Complete Guide to Trichosanthes Planting Techniques and Pest and Disease Control Methods

Trichosanthes, whose scientific name is Trichosanthes kirilowii, belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and may also be called gualou, yaogua and so on. It is cultivated in China's Liaoning, North China, Gansu, Sichuan and other regions. You may not know much about Trichosanthes, so the editor has summarized and compiled this article for you. Let's take a look.

I. What Is Trichosanthes

1.1 Besides the planting areas we mentioned, Trichosanthes also appears in China's central-southern region, Shaanxi Province, Guizhou, Yunnan and other regions, generally growing in mountain forests at an altitude of 200-1500 m, or in grasslands and farmhouse backyards.

1.2 Like loofah and cucumber, Trichosanthes grows as a climbing plant and needs a trellis to provide space for its subsequent growth. It grows quickly and does not require much effort in watering or pest and disease control, so it can be found in many farmers' homes.

1.3 Trichosanthes has a strong inhibitory effect in terms of antibacterial and anticancer properties. Besides being a delicious vegetable to serve with rice, it also has rare medicinal value. Experts in many related fields have studied and discussed its various medicinal components.

II. Trichosanthes Planting Techniques

1. Soil

Because Trichosanthes needs a trellis to climb and spread its vines, you need to choose loose, fertile sandy soil and should not choose low-lying muddy land or land with an imbalanced salinity-alkalinity ratio for cultivation. In the early stage of cultivation, the soil can be leveled to ensure the subsequent fertility of the soil.

2. Field Management

After planting Trichosanthes, field management is very important. Weeding is generally carried out in spring and winter each year, and fertilizer should be applied promptly after weeding is completed to give Trichosanthes enough nutrients. When the stems and vines gradually grow longer, it is time to start building the trellis. After the frame is built, pay attention to pruning; the stems and vines of Trichosanthes sometimes branch or show a tendency to grow excessively, and these must be cleaned up promptly.

3. Flowering and Fruiting

Trichosanthes generally does not bear fruit until two or three years after planting, and its flowering period is relatively long and the fruits do not ripen uniformly, so manual harvesting in batches is needed. After harvesting, place the ripe fruits in a well-ventilated spot to dry. The dried Trichosanthes can be cut open with a knife, and the seeds inside are selected out; the outer skin is also Trichosanthes peel.

4. Pests and Diseases

Trichosanthes is prone to problems with the yellow squash beetle (Aulacophora). Each year in May the adults bite the leaves, and the young larvae bore into and feed on the roots of Trichosanthes. When encountering such problems, you can use 30 times diluted nicotine water to drench the roots and force the insects out.

That is all for today's introduction to Trichosanthes planting techniques. Every part of Trichosanthes is a treasure. If you choose to grow it, you can learn more about it and then care for it according to local conditions.