Latest Prices for Gourd Seeds and an Introduction to Growing Methods

Other names for the gourd include chouhulu, hulu, and pulu. It is an annual climbing herbaceous plant of the genus Lagenaria in the Cucurbitaceae family. The fruit can be eaten as a vegetable when unripe. It is widely cultivated in tropical to temperate regions around the world, and is commonly cultivated throughout China. The vines, leaves, flowers, and fruits of each cultivated type differ from one another. Let us take a look below at gourd seed prices and growing methods!

How much do gourd seeds cost?

The price of gourd seeds varies greatly depending on the variety. For example, large wine gourd seeds cost about 1 to 1.5 yuan per bag (5 seeds), large immortal gourd seeds about 0.8 to 1.3 yuan per bag (8 seeds), giant gourd seeds about 50 to 60 yuan per bag (10 seeds), long-handled gourd seeds about 6 to 8 yuan per bag (10 seeds), craft gourd seeds about 5 to 8 yuan per bag (10 seeds), and large waist gourd seeds about 5 to 7 yuan per bag (10 seeds). At the same time, the place of origin and the quantity purchased are also major factors affecting gourd seed prices.

Cultivation Conditions for Gourds

1. Temperature: The gourd is a warm-loving crop. The seeds begin to germinate at 15°C, and the optimal growth temperature is 20 to 25°C. Growth and development are hindered at 9 to 10°C, and premature aging easily occurs at 36 to 38°C.

2. Water: The gourd has a strong water-absorbing capacity and a high transpiration rate. In dry weather it should be irrigated promptly. It needs the most water during the flowering and fruiting period, and from the late fruit development stage until just before harvest, water should not be excessive.

3. Light: The gourd tolerates weak light, but to ensure high yield and good quality, it should be planted in an open, sunny location. Excessive shade affects the normal growth of the vines and fruits.

4. Soil: The gourd has strong adaptability and grows better in slightly acidic soil (pH 6.5 to 7). Choosing well-drained sandy loam for planting gives a higher yield.

How do you sprout gourd seeds?

1. Seed treatment: After drying the seeds in the sun for 1 to 2 days, soak them in a 500-fold carbendazim solution for 30 minutes, then wash the seeds clean with water, and then soak them in warm water at 55°C for 6 to 8 hours. During soaking, stir constantly. Afterward, remove the seeds and soak them in a 10% trisodium phosphate solution for 25 minutes. After soaking, take the seeds out and wash them clean with water, and finally wipe the mucus off their surface with a dry towel.

2. Sprouting method: Moisten a towel with water and wring it out until it no longer drips, then spread the treated seeds on the towel, with a thickness preferably not exceeding 1.5 cm, then cover the seeds with another equally moist towel. After covering, fold up one side of the two towels and wrap them around the outside of a plastic bottle, then pour warm water at 30 to 32°C into the plastic bottle, tighten the bottle cap, and wrap the outside of the plastic bottle with plastic film to maintain the humidity for the seeds.

3. Temperature management: When sprouting gourd seeds, to keep them warm you can wrap the plastic bottle in a cotton blanket and then place it in a warm place. When the water temperature inside the plastic bottle drops below 28°C, you can open the cap, pour out the water inside, and add new warm water (at 30 to 32°C). Change the water once every 12 hours. After 36 to 48 hours, the seeds will sprout.

How do you sow gourd seeds?

1. Sowing method: The gourd's root system has weak regeneration ability, so it is generally sown directly in nutritional pots, with 1 to 2 seeds per pot, covered with 1 to 2 cm of nutritional soil, and the temperature controlled at around 25°C. Seedlings emerge in 3 to 4 days.

2. Cooling and ventilation: When one-third of the gourd seeds have emerged, the temperature needs to be lowered to around 18°C and ventilation should begin, to prevent the seedlings from becoming leggy. At the same time, let the seedlings see as much light as possible to enhance their photosynthesis and improve their resistance.

3. Thinning and watering: After the gourd seedlings are all up, thin them once, removing diseased, weak, and off-type seedlings, keeping 1 seedling per pot. Watering during the seedling stage should be properly controlled; do not water if the bed soil is not dry. If watering, it should be done at noon on a sunny day, and after watering, ventilate to remove moisture.

