Gourd Planting Methods and Key Management Techniques
Before planting gourds, the seeds must first be soaked to promote germination, and then sowing can be carried out. The plot for sowing should be chosen as level ground and second-class low-lying land with good drainage and fertile soil, and the land should be prepared before planting. After planting is completed, field management tasks such as weeding, drainage and irrigation, fertilization, vine training and pollination, and pest and disease control should be carried out well.
Field Management of Gourds
1. Manual hoeing and weeding, with timely prevention and control of diseases and insect pests.
2. In combination with topdressing, level the empty ridges and spread straw. When the main vine has grown to about 50cm, it is best to combine this with irrigation and apply 100—250 grams of urea per plant as topdressing. The topdressing should not be placed too close to the main root to prevent root burn. Do not let the urea scatter onto the leaf surface to prevent leaf burn, and level the empty ridges to prevent weed overgrowth, then spread straw over the empty ridges, using about 1kg of rice straw or wheat straw per square meter.
3. Vine training, pinching tips, removing side branches, and manual pollination
(1) For vine training, keep two main vines per plant, and lay both main vines horizontally across the empty space. One round of directional soil banking can be done to make the vines lean in the downwind direction, avoiding vine turning.
(2) For pinching tips: for first-level branches, when they grow to 3 leaves, begin pinching the tips; keep watch for and pinch off second- and third-level branches. Pinching the tips of the main vines is done after August.
(3) Manual pollination: generally, sweet gourds do not open their flowers in the morning or on rainy days, so remove side branches and pinch tips every morning, and begin pollination at 16:00 in the afternoon. Pollination can be stopped after End of Heat (August 23). Generally, two main vines bear 6—8 gourds.
(4) Leave driving lanes in the field. In principle, there should be 2 gourd ridges on each side of the lane to facilitate watering and harvesting gourds.
4. Gourd fertilization should mainly use organic fertilizer, and in the fertilizer mix attention must be paid to the supply of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer; especially during the gourd-bearing period, there must be sufficient phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. For watering, a cycle of five to seven days is sufficient, and each time you water, pour it onto the soil near the gourd roots and let the gourd absorb it on its own.
5. The main pests and diseases of gourds include cottony leak, Fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, downy mildew, and red spider mites, and prevention and control should be done in advance.
Gourd is neutral in nature and sweet in taste, and has a certain detoxifying effect. It comes onto the market every year in August and September, and everyone can buy it at vegetable markets or supermarkets to eat.