A Detailed Guide to the Latest Key Points for Growing Bitter Melon

Most people do not like to eat bitter melon because it is truly bitter, but many people still eat it because of its nutritional value. Although that is the case, every summer bitter melon still sells extremely well, and large-scale cultivation of bitter melon has appeared in most regions. So when growing bitter melon, what issues do we need to pay attention to? Now follow along with the editor and read the content below about the key points for growing bitter melon.

1. Planting density

Whether we use direct seeding or seedling transplanting, we need to reasonably control the planting density of bitter melon. When sowing seeds in holes, the row spacing between each hole is about 60 cm and the plant spacing is 40 cm. When transplanting seedlings, the plant spacing is 50 cm and the row spacing is 80 cm. That is to say, 1,600 to 1,700 bitter melon plants can be planted per mu. The planting density should not be too high, otherwise it will lead to poor field ventilation and affect the normal growth of bitter melon.

2. Temperature management

Bitter melon has relatively high temperature requirements for growth. If the temperature is too high, it will cause seedling scorch, but if the temperature is too low, the plants will freeze to death. In general, the temperature suitable for bitter melon growth should be kept between 15 and 30 degrees, and the optimal growing temperature is actually between 25 and 30 degrees. The minimum temperature should not fall below 15 degrees. If the temperature is lower than 15 degrees, insulation measures should be taken to raise the temperature.

3. Building supports

After bitter melon is planted, when it grows to about 40 to 50 cm, supports need to be built. Building supports for bitter melon not only makes reasonable use of land resources, but also maintains good ventilation, and of course can also avoid the harm of some pests and diseases. Bitter melon supports are generally built in a chevron shape, and the supports can be bamboo poles, wooden poles, and so on. After the main supports are built, use ropes to connect the supports, guide the bitter melon vines onto the supports, and let the vines grow along the supports and ropes. At the same time, in the early stage, the bitter melon vines need to be tied to the supports to prevent them from falling off.

4. Watering and fertilizing

Bitter melon has a certain degree of drought resistance, but during its growing period it also has a very large demand for water, so we should not be misled. Especially during the full fruiting period of bitter melon, the water requirement is the greatest, and we should also pay attention to balanced moisture, otherwise the fruit is very likely to split, affecting the quality of the bitter melon. Also, each time you water, you can appropriately apply urea and compound fertilizer as a top dressing, which can promote the growth of branches and leaves, help the plants enter the fruiting stage, and at the same time maintain the vigor of the bitter melon seedlings and extend the fruiting period.

5. Pruning and pinching off side shoots

Pruning branches and leaves and pinching off side shoots for bitter melon is generally done after the supports are built and the bitter melon seedlings have grown for a period of time, that is, when the seedlings have grown to about 50 cm. The heart leaves of the main vine should be removed to promote the growth of side branches. Next, for the part of the main vine below 50 cm, if there are flowers, we should remove all of them so as not to affect the growth and development of the whole plant. Finally, after bitter melon sets fruit, flowers that are too densely grown and small bitter melons should all be appropriately removed.

That is all from the editor on the key points for growing bitter melon. If you still have anything unclear, or there are other points you need to remind grower friends to pay attention to, you can leave a comment below.