How to grow giant gourds? A detailed explanation of the key planting techniques
When it comes to gourds, presumably everyone is familiar with them, right? Gourds are a very common food ingredient in our daily lives, not only delicious and tasty, but also very high in nutritional value. There are also many types of gourds, and the giant gourd is one of them, but most people have still seen relatively little of this large type of gourd.
How to grow giant gourds
1. Pre-sowing preparation: Choose a fertile, sunny spot with good drainage, apply plenty of base fertilizer, and plow deeply as appropriate. Select good seeds and soak them in warm water with New High Lipid Film for 20 minutes; this can make the seeds sprout earlier.
2. Timely sowing: In the south, sowing can be done from late March to mid-May; in the north, direct sowing in open fields is done from late April to mid-May, and with plastic film mulching it can be appropriately earlier. Use hole sowing, 2 seeds per hole, with a row spacing of 1.6-1.8 m and a plant spacing of 0.5 m, planting 650-700 plants per 667 sq m.
3. Fertilizing and trellising: Fertilize promptly after the plants survive. In addition to applying plenty of base fertilizer, spray fertilizer during the gourd's growing period to promote flower bud differentiation, more flowering, more fruit set, prevent fruit drop, and promote development. At the same time, build trellises promptly to facilitate climbing. When the rainy season comes, drain water promptly and pay attention to preventing waterlogging.
4. Adjusting the gourd shape: The surface of young gourd fruits has sticky hairs, and growth stops when they are touched. This characteristic can be used to produce gourds that are neat and uniform. Spray fertilizer before flowering, at the young fruit stage, and at the fruit expansion stage to thicken the fruit stalk, strengthen the targeted nutrient supply, promote rapid fruit development, produce a beautiful gourd shape, and ensure that during the growing cycle there is no flower drop, no fruit drop, no fruit cracking, and no deformed fruit.
Giant gourd planting techniques
1. Field preparation
In order for the soil to absorb nutrients better, fertilize 10 days before planting the gourds. Plow the land deeply and apply plenty of fertilizer, so that the gourd roots can go deep and grow vigorously. Gourds are grown in trellis structures, and the trellis cannot be moved, so once planted they stay for several years. Therefore, to prevent continuous cropping obstacles, apply high-quality fertilizer and, with organic matter as the main component, cultivate microorganisms in the soil.
2. Sowing
Gourd seeds carry pathogens such as anthracnose, so disinfect them before sowing. Use pliers to make a crack or use nail clippers to cut off part of the seed coat, but do not damage the embryo inside. For germination treatment, the best way to ensure sprouting is to plant seeds that have already germinated. To germinate gourd seeds, wrap the seeds in a wet towel or other cloth and place them in a sealed container at 25-30°C. When the sprouts are 0.5-1 cm long, plant them in seedling pots, using seedling cultivation soil.
3. Building trellises
If you want to cultivate gourds with excellent shape, you should build trellises. The size of the trellis should be determined by the area of the yard and the number of plants being grown. Tie it firmly with rattan rope to withstand strong winds and the pressure of the gourds' own weight. Using pipes for building small greenhouses to construct the trellis is more convenient. In that case, simply cover it with netting.
4. Pinching tips and vines
When the gourd branches and vines extend down from the top of the trellis, because of the vines' growth, pinching tips and vines becomes important daily work; a little carelessness can undo all the previous effort. Moreover, this period is a time when pests and diseases occur frequently, and prevention is more important than treatment. Spray pesticide once a week on a planned schedule. In the middle and late stages of gourd growth, pollination, fruit picking, clearing dead leaves, and supporting large gourds are the main tasks.
How to germinate giant gourd seeds
Method one: Germination grows quickly. For germination, find three paper napkins, wet them and squeeze out the water, with the paper towels not dripping as the ideal, place two layers on the bottom and one layer on top, put the gourd seeds in the middle, place them in a plastic bag and seal it, and after one or two days when sprouts grow they can be planted.
Method two: First gently pry open the pointed end of the gourd seed by hand (note: do not damage the embryo bud inside), then insert it into very moist soil, but do not soak it in water. Generally, it will sprout in about a week.
When is the right time to plant giant gourds
Gourds are suitable for sowing from late March to early April, and can be grown in open fields with trellises. The suitable growing temperature is 15°C-28°C. Sowing method: Place the seeds flat, cover with 1 cm of soil, then water. Until they sprout, cover with newspaper to prevent moisture evaporation, and place them in a semi-shaded spot where rain cannot reach them. Keep the soil surface moist, and seedlings will emerge in just over ten days. Sow on a clear, windless day, and water the seedbed with bottom water first.
The planting method for giant gourds is not very difficult, and it has all been introduced in detail above. I hope it is helpful to everyone. Gourds also grow very quickly, so during planting you must ensure they have sufficient nutrients, so that the gourds can grow normally.