When to sow bitter melon? An introduction to the best sowing time
Bitter melon, commonly known as kugua, has effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying and nourishing the skin. Many rural areas grow some bitter melon, so when is bitter melon sown?
1. When is bitter melon sown?
Bitter melon is sown in spring from December to April of the following year, and in autumn from June to September. Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked to promote germination. For early spring planting, it is best to raise seedlings in nutrient pots and then transplant them, taking care to protect against cold and covering with a small film arch tunnel. For autumn planting, direct sowing is mainly used.
2. Bitter melon cultivation techniques
1. Bitter melon has no strict requirements for land and can be grown in all kinds of soil. However, its root system is relatively developed, with many lateral roots and a broad root mass. It tolerates fertilizer but not poor soil, and prefers moisture but avoids waterlogging. Therefore, it is best to choose land close to a water source, with deep, loose, and well-drained soil. Before planting, the land should be plowed, turned, and sun-bleached, composted until rotted, and raked fine, so that it reaches a state of depth, looseness, fertility, fineness, and levelness, laying the foundation for high yield.
2. Sowing time: The autumn planting period is generally from June to September. The climate during this period is suitable, management is easy, the harvest period is long, and the yield is high. The winter planting period for bitter melon is from December to April of the following year. Because winter temperatures are low, film covering should be used when planting, and integrated water and fertilizer irrigation under the film should be implemented. This can not only preserve fertilizer and water, raise soil temperature, promote normal growth and development of seedlings, and increase yield, but also save labor and costs.
3. Fertilization: When sowing and planting, first plow open furrows according to the planting specifications, dig holes in the furrows, and apply per mu 100 kg of calcium superphosphate, 1000-500 kg of composted high-quality farmyard manure or cattle pen manure, 7-8 kg of high-concentration compound fertilizer for vegetables, and 1.5 kg of borax into the holes and mix evenly, then sow the seeds into the holes. The seeds in each hole must not directly contact the fertilizer, and then water thoroughly.
4. Trellising: When the seedlings grow to 5-6 true leaves, bamboo should be inserted in time to build a trellis. The trellis frame is generally built in a “∏” shape, so that the branches and vines are evenly distributed on the trellis. When the melon seedlings grow to 50-60 cm, the vines can be trained onto the trellis. Generally, the main vine is trained straight up along the support (rope), and the lateral vines are trained horizontally to the left and right along the support. It is best to train the vines on a sunny afternoon. Bitter melon has particularly strong branching ability and many lateral vines, and some lateral vines do not set fruit. After the vines are trained onto the trellis, the lateral vines on the lower part of the main vine within 50 cm of the ground, as well as the short, weak, overly dense, aged, and diseased branches and leaves on the upper part that do not bear female flowers, should be removed in time, so that the population can have good ventilation and light transmission, improve photosynthesis and light energy utilization, and also reduce nutrient consumption, which is beneficial to flowering and fruit setting.
5. Fertilization: Fertilization and water use should implement integrated water and fertilizer management, and fertilization should follow the principle of “light application at the seedling stage, heavy application at the flowering and fruiting stage.” This can both ensure the normal growth and development of vines and leaves and meet the nutrient needs of continuous flowering and fruiting. In integrated water and fertilizer management, it should be applied flexibly according to seedling conditions and weather changes. Topdressing per mu: before 5 leaves, apply diluted manure water or high-concentration melon formula fertilizer water 1-2 times; before flowering and fruiting: apply 15-20 kg of calcium superphosphate once, 12-18 kg of urea, and 8-10 kg of potassium chloride, applying once every 7-10 days, in 2-3 applications; after flowering and fruiting: apply 20-35 kg of urea and 15-20 kg of potassium chloride, applying once every 7-10 days, in 4-6 applications, and spray trace element foliar fertilizer 3-4 times.
6. Watering: Bitter melon likes moisture and avoids water accumulation. Water use can be carried out according to soil dryness and wetness. Generally, on sunny days with strong sun and high evaporation, water disappears quickly, so irrigation is needed in time to ensure its physiological water requirements, avoiding drought wilting and affecting plant growth, development, flowering, and fruiting. If there is a rainstorm, drainage should be done in time to avoid water accumulation in the field, which can cause root rot and disease.
Bitter melon has very high nutritional value and is very suitable for eating in summer. It can effectively clear heat and detoxify, nourish the skin, nourish blood, and strengthen the liver, but its taste is a bit bitter, so some people may not like to eat it.