4. Hardening and disease prevention: One week before planting out, gradually increase ventilation for the gourd seedlings, extend the ventilation time, and lower the temperature to harden the seedlings and improve their stress resistance. The pests and diseases during the seedling stage are similar to those of cucumbers and need attention for control.

Growing Methods for Gourds

1. Land preparation and base fertilizer: For gourd planting land, use 2500 kg of farmyard manure per mu and 150 kg of vegetable-specific fertilizer or sulfur-containing compound fertilizer as base fertilizer, and form beds with a bed width of 0.67 m and a bed height of more than 0.33 m.

2. Timely planting out: For gourd planting out, the plant spacing is 0.67 m. Dig holes and plant a single seedling, and water to settle the roots. Before plowing, use paraquat to control weeds once, and after preparing the land, spray butachlor once, and only then transplant.

3. Fertilizer and water management: Topdressing for gourds is carried out according to soil fertility combined with watering. Generally, 6 days after transplanting, apply 15 kg of bean bran infusion, 1.5 kg of biological phosphorus, and 1.5 kg of biological potassium per mu, mixed with manure water and drenched on, once every 7 to 10 days,

4. Inserting poles and building trellises: 10 to 15 days after planting gourds, insert poles, build trellises, prune branches and remove side shoots, pinch out growing tips, remove old leaves, and adjust the space to give good ventilation and light penetration. You can cultivate directional soil once to make the vines lean in the downwind direction and avoid overturning of the vines.

5. Hand pollination: Gourds generally do not open their flowers in the morning or on rainy days, so remove side shoots and pinch tips every morning, and start pollination at 16:00 in the afternoon. After the End of Heat (August 23), pollination can be stopped. Generally, two main vines bear 6 to 8 fruits.

6. Timely harvest: When the fuzz on young gourd fruits has basically fallen off and the skin color has become lighter, it is the suitable harvest period. Generally, the harvest time for the first batch of fruits is 15 to 20 days after flowering, and for the peak fruiting period it is 10 to 12 days after flowering. Harvesting the fruit when it is overripe affects its edible value.

Pest and Disease Control for Gourds

1. Fusarium wilt

[Damage] It harms the roots and the base of the stems and vines. The leaves wilt severely. After flowering and fruiting, the initial appearance of the disease resembles water deficiency, with obvious wilting at noon that can still recover in the morning and evening. The roots turn brown or rot, and an amber gelatinous substance oozes from the affected parts.

[Control] Use 50% carbendazim 500-fold dilution, 70% thiophanate-methyl 600-fold dilution, fulvic acid salt 800-fold dilution, special yellow wilt spirit 1500-fold dilution, 50% dexon 500-fold dilution, miebingwei 600-fold dilution, or agricultural streptomycin, etc., to drench the roots.

2. Anthracnose

[Damage] In the early stage, the lesions are pale yellow and nearly round; in the later stage, the centers of the lesions rupture, and in severe cases the leaves die. Pale brown streaks appear on the leaf stalks. Infected fruits appear pale green and water-soaked, then develop nearly round dark brown lesions with sunken centers.

[Control] Use 70% thiophanate-methyl 600-fold dilution, 75% chlorothalonil 500-fold dilution, miebingwei 600-fold dilution, kemeiling 1000-fold dilution, fenghuan 1000-fold dilution, and sulfur suspension concentrate 500-fold dilution in alternating sprays for control.

3. Downy mildew

[Damage] Affected leaves develop small pale yellow spots, and in humid conditions pale purple mold-like growth appears on the underside of the lesions.

[Control] Use 58% metalaxyl 500-fold dilution, mancozeb acetate 500-fold dilution, 60% sandofan 500-fold dilution, kemeiling 1000-fold dilution, beideli 600-fold dilution, 70% mancozeb 500-fold dilution, and yishuangling 500-fold dilution for spraying.

4. Insect pests

[Damage] The insect pests of gourds include melon aphids, melon flies, yellow squash beetles, and noctuid moths, etc.

[Control] They can be controlled by deep application or broadcasting of miral, as well as mixed spraying of pyrethroid pesticides with shachongshuang.