How do you grow bitter melon so it grows well?
How do you grow bitter melon well? Please give an introduction to the growing methods. Bitter melon cultivation can follow the methods below: 1. Growing season. Green bitter melon can be grown in the open field in spring, summer and autumn in southern China. In spring, sow from December to March of the following year and harvest from April to July; in summer, sow from April to May and harvest from June to September; in autumn, sow from July to September...
How do you grow bitter melon well? Please give an introduction to the growing methods
Bitter melon cultivation can follow the methods below:
1. Growing season. Green bitter melon can be grown in the open field in spring, summer and autumn in southern China. In spring, sow from December to March of the following year and harvest from April to July; in summer, sow from April to May and harvest from June to September; in autumn, sow from July to September and harvest from September to November. In the Yangtze River basin, sowing is generally from February to April and harvesting from May to August.
2. Variety selection. For spring sowing and summer harvest, varieties such as "Cuilü Yushen You Bitter Melon", "Haixin Bitter Melon", "Bilü No. 2", "Lü Bitter Melon 915" and "Gaoyou Hao No. 1" are suitable; for summer sowing and autumn harvest, varieties such as "Cuilü Dading", "Haixin Bitter Melon" and "Suixin No. 2" are suitable.
3. Sowing and raising seedlings. Green bitter melon has a hard seed coat, so you can soak the seeds in warm water at 50-55°C for 4-6 hours while stirring and rubbing them continuously, then take them out and place them at 30-35°C to sprout, rubbing and washing them once a day with warm water; they sprout in about 3-5 days. For early spring cultivation, the nutrient pot method of raising seedlings with protected roots is generally used. The seedbed must be kept warm; it is best to raise seedlings in a small arch shed inside a greenhouse or on an electric heated bed. The seedling stage is about 25-30 days. For summer and autumn cultivation, direct sowing can also be used. '
4. Planting out. Green bitter melon is not strict about soil, but it is best grown on fertile, loose, deep, sunny loam rich in organic matter. Before planting out, the soil should be deeply turned and left to weather, and sufficient base fertilizer should be applied along with soil preparation; generally, for every 667 sq m, 2000 kg of mature compost or 1500 kg of decomposed human and livestock manure, 30-50 kg of potassium chloride (or potassium sulfate) and 25-30 kg of superphosphate are used as base fertilizer, applied in holes or furrows. Plant out when the seedlings have "two leaves and one heart", preferably on a sunny afternoon; the bed is generally 2 m wide with two rows, with a hole spacing of 60-80 cm, two plants per hole, and 800-1100 holes (1600-2200 plants) planted per 667 sq m. After planting out, apply clear manure water to settle the roots. For early spring cultivation, note that a small arch shed should be added for warmth to improve the survival rate.
5. Trellising, vine guiding and plant adjustment. When tendrils appear, trellises should be set up in time to guide the vines; three trellis types can be used: the A-frame trellis, the overhead trellis (flat trellis) and the fence trellis. Green bitter melon has strong branching ability and many stems and vines. To concentrate nutrients on the main vine and a few main side vines, the side vines below the first female flower should be removed; under conditions of sufficient fertilizer and water, a few side vines can be kept in the middle and late stages to increase late-stage yield. In the middle and late stages of growth, old leaves and diseased leaves at the base should be removed in time to improve ventilation and light penetration and increase yield.
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