Detailed Explanation of Key Field Management Techniques for Cucurbit and Vegetable Crops in Summer and Winter

Cucurbit and vegetable crops make up a large part of vegetables. Common ones include cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber, loofah, bitter melon, etc., and they are also a type of vegetable that is relatively easy to grow and manage. However, cucurbit and vegetable crops are very easily affected by weather and show reduced yields, which is also a issue that many grower friends care about. Below, let us take a look at an introduction to the key points of field management techniques for cucurbit and vegetable crops in summer and winter.

I. Introduction to Key Field Management Techniques for Cucurbit and Vegetable Crops in Summer

1. Scientific fertilizer use

Cucurbit and vegetable crops have a high demand for fertilizer and consume fertilizer relatively quickly, so when planting cucurbit and vegetable crops, ensuring a sufficient fertilizer supply is the guarantee for increasing yield and quality. During the seedling stage, flowering stage, maturity stage, and after fruit harvest of cucurbit and vegetable crops, fertilization is needed, and the fertilizer should be rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements.

2. Watering to lower temperature

In seasons with higher temperatures, irrigation should be carried out according to the soil and the growth conditions of the cucurbit and vegetable crops, to lower soil temperature, ambient temperature, and leaf temperature, avoid leaves being scorched by high temperatures; it can also supplement water and dissolve fertilizer, promoting plant growth and fruiting.

3. Pinching at the right time

For crops such as eggplant, pepper, and tomato, after the first cluster of fruit is harvested, according to the planting density, part of the terminal buds and side buds can be appropriately removed to achieve the effect of eliminating “apical dominance”, thereby making plant growth more balanced, allowing nutrients to be transported more concentratedly to the young fruit, promoting fruit growth and increasing yield, rather than having the plant grow very tall with few fruits.

4. Pest and disease control

In summer, planted vegetables are easily harmed by pests and diseases, such as anthracnose, soft rot, aphids, tobacco budworm, and so on. Moreover, as cucurbit and vegetable crops are common foods in our daily lives, pesticide residues in food are also a big issue, so when planting cucurbit and fruit crops, try to avoid using pesticides, use them only when necessary and not at all if possible, and strictly prohibit the use of pesticides with high toxicity and long residual effect to ensure food safety. In the half month before harvest, no matter what pest or disease occurs, pesticides must not be used.

II. Introduction to Key Field Management Techniques for Cucurbit and Vegetable Crops in Winter

1. Cold protection measures

In order to increase surface soil temperature, plastic film can be used as mulch to achieve a heat preservation effect.

Plastic film or shade netting can be used as a windbreak barrier and laid on the north side, northeast side, or northwest side of the cucurbit and vegetable field.

If the temperature drops relatively sharply, plants are prone to freezing, especially during the seedling stage. Before severe cold arrives, the entire plant can be covered to prevent frost injury.

2. Reasonable fertilization

Generally, organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer are chosen for combined use, and various nutrient elements should be balanced, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements. Before fruit set, apply as little nitrogen fertilizer as possible to avoid excessive plant nutrition making the plant more susceptible to freezing injury. Potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be appropriately sprayed to enhance the plant's stress resistance.