The Latest Technical Guide to Field Management of Bitter Gourd
For many people, bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a vegetable they really dislike eating, but there are also many people who quite like its flavor. Actually, setting aside the taste of bitter gourd for now, its nutritional value is quite good; bitter gourd has a series of effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, and nourishing blood and the liver. Now the market for bitter gourd is relatively stable, and the growing method is also relatively simple. But some friends do not know how to manage it after planting. Below, the editor will bring you the field management techniques for bitter gourd. Let's take a look!
1. Cultivation and Weeding
Cultivation and weeding is the primary task in growing bitter gourd. Cultivation should begin after sowing and emergence to prevent the soil from being too closed and compacted, which would hinder seedling growth. Then, when watering for the first time to help the seedlings recover, carry out the first cultivation. If windy and dry weather occurs, water and cultivate in time. Then, about half a month after the first cultivation, carry it out once again, with the purpose of protecting the growth of the bitter gourd roots. The cultivation depth should not be too deep, to avoid damaging the roots. During cultivation, weed at the same time, removing weeds promptly to reduce nutrient consumption.
2. Trellising and Pruning
Because bitter gourd is a vining crop, trellising is essential when growing it. When the bitter gourd seedlings grow to 18-22 cm, trellising should begin and the vines should be guided. When trellising, choose a reasonable trellising method according to your own skills and growing requirements. No matter what trellising method is used, the frame must be firm and resistant to falling over, to avoid the frame collapsing and affecting the growth of the bitter gourd plants and reducing yield. Bitter gourd produces a relatively large number of fruits, so we should remove the lower side vines as well as old branches and vigorous branches. This enhances the air and light penetration of the garden and improves the light conversion rate. If excessive vegetative growth occurs, pinch out the growing tips and top the plants in time to prevent it from affecting flowering and fruit set.
3. Fertilizer and Water Management
Bitter gourd bears fruit continuously and has a relatively high yield, so its demand for fertilizer and water throughout the entire growth period is very large. Therefore, fertilizer and water management is the key to ensuring a high yield of bitter gourd. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer before planting, timely topdressing should also be carried out during growth according to the growth progress of the bitter gourd, especially during key periods such as flowering and fruiting. During the mature period, apply fertilizer once after each harvest to promote the production of new fruits. Secondly, although bitter gourd likes water, there should not be too much standing water in the field; too much standing water affects the respiration of the bitter gourd roots, leading to root rot. So we must both ensure the bitter gourd's water needs and prevent root rot.
4. Disease Control
Disease control is management work that we must focus on doing well throughout the entire growth period of bitter gourd and even during the storage period after harvest. Diseases are devastating to bitter gourd. Moreover, there are very many types of diseases, which can harm every part of the bitter gourd and seriously affect the yield and quality of bitter gourd. We should promptly take fallen flowers, fallen fruits, diseased and disabled branches, and other disease-carrying material out of the garden, and regularly disinfect the garden to reduce the presence of pathogens and lower the disease incidence. After disease occurs, remove the affected parts, identify exactly what disease it is, and then treat it accordingly. Treatment must be timely to minimize losses.
The above is a brief introduction to the field management techniques for bitter gourd. One thing to note is that the watering frequency for bitter gourd is generally about three times a week. However, when bitter gourd grows to the harvest period, its water requirements become higher, and the number of waterings should be increased. It must be watered once every day, so as to fully meet the needs of bitter gourd. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you all for reading and supporting.