist of a juicy, acid pulp surrounded by a leathery rind. The color of the pulp is normally light yellow, but a few pink-pulped varieties have been developed.

More than 20 varieties of grapefruit have been propagated in the United States. The major yellow-pulped varieties are Duncan and Marsh; the major pink-pulped varieties are Ruby and Webb.

The grapefruit is readily crossed with other members of the citrus genus. The tangelo, a Florida juice fruit, was produced by fertilization of grapefruit flowers with mandarin orange pollen.

Grapefruit is a cross between a sweet orange and a pummelo and was introduced to Florida from the Bahamas by Count Odette Phillppe in 1823. It's believed that grapefruit originated in the West Indies. There are two main western varieties (Ruby Red and Marsh White) and two recently developed varieties (Star Ruby and Rio). All are sweet, juicy and seedless.

Grapefruit is low in calories which makes it great for dieting. Practically all grapefruit in the United States is grown in Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas. Basic Nutritional Facts:· Grapefruit is a low-calorie food

· an excellent source of vitamin C

· a good source of inositol· a member of the vitamin B complex

· It is a common breakfast fruit, salad fruit, or juice fruit.

Food Fruit