Kedungkandang (malangkota.go.id) – The Tlogowaru Agricultural Extension Center (BPP) continues to innovate in developing urban farming, which is a farming practice in urban environments by utilizing limited land available. This time, the development carried out is melon cultivation by utilizing used gallons.
Field Agricultural Extension Officer (PPL) of the Malang City Food Security and Agriculture Service (Dispangtan) Purnomo Hadi said that melon cultivation using gallon media was developed to educate people who want to practice urban farming. Utilizing the limited land available, the melon harvest obtained was satisfactory. "From several cycles, melon cultivation in gallons at BPP Tlogowaru has produced good results," explained Purnomo, Thursday (19/9/2024).
Purnomo said, from the beginning of planting to harvesting takes three months. Purnomo also emphasized that the key to the success of melon cultivation in gallons is proper fertilization, making good planting media, and proper watering.
The choice of gallon media, said Purnomo, is also to provide education to the community to wisely manage plastic waste and utilize it as a very useful and valuable media. "In addition to using gallons, planting melons in limited land can also be done using polybags or pots. We chose gallons because in addition to utilizing existing items, gallons are also easy to obtain," explained Purnomo.
For good results, Purnomo said that in one gallon media only one melon plant is planted. "Considering the media is relatively small, if more than one is fruited based on experience so far the fruit yield is small and the taste is also bland," he explained.
He said that BPP Tlogowaru developed this melon cultivation because of its good selling value. Especially for premium melons, from his observations so far the price is relatively stable. "Melon always has its own fans. Especially if the quality cultivated is good, even though the price is higher, there are still those who are looking for it," he said.
If melon cultivation in gallons has been implemented by the community, in addition to having economic value, this melon can also be consumed by itself because this fruit has various specialties that are beneficial for the body. This nutrient-rich melon fruit has various benefits, including preventing dehydration, improving digestive health, lowering blood pressure, healthy bones, and many other benefits. (cah/yon)
