The Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial for Bottle Gourd

Bottle gourd is an annual vining herbaceous plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. The taste of bottle gourd is relatively mild, and in China it is used for making soup. Mature bottle gourds can have their flesh scooped out to serve as a container, and bottle gourd also has certain medicinal value; essentially its entire plant can be used as medicine, with therapeutic effects on a variety of diseases. So how should bottle gourd be cultivated? Below, the editor brings you the cultivation techniques for bottle gourd. Let's take a look!

1. Seed Selection and Seedling Raising

There are many varieties of bottle gourd, but their yields are all about the same. The differences in varieties are mainly determined by factors such as the cultivation region and climate environment, so we should select good varieties according to these factors. After selecting the varieties, begin raising seedlings. Sowing is usually carried out around the start of spring each year. Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked and sprouted. Once the seeds have sprouted, proceed with sowing and seedling raising. During the seedling stage of bottle gourd, pay attention to controlling the temperature well and enhancing the permeability of the seedbed. Keep the soil in a moist state. When the seedlings have grown for about one month, they can be transplanted. One week before transplanting, carry out low-temperature hardening of the seedlings.

2. Land Preparation and Fertilization

Before transplanting, first do a good job of land preparation. Choose sandy soil rich in organic matter as the transplanting field, but the plot must not have grown cucurbit crops for at least two years. After harvesting the previous crop, clean the field promptly, deeply plow and disinfect the soil, and carry out base fertilizer application at the same time. For the base fertilizer, generally use decomposed farmyard manure, then control the amount of base fertilizer according to the soil area. Also make beds in the field to facilitate later irrigation, drainage and management, then lay down plastic mulch to improve the soil's ability to retain fertilizer and water.

3. Plant Adjustment

Although bottle gourd is a vining plant, it can also be grown without trellising. If not trellised, then vine-pressing work must be done well to prevent strong winds from scattering the vines. If trellis cultivation is used, then when the seedlings grow to about 35 cm, set up a ""-shaped trellis. Also do a good job of guiding the vines onto the trellis, then as the seedlings grow, tie the vines promptly to promote even growth of the plants. Moreover, bottle gourd mainly sets fruit on secondary vines or vines of even later generations, so we should promptly pinch off the growing tips to promote the growth of new vines.

4. Fertilizer and Water Management

The growth vigor of bottle gourd is relatively poor compared with other cucurbit vegetables, and because bottle gourd has a long growth period and its fruiting positions are relatively concentrated, besides applying sufficient base fertilizer before planting, we should also water and topdress appropriately. When topdressing, pay attention to the amount, mainly applying small amounts frequently. The number of topdressings must not be fewer than four times, and topdressing should also be done after harvest to promote the growth of new gourds. Bottle gourd has a relatively large water requirement, so we should keep the soil moist and water promptly, especially during the fruiting period; if drought weather occurs, water once a day. But do not overwater either. If watering is excessive or if rainy weather occurs, drain promptly to prevent root rot.

Harvesting bottle gourd also has certain requirements. Timely harvesting can improve the quality of bottle gourd, increase growing space for new gourds, and raise yield. It is the key to ensuring high yield and expanding the economic benefits of cultivation. Alright, that's all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Friends who want to learn more related information, please continue to follow us!