A Detailed Guide to Growing Beibei Green Squash
SummaryPlanting time: Beibei green squash is generally planted before the Spring Festival, or in July in autumn. Sowing: dry the purchased seeds in the sun, soak them, then scoop them out and wrap them in gauze, and sow once they sprout. Soil preparation and fertilizing: first plow the soil, then apply farmyard manure and compound fertilizer. Planting out: about 22 days after the seedlings are planted out, they can be grown vertically on hanging vines. Topdressing: compound fertilizer, urea, etc. can be applied as topdressing. Pollination: when the female and male flowers open, artificial pollination is needed.
Beibei squash is a variety developed through crossbreeding. It is different from ordinary squash, being smaller in size, and generally matures and comes to market gradually from April to December each year. Beibei squash is rich in selenium, has a certain antioxidant effect, and can enhance human immunity. It also contains a large amount of vitamin C, carotene, vitamin A and so on.
Small squash varieties are divided into Beibei green squash, mini white squash, mini flower squash, mini orange-red squash, mini buttercup squash, etc. They are similar in size, but differ in shape and color and are easy to distinguish. Next, the growing method for Beibei green squash is introduced.
1. Planting time
1. Beibei green squash is generally planted in spring and autumn. The spring planting time is generally before the Spring Festival, around December to January, and in some areas planting begins in November. Beibei green squash planted during this period can generally mature and come to market around April.
2. The autumn planting time for Beibei green squash is around July, and planting out can be carried out around August, and by around November they can be picked and brought to market.
2. Sowing
1. Place the Beibei green squash seeds purchased from the market in the sun to dry, then soak the seeds in warm water at about 60°C, then scoop them out and wrap them in moist gauze. When the young sprouts grow to about 0.5-1cm, they can be sown.
2. Before sowing, first prepare nutrient pots, then fill them with substrate, water thoroughly, place the seeds flat with the sprouts facing up, then cover with soil and spray. When the seedlings grow 3-4 leaves, they can be planted out. To strengthen the resistance of the seedlings, the seedlings can first be hardened off, which helps increase the survival rate after transplanting.
3. Soil preparation and fertilizing
About 30 days after the seedlings are planted out, the soil can be deeply plowed and fertilized. About 3000 jin of farmyard manure can be applied per mu, together with about 200 jin of compound fertilizer, so that the soil is more easily loosened, which is more conducive to rapid root growth.
4. Planting out
About 22 days after the seedlings are planted out, they can be grown vertically on hanging vines. With plants about 30-35cm, about 800-1000 plants can be planted per mu.
5. Rational fertilizing
1. Fertilizing method for spring greenhouse cultivation: about 400 jin of organic fertilizer can be applied per mu as base fertilizer, together with about 60 jin of compound fertilizer, and about 20 jin of compound fertilizer can be applied per mu as topdressing.
2. Fertilizing method for autumn greenhouse cultivation: about 400 jin of organic fertilizer and about 70 jin of compound fertilizer can be applied per mu as base fertilizer, and about 20 jin of compound fertilizer can be applied per mu as topdressing.
3. Fertilizing method for open-field cultivation: on the basis of autumn greenhouse fertilizing, an additional 10 jin of urea also needs to be applied as topdressing.
6. Pollination
About 10 days after the seedlings are planted out, the female and male flowers will gradually open, and at this time artificial pollination is needed, generally carried out at 8-9 in the morning. Select male flowers that opened that day, remove the corolla, and then smear the pollen onto the stigma of the female flower. It is best to keep about 10-12 fruits per plant.