A Detailed Guide to the Latest Management Methods for Bitter Melon During the Flowering Stage
The first key period in bitter melon cultivation is the flowering stage. The quality of management during the flowering stage directly affects the fruit-setting rate in the next important period, the fruiting stage, and directly affects yield. Therefore, during the flowering stage, it is very important to do a good job with fertilizer and water, temperature, humidity, pruning, ensuring pollination success, and pest and disease control. This must be taken seriously during cultivation, and the specific management operations and points to note will be discussed below.
1. Fertilizer and Water Control
After the vines are tied before flowering, flower-promoting fertilizer can begin to be used. Generally, compound fertilizer is mainly applied, with the amount of nitrogen fertilizer reduced and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer increased. After flowering, spray a 0.2% boron fertilizer solution to preserve flowers. When a batch of flowers has set fruit, apply a quick-acting chemical fertilizer once, about 4 topdressings in total, and all the set melons will be stable. Three days after the first flower-promoting fertilizer, irrigate once to ensure the water needed for flowering. After that, unless there is drought, do not water, as watering will cause flower and fruit drop.
2. Temperature and Humidity
The flowering period generally occurs around the beginning of summer, so the temperature should be somewhat higher, but not too high. The most suitable temperature is generally between 20 and 25°C. Flowering can occur above 18°C. Above 30°C, flowering is affected, and higher temperatures can easily cause pollen death, incomplete floral organ development, and deformed flowers. During the flowering stage, soil humidity is best maintained at about 45% to 50%, with the surface dry and sufficient water content in the root soil 3 cm below the surface. The environmental humidity between plant rows can be appropriately higher to maintain leaf moisture, which is beneficial for nutrient transport.
3. Branch and Vine Adjustment
When the flowers have set firmly, some weak flowers and excess flowers need to be thinned out. Generally, vigorous branches and vines keep 4 to 5 female flowers and 1 to 2 male flowers, while thin and weak branches and vines keep 3 female flowers and 1 male flower, to ensure good pollination and fertilization. After flower thinning, weak branches and vines can be removed promptly, generally mainly the weaker branches and vines. Keep 6 to 7 side branches on the main vine, and some small branches on the side branches can be thinned out when they are dense. At other times, not much attention is needed. This concentrates nutrients and ensures melon quality.
4. Pest and Disease Control
The main insects harmful during the flowering stage are aphids and whiteflies. They mainly damage leaves, causing the leaves to lose their photosynthetic ability and be unable to supply products to the flowers, resulting in flower drop. Spray a 1500-fold omethoate aqueous solution or 10% imidacloprid wettable powder. The main disease is powdery mildew, which mainly affects leaves and stems. When disease occurs, promptly prune diseased branches, apply less nitrogen fertilizer, and do not allow waterlogging. Spray 50% colloidal sulfur at 100 to 500 times dilution. For anthracnose, spray 50% carbendazim at 500 to 600 times dilution, once a week for three consecutive times.
During the flowering stage, first apply fertilizer to promote flowering, then maintain good temperature and humidity to sustain growth. In addition, adjusting branches and vines can concentrate superior resources to supply the fruit and ensure quality and yield. Finally, prevent and control pests and diseases that cause flower drop and failure to set fruit. Doing these well is the main management content for the flowering stage.