Remember these four key points for high-yield spring bitter melon cultivation
Bitter melon fruit is rich in vitamin C, higher than tomatoes, and contains a glycoside that gives it a distinctive bitter taste, making it one of the popular health vegetables. Growing spring bitter melon means mild diseases, low costs, high yields, and good returns. The high-yield cultivation techniques for spring bitter melon mainly include the following four key points: select good varieties, raise seedlings at the right time. Spring planting...
Bitter melon fruit is rich in vitamin C, higher than tomatoes, and contains a glycoside that gives it a distinctive bitter taste, making it one of the popular health vegetables. Growing spring bitter melon means mild diseases, low costs, high yields, and good returns. The high-yield cultivation techniques for spring bitter melon mainly include the following four key points:
Select good varieties and raise seedlings at the right time. For spring bitter melon, choose high-yield, high-efficiency, high-quality hybrid varieties. Such as Changbai Gan Gua, Dabai bitter melon, Yuefeng No. 1, Bilu No. 2, Emerald, etc. Sow and raise seedlings when the average daily temperature is stably above 10°C. Aim to sow early at the right time to extend the vegetative growth period. Use nutrient cups (bags) to raise seedlings, and choose a nursery bed in a sheltered, sunny spot near a water source and convenient to manage. First soak the seeds in warm water at 50-60°C, and once they sprout and show white, they can be sown by dibbling, with the root tip facing down, gently pressed into the nutrient soil, and set up a 40-50 cm arched bamboo frame, cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist, protect against cold and raise strong seedlings, and remove the film one week before transplanting to harden the seedlings.
Apply enough base fertilizer and transplant at the right time. For base fertilizer, generally use 1500 kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 25 kg of phosphate fertilizer, and 10 kg of potassium fertilizer. Mix the above fertilizers evenly and apply them into the holes, then cover with a thin layer of fine soil. Before sowing, first prepare the land, with a bed width including the ditch of 2 m, planting two rows per bed, with a row spacing of 120 cm and a hole spacing of 40 cm. Generally, 1100-1400 plants per mu is suitable. Transplant when the seedlings have 3-4 true leaves, and 3-5 days after transplanting apply diluted human manure water as "marriage fertilizer."
Set up trellises and guide the vines, and topdress at the right time. When the seedlings begin to send out vines, use a herringbone bamboo trellis. When the vines begin to climb, manually tie and guide the vines onto the trellis. After guiding the vines onto the trellis, remove the side vines growing below 40 cm on the vine stems, and appropriately remove overly dense old leaves and weak upper side vines to improve ventilation and light penetration. For topdressing, water-soluble fertilizer is best, applying frequently and lightly to promote early and rapid seedling growth. After flowering and setting fruit, topdress once, generally using 20-25 kg of compound fertilizer per mu. During the fruit-picking period, topdress once every 7 days, which can extend the harvest period. When the top of the bitter melon fruit is plump, it can be harvested and sold, with the melon about 30 cm long.
Prevent and control pests and diseases in time. Adhere to the principle of integrated pest and disease control with prevention as the priority, keep the garden clean, drain promptly after heavy rain, and reduce sources of infection. Use Dexon and Jinggangmycin for regular root drenching to control bitter melon Fusarium wilt. Use 600-fold chlorothalonil powder solution to control powdery mildew. Use 800-fold trichlorfon solution to control melon fruit fly and other pests and diseases. Use 1.1% nicotine-matrine emulsifiable concentrate at 1000-fold to control aphids and leafminers. If young tobacco cutworm damage is found, promptly spray Chongwen No. 1 biological insecticide for good results.