Botanical Name: Citrullus lanatus
Varieties: Arka manik (Multiple resistance to powdery mildew, downy mildew and anthracnose), Sugar baby, Arka Jyothi (F1 hybrid), Pusa Bedana (Seedless variety)
Climate & Soil: Water melon requires warm dry weather with abundant sunshine. Ideal temperature for growth is 30-35 degree celsius with a maximum of 40 degree Celsius and a minimum of 20 degree celsius. Light sandy soils are best suited.
Season: November- January
Seed rate: 3.5 to 5 Kg/ha
Spacing: Seeds are sown in pits or raised beds at a spacing of 2.5 to 3.5 cm between rows and 90-120 cm between hills in a row. Requires good irrigation in early stages and irrigation stopped when fruits start ripening.
Nutrient management : Apply FYM 20-25t/ha as basal dose along with N:P:K at 70:25:25 Kg/ha.
Pest Management :

Red pumpkin beetle and epilachhna beetle: Spray carbaryl 0.2%

Disease Management :

• Downy mildew– Spray mancozeb 0.2%
• Powdery mildew – Spray nitrophenol 0.05%

Harvesting: Harvesting done when tendril at fruit axis wither, colour of ground spot of fruit changes from white to yellowish tinge and a dull sound on tapping heard
Yield: 30-50t/ha