Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Growing Bottle Gourd in Greenhouses
Sweet bottle gourd is nutritious, with a mild fruity flavor and tender quality. It can be stir-fried or stewed in soup, and is a popular vegetable in summer. So, what are the techniques for growing bottle gourd in greenhouses?
1. Variety selection
Choose early-maturing varieties with disease resistance, strong stress resistance, good commercial traits, high quality and high yield. Such as Hangzhou long gourd, Zheza No. 5, Xiaogan bottle gourd, etc.
2. Sowing and seedling raising
Sow in nutrient pots in mid-to-late January, and treat the seeds before sowing. Plastic film, small arch sheds and greenhouses can be used for insulation. When the temperature is too low, cover the small arch shed with straw curtains to prevent the seedlings from freezing, and use electrically heated hotbeds for seedling raising when necessary. Strengthen seedling-stage management. Cultivate sturdy seedlings free of pests and diseases, with short and thick internodes, dark green leaves and well-developed roots.
3. Land preparation and fertilization
Bottle gourd has a relatively shallow root system and is not tolerant of poor soil, so it is best to choose soil with strong water retention and rich in organic matter, and the previous crop should not be a cucurbit crop. Base fertilizer is mainly high-quality organic fertilizer, commonly used chemical fertilizer and compound fertilizer. Generally, apply 750-1000 kg of decomposed livestock and poultry manure and 20-30 kg of superphosphate per mu as base fertilizer; apply other fertilizers as appropriate according to local conditions. Make beds at 1.5 m (including ditches), lay plastic film, and then punch holes at 2 rows per bed (row spacing 80 cm, plant spacing 60 cm).
4. Management after planting
1. Plant training
When vines begin to run, set up a herringbone trellis, and add 2-3 horizontal rails on the herringbone trellis with small bamboo poles or thick straw ropes to facilitate the climbing of side vines. As the plants grow, manual layering and tying of vines is needed. Bottle gourd bears fruit on side vines, so carry out the first pinching when the main vine has 6 true leaves; after the secondary vines bear fruit, pinch again to encourage the growth of tertiary vines, and thereafter let them grow naturally.
2. Fertilizer and water management
Water thoroughly at planting to settle the roots, and water once more after the seedlings recover. Before the flowering and fruiting stage, apply decomposed manure, organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer about once every 5 days; during the fruiting stage, apply manure or compound fertilizer once every 10-15 days, while paying attention to controlling water and fertilizer concentration to prevent fruit abortion; after the fruiting stage, water in time, preferably in the morning or evening. Spray the leaves once every 10 days with a solution of 0.5% urea plus 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate. After each harvest of gourds, apply fertilizer once. Topdressing should be applied lightly and frequently. Apply fertilizer once each after planting survival and pinching, and during fruit enlargement. After harvest begins, apply topdressing 1-2 times in stages to promote later gourd growth. Bottle gourd needs a lot of water, so water promptly; during the fruiting period, water once every 1-2 days in dry weather, and drain promptly to prevent waterlogging when there is a lot of rain.
3. Assisted pollination
Every morning, pick the male flowers that are blooming that day and touch them to the stigmas of female flowers; generally one male flower can pollinate 2-3 female flowers. Female flowers that have been pollinated should be marked to avoid repeated pollination.
4. Pest and disease control
Pests and diseases of bottle gourd in greenhouses are generally relatively mild. The main pests are aphids and yellow pumpkin beetles, which can be controlled with pesticides such as imidacloprid and beta-cypermethrin.
When growing bottle gourd in greenhouses, tender gourds must be harvested in time, otherwise the taste will be affected. Tender gourds are best harvested 10-15 days after flowering. In early-maturing cultivation with low temperatures, fruits set early develop more slowly and must be harvested only 15-20 days after flowering.