High-Efficiency Intercropping Cultivation Techniques for Spring Cauliflower and Pumpkin
I. Symptoms: 1. Seedlings: infected plants develop dark green water-soaked lesions that spread from the leaves to the main stem, causing the petioles and stems to become thin, dark brown, rotten and collapsed, with the whole plant wilting; when humidity is high, a white mold layer forms on the diseased parts. When the base of the young stem is affected, water-soaked constriction forms, and the seedling wilts or falls over. 2...
During the early stage of pumpkin cultivation, there is a large amount of unused space in the field, resulting in wasted land, light and heat resources. Using cauliflower and pumpkin relay intercropping requires low investment, is simple and easy to implement, and gives high economic returns.I. Intercropping strips. Every 3.3 m forms one intercropping strip, divided evenly into 3 beds, each bed 1.1 m wide. Before planting, open furrows and make beds, with furrows 45 cm wide and 15 cm deep, apply plenty of farmyard manure, and add 25-30 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer per mu. Plant 2 beds of cauliflower, with 2 rows per bed, and leave 1 bed to plant 1 row of pumpkin later. All are covered with small arch sheds.
II. Variety selection and seedling raising. Cauliflower is grown out of season in spring, and trials have shown that most varieties tend to head early, produce small heads, become hairy, and loose quickly. Huayu Large Cauliflower 80 Days, however, produces white, firm heads with good market quality. Sow seeds in a cold frame for seedling raising in mid-December. First wet the seedbed, then sow the seeds evenly, sowing 10 g of seed per 6 sq m, and cover with 0.5 cm of fine soil. At night, add straw mats over the cold frame film for insulation, and later pay attention to ventilation and cooling, and reducing moisture to cultivate strong seedlings.
For pumpkin, Changmian No. 2 can be used; it is a first-generation hybrid variety with fast growth and resistance to the three major diseases of downy mildew, virus and powdery mildew. Raise seedlings in early February in early spring. First soak the seeds in warm water at 30°C for 4-5 hours, take them out and spread them on a wet towel, roll it up and place it in a constant-temperature incubator, set the temperature to 32°C for germination. Generally, the shells crack and sprouts emerge after 24-26 hours. Most farmers use a soil insulation box for germination. The method is: roll the seeds in a wet towel, place them in a cardboard box 40 cm long, 30 cm wide and 40 cm high, then suspend a 25W light bulb inside, insert a thermometer at the same time, wrap the outside with a cotton pad for insulation, and keep the temperature at about 32°C for germination. Pick out the germinated seeds and place them in prepared nutrient pots, 1 seed per pot, cover with 1-1.5 cm of nutrient soil, and place them in a greenhouse or cold frame, with daytime temperature above 25°C and nighttime temperature not below 5°C. Continue germinating the ungerminated seeds. After emergence, water the nutrient pots promptly and pay attention to ventilation and cooling to cultivate strong seedlings.
III. Transplanting and management. Spring cauliflower is generally transplanted around February 25, when seedlings are about 70 days old and have 4-5 true leaves. Before transplanting, spray the seedbed with an antibacterial agent to control seedling rot; 50% chlorothalonil or metalaxyl-copper can be used. Wide row 65 cm, narrow row 45 cm, plant spacing 45 cm, 2690 plants per mu (effective area), 2 rows per arch, cover with the arch shed immediately after planting. In March, sunlight is abundant, so ventilate and cool at any time to keep the temperature inside the arch shed below 28°C. When cauliflower grows to the size of a small basin mouth, remove the cover, which can be done in the latter half of the afternoon or on cloudy days. Cauliflower has a high fertilizer requirement; after transplanting, generally topdress 2-3 times, either by flushing with human excrement and urine or by applying 20 kg of urea per mu. The main insect pests are cabbage caterpillars and diamondback moths, which can be controlled with biological pesticides such as chlorfluazuron and abamectin to produce pollution-free cauliflower.
The pumpkin seedling period is about 35 days; transplant when it grows to 4-5 leaves, around March 10, with plant spacing 53 cm, single row, 380 plants per mu, and cover with a small arch shed immediately after planting. When most vines grow tall enough to touch the small arch shed, the arch shed can be removed. Press vines 2-3 times, remove branches, and after the first female flower opens, carry out artificial pollination from 7-9 a.m. The method is: gently smear the pollen-covered stamens onto the stigma of the female flower. Each male flower can pollinate 4-6 female flowers. Because it is a first-generation hybrid, fruit setting is neat and uniform. After the first fruit sets, keep the branches so that both the main stem and branches set fruit. Artificial pollination is then no longer necessary. Pumpkin seedlings are easily damaged by melon aphids, which can be controlled with 10% imidacloprid or abamectin. Other insect pests occur less often, making it easy to produce pollution-free vegetables. After each harvest of pumpkins, topdress once, either by flushing with human excrement or nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer.
IV. Harvest and benefits. Cauliflower is harvested around May 1. Five days before harvest, bend the leaves over to cover the curd so that it remains white and easy to sell. The suitable harvest time is when the base of the curd feels slightly raised by hand and the outer leaves of the plant open obviously. A single curd weighs 1-1.5 kg, and the benefit per mu based on the intercropping area is 1500-1800 yuan. Cauliflower is harvested multiple times; after each harvest, promptly remove the residues to free up space for the pumpkin, until harvesting is complete.
For pumpkin, harvesting young pumpkins for market is more profitable, and some mature pumpkins can also be harvested. When the skin of the young pumpkin changes from bright green to dark ink green, it is the suitable harvest time, generally around May 20, which can be 35 days earlier than open-field cultivation. A single pumpkin weighs 2-2.5 kg and is very popular in the market. When the first pumpkin grows to about 1 kg, the second pumpkin begins to set. Including fruits set on branches, each plant can bear 3-5 pumpkins, and the harvest period generally lasts until early November. Yield per mu can reach 5000-6000 kg, with a benefit of 3000-3500 yuan.