How to grow bitter melon (Momordica charantia) well? Latest planting method shared
Bitter melon is a species in the bitter gourd genus, and its appearance is very similar to bitter gourd. It can be used both as a vegetable and as a medicine. In many places it is also called "lai grape", though why exactly is something the editor is not clear about either. So how should bitter melon be grown well? Today let us take a look together at the high-yield cultivation method for bitter melon.
1. Planting preparation
Planting preparation mainly includes three aspects: improving the planting site, preparing nutrients, and selecting seeds. Bitter melon does not have many requirements for the planting site, but when improving the land, what needs attention is that machinery should be used for plowing, the soil clods should be broken up, and the bed surface should be made into a trapezoid shape. Nutrients are mainly prepared at 40 percent organic fertilizer, 50 percent soil manure, and 10 percent compound fertilizer, plant ash, and the like. For bitter melon seeds, plump seeds without mold and without pest damage should be selected for sowing.
2. Raising seedlings in a seedbed
Before sowing, the seedbed needs to be prepared. The seedbed should be relatively high in terrain, have sufficient water, and have good drainage. After the seedbed is ready, the seeds also need to be soaked in warm water and placed in a suitable environment for germination. Once most of the seeds have cracked open, sowing and seedling raising can begin. When sowing, first water the seedbed thoroughly, then evenly scatter the seeds on top, and gently pat them so they are pressed into the soil.
3. Transplanting seedlings
Generally after about ten days, the bitter melon seedlings will all emerge. During this period we do not need to water or fertilize. When the seedlings grow to about 15 cm, they can be transplanted and planted. It is best to choose cloudy or rainy weather for planting, as the survival rate of the transplanted seedlings is higher this way. When planting, the row spacing is about 70 to 80 cm, and the plant spacing is about 50 to 60 cm.
4. Building supports and a shed
When the weather is relatively cold, we can grow them in a greenhouse, so a greenhouse needs to be built. Ordinary materials are generally sufficient for the greenhouse. The height of the greenhouse generally needs to reach about 2 m, and the space of the greenhouse is about 2 m wide. To avoid damage to bitter melon from pests and to increase bitter melon yield to a certain extent, after the seedlings are planted we can build supports in a well-shaped pattern, then use string to guide the seedlings onto the supports to climb and grow.
5. Later management
After planting, water thoroughly, then after it has grown for about a week, spray an appropriate amount of potassium fertilizer. Bitter melon has strong drought resistance, but it can grow better in a moist environment, so later watering needs to be reasonably regulated according to the moisture level of the soil. Under the condition that the base fertilizer is applied sufficiently, later fertilization will also be relatively easy; generally it is enough to fertilize before flowering and after each harvest. For weeding, chemical agents generally should not be used; manual weeding and hoeing for weeding will have better results. Finally, note that when the bitter melon seedlings grow to about 1 m, their tops should be removed to promote branch growth, which can increase the yield of bitter melon.
That is all for what the editor wants to share with everyone today. I believe that through the above, everyone has gained some understanding of bitter melon seeds. If you encounter problems in other aspects during the planting process, you can consult us, and I also hope this article can help more people in need.