Detailed Explanation of Trichosanthes kirilowii Planting Techniques and Pest and Disease Control Methods
Trichosanthes kirilowii Planting Techniques and Pest and Disease Control
Trichosanthes kirilowii is a perennial herbaceous vine of the Cucurbitaceae family. Its seeds are large with plenty of flesh, rich in fats, proteins, various amino acids and trace elements, making it a premium edible melon. Its roots, fruits, rind and seeds are also important traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Trichosanthes kirilowii has no strict soil requirements; it is suitable for both scattered planting and block planting, and intercropping can also be carried out in large Trichosanthes kirilowii fields. Moreover, one year of planting brings many years of harvest and benefits, saving labor and costs, with good economic returns and great development potential.
I. Growth habits. Trichosanthes kirilowii prefers a warm and humid climate, has fairly good cold tolerance, is not drought-tolerant, and fears waterlogging. The suitable temperature for its growth and development is 18-32°C, and growth basically stops at 10°C. It is best to choose deep, loose, moist but not waterlogged soil for planting, and it should not be cultivated in arid or low-lying land.
II. Propagation methods
1. Seed propagation: From late September to early October, on good-quality plants with a high fruit-setting rate, large fruits, many seeds, heavy grains and good quality, select fully ripe fruits free of pests and diseases as seed fruits, and place the seeds in a dry, ventilated place to overwinter. Generally, sowing is done in mid-to-late February. First, prepare the seedbed; the seedbed should be chosen in a warm, sunny place, using a small arched shed for seedling cultivation, and the bed soil should be loose with good drainage. Before sowing, water thoroughly, soak the seeds in clean water for about 2 days, remove and drain them, then soak them in warm water at about 50°C for 10 minutes to promote seed germination and kill some pathogens, and then sow. After the seeds are sown into the seedbed, cover with 3 cm of fine soil, water to maintain moisture, and cover with plastic film to preserve soil moisture. After emergence, remove the film, lower the temperature to harden the seedlings, and transplant when the seedlings grow to about 10 cm. Direct seeding for seedling cultivation can also be used at the end of March, sowing 2-3 seeds per hole, covering with 3-5 cm of soil, and keeping the soil constantly moist.
2. Root division propagation: Root division propagation is best carried out from mid-February to the end of March. Select old roots of good-quality Trichosanthes kirilowii that have fruited for 1-2 years, are robust and free of pests and diseases, and use them as propagation rootstock. Pay attention to the ratio of female to male plants. When planting, place the root buds facing upward and flat in the hole, cover with soil and firm it, and keep the soil moist. Seedlings emerge in about 1 month and can bear fruit in the same year.
III. Field management
1. Erecting posts and building trellises: When the stems and vines reach more than 30 cm, a trellis should be built. Generally, permanent cement posts are used. The spacing between trellis posts depends on the materials; for a bamboo trellis surface, a post spacing of 3-4 m is suitable. If the trellis surface is made of steel wire, the post spacing is 5-6 m, and the trellis height is about 1.8 m. The trellis should be sturdy, with a flat surface and good ventilation.
2. Fertilizer and water management: Fertilizer and water management for Trichosanthes kirilowii mainly involves applying sufficient organic fertilizer in winter and spring, once after harvesting the melons and before overwintering, and once before the vines emerge in spring. Fertilizer must not be applied too close to the roots, otherwise it will cause root rot and death. On the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, topdressing should be applied appropriately. In the middle and late stages of Trichosanthes kirilowii growth, when temperatures are high and drought is likely, leaf surface evaporation is high, so attention should be paid to watering to maintain moisture and resist drought, shallow loosening of the surface soil, and weeding to preserve soil moisture.
3. Increasing the fruit-setting rate: Trichosanthes kirilowii is dioecious. To increase the fruit-setting rate, male plants should be appropriately interplanted, generally 5 plants per mu, and the growth of male plant vines should be controlled. In addition, artificial pollination can also be carried out.
I. Growth habits. Trichosanthes kirilowii prefers a warm and humid climate, has fairly good cold tolerance, is not drought-tolerant, and fears waterlogging. The suitable temperature for its growth and development is 18-32°C, and growth basically stops at 10°C. It is best to choose deep, loose, moist but not waterlogged soil for planting, and it should not be cultivated in arid or low-lying land.
II. Propagation methods
1. Seed propagation: From late September to early October, on good-quality plants with a high fruit-setting rate, large fruits, many seeds, heavy grains and good quality, select fully ripe fruits free of pests and diseases as seed fruits, and place the seeds in a dry, ventilated place to overwinter. Generally, sowing is done in mid-to-late February. First, prepare the seedbed; the seedbed should be chosen in a warm, sunny place, using a small arched shed for seedling cultivation, and the bed soil should be loose with good drainage. Before sowing, water thoroughly, soak the seeds in clean water for about 2 days, remove and drain them, then soak them in warm water at about 50°C for 10 minutes to promote seed germination and kill some pathogens, and then sow. After the seeds are sown into the seedbed, cover with 3 cm of fine soil, water to maintain moisture, and cover with plastic film to preserve soil moisture. After emergence, remove the film, lower the temperature to harden the seedlings, and transplant when the seedlings grow to about 10 cm. Direct seeding for seedling cultivation can also be used at the end of March, sowing 2-3 seeds per hole, covering with 3-5 cm of soil, and keeping the soil constantly moist.
2. Root division propagation: Root division propagation is best carried out from mid-February to the end of March. Select old roots of good-quality Trichosanthes kirilowii that have fruited for 1-2 years, are robust and free of pests and diseases, and use them as propagation rootstock. Pay attention to the ratio of female to male plants. When planting, place the root buds facing upward and flat in the hole, cover with soil and firm it, and keep the soil moist. Seedlings emerge in about 1 month and can bear fruit in the same year.
III. Field management
1. Erecting posts and building trellises: When the stems and vines reach more than 30 cm, a trellis should be built. Generally, permanent cement posts are used. The spacing between trellis posts depends on the materials; for a bamboo trellis surface, a post spacing of 3-4 m is suitable. If the trellis surface is made of steel wire, the post spacing is 5-6 m, and the trellis height is about 1.8 m. The trellis should be sturdy, with a flat surface and good ventilation.
2. Fertilizer and water management: Fertilizer and water management for Trichosanthes kirilowii mainly involves applying sufficient organic fertilizer in winter and spring, once after harvesting the melons and before overwintering, and once before the vines emerge in spring. Fertilizer must not be applied too close to the roots, otherwise it will cause root rot and death. On the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, topdressing should be applied appropriately. In the middle and late stages of Trichosanthes kirilowii growth, when temperatures are high and drought is likely, leaf surface evaporation is high, so attention should be paid to watering to maintain moisture and resist drought, shallow loosening of the surface soil, and weeding to preserve soil moisture.
3. Increasing the fruit-setting rate: Trichosanthes kirilowii is dioecious. To increase the fruit-setting rate, male plants should be appropriately interplanted, generally 5 plants per mu, and the growth of male plant vines should be controlled. In addition, artificial pollination can also be carried out.