What to do when bitter gourd yields are low? The latest solutions are here
Bitter gourd tastes rather bitter, but its heat-clearing and summer-heat-relieving effects are extremely powerful. It is generally eaten in summer, which means it is planted in spring and comes onto the market right in summer, creating relatively high economic value. However, many farmers report that their bitter gourd yields are relatively low, so what should be done? Let's find out together.
1. Planting time
The sowing time for many bitter gourds is generally in March. Some are first raised as seedlings in a greenhouse or warm house and then transplanted, so sowing can be done early in February. In the north, sowing is generally done in greenhouses from late March to early April, and planting out can be done in May; in the Yangtze River basin, sowing is generally done around mid-March each year, with planting out in mid-April; in summer, sowing is done between April and May; in autumn, sowing is done in July and August; and if conditions permit, cultivation can be carried out in winter.
2. Temperature regulation
Summer temperatures are relatively high, so the first management task for bitter gourd is temperature regulation. Bitter gourd likes warmth and light. During the fruit-setting period, bitter gourd is relatively sensitive to temperature changes. The daytime temperature should be controlled at around 28 degrees, and should not be too high, while the nighttime temperature should be kept at around 20 degrees. If it is lower than 20 degrees, it will hinder flower bud differentiation in bitter gourd, causing the flowering and fruiting rate of bitter gourd to decline and leading to uneven growth. In summer, while ensuring the temperature, there should also be appropriate ventilation and light transmission to ensure the normal growth of bitter gourd.
3. Watering management
Bitter gourd grows relatively quickly in summer and consumes more nutrients. Moreover, as temperatures rise in the middle and late stages, the leaf area becomes larger and larger, and transpiration is very strong. In order to meet the plant's fertilizer and water needs for growth and development, fertilizer and water management must be strengthened. When planting out bitter gourd, water thoroughly at planting. During the vine-throwing period, water is generally controlled for 10-15 days to prevent vegetative growth from being too rapid. After half a month, it enters the flowering and fruiting period. In order to promote fruit growth and development, water should be given in time. It should be noted that watering should follow the principles of watering the fruit but not the flowers and watering little but often, instead of flood irrigation. During the full flowering period, do not water when there is no drought; when fruit is set, water lightly to prevent flood irrigation from causing soil compaction and poor air permeability, which affects the root system's absorption capacity.
4. Field management
Field management is also an important aspect affecting bitter gourd yield. During fruit growth and development, bitter gourd has a relatively high demand for fertilizer, so sufficient fertilizer must be supplied to make it grow better. After the seedlings have been planted out for one week and the plants have grown to about 20 cm, the first topdressing can be applied. Before the female flowers open and before fruit harvest, topdressing can also be applied once. In addition, attention should be paid to setting up trellises and guiding vines, and tidying branches and leaves, so that they grow better.
The above is an introduction to what to do when bitter gourd yields are low. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.