Winter Watermelon Farming: Bumper Profits in April-May with Early Planting

• Early watermelon cultivation in December-January ensures crops are ready by early summer, fetching higher prices due to low market supply.
• Proper field preparation is crucial, including adding cow dung manure, organic fertilizer, and Trichoderma, followed by plowing.
• Sandy-loam soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5 and excellent drainage is ideal; raised beds prevent waterlogging and root rot.
• Mulching is a preferred planting method as it conserves water, controls weeds, and results in cleaner, better-tasting watermelons.
• Cultivating one bigha of early watermelon costs 18,000-20,000 rupees, yielding a profit of 70,000-80,000 rupees in about three months.

Why It Matters: Early winter watermelon planting offers significant profits by meeting high summer demand with timely market entry.