Monday, March 10, 2025
This year, we plan to cover the yearly work that goes into cultivating watermelons at the Kitaryu Sunflower Watermelon Producers Association, right up to the point of shipping.
As the first step, seeding work for raising seedlings will start in stages from the end of February. On Saturday, March 8th, grafting work has started at Katsuhiro Sugimoto Farm, so we spoke to him in spite of his busy schedule.
- 1 Katsuhiro Sugimoto
- 2 Sunflower watermelon grafting
- 3 Youtube Video
- 4 More Photos
- 5 Related Articles
Katsuhiro Sugimoto
Katsuhiro Sugimoto (67 years old) was born and raised in Hokuryu Town. He is a veteran producer who has been cultivating sunflower watermelons for over 40 years, inheriting farming traditions from generations ago.
Sugimoto continues to faithfully preserve the agricultural traditions passed down from his great-grandfather's time, while exploring and discovering his own unique methods, practicing what he learns about agriculture every day.
Sunflower watermelon grafting
Over 1,000 seedlings
"The watermelon seedlings, both rootstocks and scion, are being raised at the JA Kitasorachi Uryu Branch seedling facility. The seedlings sown on February 21 were received on March 6.
The total number of seedlings will be about 1,240 (a few more will be grown, including dead seedlings). They are scheduled to be planted around May 5th, 40 days after sowing. The schedule will depend on the weather and the growth of the seedlings, so we will adjust it accordingly," says Sugimoto.
Purpose of grafting
The purpose of grafting is to prevent problems with continuous cultivation and to promote growth by cultivating seedlings that are resistant to soil-borne diseases and pests.
Grafting by nominal graft
The new shoots of the rootstock bottle gourd are removed and then grafted using the "yobi tsugi" method.
For the rootstock, cut the stem diagonally from top to bottom, and for the scion, cut the stem diagonally from bottom to top, and then interlock the cut ends. Secure with clips and plant in a pot.
"After securing them with clips, after 10 days, cut the roots of the watermelon. The bottle gourd will absorb the nutrients and the watermelon will grow bigger.
In the past, when we were growing the seeds ourselves, we often had trouble cutting the stems the wrong way, or the clips were not attached properly because they were not attached properly. We try various methods and choose the method that will help the seeds grow best," explains Sugimoto.
Make a cut from bottom to top on the sunflower watermelon seedling (scion)
Make a cut from top to bottom on the bottle gourd (rootstock)
Combine
Combined
Crimping with grafting clips
A challenging spirit of trial and error
"All cultivation work is carried out according to the weather of the year. Until the plants take root, they are shaded by covering the greenhouse with a tunnel, and once they have taken root, they are exposed to sunlight from time to time to allow them to get used to it.
Before planting, the seedlings are kept at a low temperature until they are as strong as possible so that they can withstand any natural environment when they are sent to the fields. We lovingly train and nurture the seedlings so that they do not become weak seedlings that cannot adapt to the environment.
Thinking about how to grow the seedlings as if they were my own children, I spend every day trying to adjust the temperature and humidity while facing the weather. I keep the temperature high and adjust the humidity by opening and closing vinyl tents to let the moisture out.
Before planting, reduce the amount of water to the minimum.
Three days before planting, refrain from watering the seedlings to make them parched and endure to the limit. If you give them plenty of water when you plant them in the field, they will be happy, lively, and healthy.
Every year, we compare our cultivation methods with those of neighboring fields to find problems and to find out what is wrong with them. We watch over the growth of the watermelons, and cultivate them carefully and sincerely.
Moisture control is important even after planting
For example, when the weather is fine and the heat of the sun makes the temperature inside the greenhouse high after planting, the difference between the seedlings that wilt and those that remain healthy is due to the moisture content of the soil.
If the soil is given too much water, the roots will grow shallow and horizontally. On the other hand, if the soil is given less water and the environment is somewhat dry, the roots will grow deep underground in search of water.
Seedlings with shallow roots that grow horizontally will quickly wilt when the surface of the ground gets hot, but seedlings with roots that grow deep down will continue to grow healthily because the temperature deep underground is not high.
"The weather is different every year, and even within the same site, the condition of the land varies slightly depending on the building, so it's really necessary to adapt cultivation to the location and climate," said Sugimoto, speaking passionately about watermelon cultivation, which is a constant learning process throughout the year and a serious challenge every day.
Past posters of the Hokuryu Sunflower Watermelon Growers Association
On the way out, I took a look inside the garage. All the posters of the Hokuryu Sunflower Watermelon Growers Association were lined up on the wall.
I was moved by the poster featuring the faces of all the producers who have supported the activities of the Hokuryu Sunflower and Watermelon Producers Association, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year!
What's more, the number of boxes shipped each year over the years is engraved on the wall panel, making it an emotional experience to see the history of sweat, tears and hard work that has gone into making this happen!
Sugimoto never spoils the seedlings, but instead takes into consideration the environmental conditions they need to grow strong and healthy, and he carefully monitors their growth, working seriously and lovingly every day to cultivate them.
With his wife Ikuko, who has a cute smile!
We sincerely hope that the watermelon seedlings will continue to grow healthily in the future.
Youtube Video
More Photos
Related Articles
Friday, February 21, 2025 On Tuesday, February 18, at the Hokuryu Town Hall Mayor's Office, the Sunflower Watermelon Producers Association's Chairman Akihiko Takada and Kosuke Sato held a press conference...
◇ Reporting and writing by Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editorial assistance by Noboru Terauchi) 
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