As agricultural land in Can Tho City continues to decline due to rapid urbanization, one of the optimal solutions for developing the city’s agricultural sector is the application of high-tech agriculture. This approach aims to enhance product value, meet the increasing consumer demand within the city, neighboring provinces, and export markets, while also improving farmers’ incomes and increasing productivity per unit of agricultural land.

High-tech agricultural production in crop cultivation includes growing flowers and vegetables in greenhouses or net houses, using automatic or semi-automatic irrigation systems, and soil-less cultivation methods such as using substrates or hydroponics. Among these, high-tech melon cultivation has recently become a high-value production activity. Melons (Cucumis melo L.) are versatile fruits that can be consumed fresh, juiced, or dried, offering high nutritional value. This crop is well-suited to Can Tho’s climate and has gained growing interest from local farmers due to its promising economic returns. When cultivated in controlled greenhouse environments—with regulated pests, humidity, and temperature—melons yield high-quality produce with sustainable profitability.

The melon cultivation and care process is outlined as follows:

1. Seed Treatment and Germination:

Soak seeds in warm water (ratio 2 parts boiling to 3 parts cold) for 3–5 hours until the seed coat wrinkles. Then, wrap them in a moist cloth for 8–12 hours to promote germination.

2. Sowing Seeds in the Growing Medium:

Once sprouted, sow seeds into trays filled with a growing medium (typically coconut coir mixed with clean soil). Fill each tray hole completely and place one seed per hole.
Water daily to maintain moisture. Place trays in a greenhouse or net house, avoiding direct sunlight and rain.
After 3 days, seedlings will develop two true leaves. Water moderately to support growth.

3. Preparing the Growing Medium and Filling Pots:

Rinse coconut coir thoroughly until the water runs clear to remove tannins (bitter compounds). Then dry or compost for reuse.
Dry the treated medium and sterilize it with Trichoderma bio-fungicide to eliminate fungi and bacteria.
Moisten the medium before planting. Mix the coconut coir with rice husk ash in a 3:1 ratio.

4. Transplanting Seedlings into Pots:

After 7 days, when the seedling has 3 leaves, transplant it into a pot in the late afternoon to avoid heat stress. Gently place the seedling to avoid damage, and do not pack the soil too tightly. Water immediately after transplanting.
After 7 days in the pot, begin attaching trellis strings to support the plant. Tie nylon strings to the trellis system.

5. Plant Care:

a. Watering and Nutrition:

Use a drip irrigation system combined with a fertilizer injector.

• Irrigation: Water daily at fixed times—8 AM, 10 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM. Young plants require around 200 ml/day, gradually increasing with plant age.
• Nutrition: Nutrients are dissolved into water to create a solution containing essential elements such as K, N, P, S, Ca, and Mg.
  The nutrient solution is delivered through the drip system at concentrations suitable for each growth stage. Fertilization is done every other day.

b. Growth and Development:

• Supplement micronutrients periodically.
• The plant begins flowering at 30 days old.

Maintain optimal conditions for water and nutrition with the following targets:

• Soil moisture > 70%
• EC (electrical conductivity): 12
• Temperature < 45°C
• Watering volume increases weekly from 200 ml to 700 ml by day 30

Since the crop is grown in a greenhouse, manual pollination is required.
A week after flowering, the plant starts setting fruit.
Once the plant develops 35 leaves (about 2 weeks after fruit set), pinch the growing tip to focus energy on fruit development.

6. Fruit Care and Harvesting:

• Prune leaves around the fruit and pinch the stem at the 35th leaf.
• During the fruit care stage, increase potassium supplementation.
  Adjust the N:P:K ratio to 1:1:2 and later to 1:0:3 when the fruit begins netting (forming a mesh-like surface).
• Support the fruit with a sling if it becomes too heavy for the vine.

Fruits are ready to harvest at 75 days of age.

Melon products can be distributed through supermarket chains, convenience stores, restaurants, and urban residential areas in the city center.