Melons: Effects of vine pruning and nitrogen on yields and quality

Two melon ( Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus ) cultivars, ‘Prince PR’ and ‘Tenkei’, were grown under PVC cloches at Pukekohe, New Zealand, with nitrogen (N) fertiliser applied at 30 or 120 kg/ha, and with vines pruned to varying extents to modify the total number of fruit retained on each plant. Yields and quality of fruit at maturity were determined. Increasing the N application from 30 to 120 kg N/ha increased total fruit yields by 11% and 28% for ‘Prince PR’ and ‘Tenkei’ respectively, and increased marketable yields by 20% and 34%. Largest total fruit yields were recorded where the vines were not pruned. However, average fruit sizes decreased as the number of fruit per plant increased. Highest marketable yields for both cultivars were recorded where four vines per plant were retained. Pruning the vines increased the proportion of marketable yield harvested in the first cut, indicating that fruit maturity was also advanced. None of the treatments significantly affected fruit sugar contents.