Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Growing Taro Pumpkin

Soak the seeds for about 4 hours, wash them 2-3 times with water, drain the seeds, and germinate them at 28-30°C. After sowing, maintain high temperatures to promote emergence; under normal conditions, seedlings emerge about 3 days after sowing. When the seedlings grow to 2-3 true leaves, they can be transplanted. When the seedlings reach 4-5 leaves, remove the weak plants, leaving 1 plant per hole. Do not apply too much topdressing in the early stage. During the fruit-setting period, apply topdressing and water reasonably according to soil conditions and plant growth. In the late fruit-setting stage, pay attention to controlling water.

I. Sowing and Seedling Raising

In autumn, sowing and seedling raising can be carried out from late July to mid-August. After washing the seeds with clean water, soak them for about 4 hours. After washing them 2-3 times with water and draining the seeds, place them in a plastic bag to keep them moist and germinate them at 28-30°C.

Seedling soil formula: 4 parts paddy field soil and 6 parts mushroom residue, add a small amount of compound fertilizer, mix and compost.

After sowing, maintain high temperatures to promote emergence. Under normal conditions, seedlings emerge about 3 days after sowing. After emergence, pay attention to ventilation and reducing humidity.

Because autumn planting occurs at higher temperatures, direct seeding can be used, or seedlings can be raised and transplanted. For direct seeding, sow 1-2 seeds per hole. Before sowing, the seeds can be soaked in clean water for 3-4 hours before direct seeding.

II. Land Preparation and Transplanting and Field Planting

When the seedlings grow to 2-3 true leaves, they can be transplanted. Plant in double rows with a plant spacing of 60-70cm, prune to a single vine, and transplant 1-2 plants per hole. After transplanting, water thoroughly to settle the roots and improve the transplant survival rate. After transplanting, pay attention to water management. If there is no rain, water continuously for 3 days. After the seedlings recover, water them 1-2 times with 0.3% compound fertilizer solution to promote rapid seedling growth. The planting density can be adjusted according to the vines retained. If fewer vines are retained, it can be planted more densely; if more vines are retained, the number of planted plants should be reduced.

III. Field Management

1. Thinning

When the seedlings grow to 4-5 leaves, remove the weak plants, leaving 1 plant per hole.

2. Pruning and Trellising

For ground-creeping cultivation, drainage must be done well to prevent waterlogging from causing rotten fruit and pests and diseases later. Under the trellis cultivation mode, when the vines are about 60cm long, guide the vines onto the trellis in time. Single-vine or double-vine pruning can be used.

3. Water and Fertilizer Management

Taro pumpkin likes water but fears waterlogging, has a developed root system, and has strong drought resistance. Do not apply too much topdressing in the early stage, so as not to cause excessive vegetative growth of the plant and affect fruit setting. During the fruit-setting period, apply topdressing and water reasonably according to soil conditions and plant growth, with special attention to applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. In the late fruit-setting stage, pay attention to controlling water. In rainless weather, the effect of watering with fertilizer is particularly good, about once every 5 days, for 2 consecutive times. Do a good job of furrow irrigation, with the irrigation water depth reaching one third of the height of the furrow, and splash water over the bed surface.

4. Artificial Supplementary Pollination

Pumpkins mainly rely on insects for pollination. If there is little insect activity during rainy weather in the flowering and fruit-setting period, fruit setting will be affected. Artificial supplementary pollination can increase the fruit-setting rate. The specific method is to tie the petals of the female and male flowers that will open tomorrow with thin aluminum wire in the afternoon to prevent rain from wetting the opened flowers. The next morning, take the male flowers, remove the petals, untie the aluminum wire on the female flowers, apply the pollen to the stigma of the female flowers, and then tie the petals of the female flowers again. One male flower can pollinate 2-3 female flowers. Remove deformed fruit and abnormally developed fruit as early as possible. After setting the fruit, pinch off the growing tip 10 leaves away from the fruit to ensure field ventilation.

IV. Harvesting

Taro pumpkin is mainly grown for eating mature fruit, and generally can be harvested starting 35 days after pollination. Fully mature fruit contains more dry matter, which is good for storage and has good quality and flavor. For storage, choose a ventilated and cool place.