Bitter Melon Winter Management Techniques and Key Points Tutorial
Bitter melon, as its name suggests, tastes bitter, but although it is bitter, it is still a kind of gourd vegetable that many people really enjoy eating. It is planted across large and small areas in our country, and now that winter has arrived, the management work for bitter melon has also become important. Winter will have a certain impact on the growth and development of bitter melon, so today the editor has brought you the key points of bitter melon winter management techniques. Let's take a look together!
1. Temperature adjustment
Winter temperatures are very low, so the first management task for bitter melon in winter is certainly temperature control. Bitter melon likes warmth and light. During the fruit-setting stage of bitter melon, it is very sensitive to temperature changes. The daytime temperature should be controlled at around 28°C and should not be too high. The nighttime temperature should also be kept at around 12°C. If it is lower than 12°C, it will hinder the flower bud differentiation of bitter melon, leading to a decline in the flowering and fruiting rate and uneven growth of bitter melon. In winter, while ensuring the temperature, there should also be proper ventilation and light transmission to ensure normal growth of bitter melon.
2. Clearing the field and removing leaves
After winter begins, bitter melon has generally all been harvested, so we should do a good job of clearing the field. First, remove old leaves, diseased and insect-damaged leaves and other leaves growing on the bitter melon vines, then clear away fallen flowers and fallen fruits and take them out of the melon field in a centralized way for burning and deep burial. Control the spread of pathogens to prevent pathogen activity in the following spring from causing diseases and insect pests. Do a good job of disinfection, carry out land preparation and deep plowing, destroy the overwintering sites of pathogens and pests, improve the cold resistance of bitter melon plants, and enhance immunity. Reduce the incidence of diseases and insect pests and provide a good environment for the growth of bitter melon plants and fruits.
3. Water and fertilizer management
When planting bitter melon in winter, cultivate on ridges as much as possible, as this can keep bitter melon warm. After planting, cover with fine soil mulch to prevent excessively high air humidity inside the shed. When watering, pay attention to the water temperature to prevent low water temperature from causing freezing damage to bitter melon, and mainly use small drip irrigation, about once every three weeks. When watering, apply a small amount of compound fertilizer together with it. At this time, the main purpose of the fertilizer is to promote rooting of bitter melon. Increase soil temperature and promote the growth of new roots. However, pay attention to the amount and do not use too much, because compound fertilizer has a low temperature, and excessive use can easily cause freezing damage to bitter melon and affect the growth of bitter melon plants.
4. Disease control
Winter temperatures are low, and pests are basically overwintering and will not harm the plants. However, if management is poor, the plants can still suffer from diseases. Common diseases of bitter melon in winter include spot disease and powdery mildew, so when carrying out disease control in winter, we should focus on these two diseases. Regularly use the corresponding control agents for disinfection, eliminate pathogens, and cut off the transmission routes of pathogens. Then be sure to do a good job of clearing the field, because most pathogens attach to old leaves, fallen flowers, and fallen fruits. Frequently observe the melon field, and take corresponding measures in time when abnormalities are found. Early discovery and early treatment.
The above is a brief introduction to the key points of bitter melon winter management techniques. As planting techniques become more and more mature now, most vegetables can be grown out of season. Of course, bitter melon is no exception, but when planting in winter, these management tasks must be done well, otherwise it is very easy to cause planting failure. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!