How much do Trichosanthes kirilowii seeds cost? Detailed growing methods
Trichosanthes kirilowii, also known as Gualou, Gua Lou, wild gourd and so on, is a perennial herbaceous vine of the genus Trichosanthes in the Cucurbitaceae family. Because it turns yellow when ripe and its interior is a thin pulp, it is also called Shi Dong Gua. Its skin, seeds and roots can all be used as medicine, and it has the effects of moistening the lungs and resolving phlegm, reducing internal heat and stopping cough, relieving chest tightness and dispersing masses, reducing swelling and removing toxins, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. Now let us take a look at Trichosanthes kirilowii seed prices and growing methods!
How much does one jin of Trichosanthes kirilowii seeds cost?
The price of Trichosanthes kirilowii seeds is about 30 yuan per jin, but prices vary depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin and purchase quantity. Trichosanthes kirilowii prefers a warm and humid climate, has fairly good cold tolerance, is not drought-tolerant and fears waterlogging; the suitable temperature is 18-32°C, and it should be planted in deep, loose, moist but not waterlogged locations. The yield of Trichosanthes kirilowii seeds is generally about 150 jin per mu, and high-yield fields can exceed 200 jin. Moreover, it is a one-time investment with many years of harvest, low investment and quick results, and it can be planted and harvested in the same year. At present, its economic benefit is high and its development potential is great.
Sowing methods for Trichosanthes kirilowii
1. Soil preparation: The nutrient soil for Trichosanthes kirilowii generally uses 20% decomposed livestock manure, 30-40% plant ash and 40-50% sandy loam. When preparing the nutrient soil, the soil must be broken up, sieved and mixed evenly.
2. Sowing time: Seedling raising for Trichosanthes kirilowii is divided into direct sowing and seedling raising in the field and seedling raising in nutrient pots. In production, nutrient pot seedling raising is mostly used. Spring sowing is generally carried out from late March to early April.
3. Seed treatment: Before sowing Trichosanthes kirilowii, the seeds need to be carefully selected once, removing floating seeds and moldy, rotten seeds, and the seeds should be soaked and disinfected with 50% carbendazim at 200 times dilution. Generally, soaking for 48 hours is enough before sowing.
4. Sowing method: When sowing Trichosanthes kirilowii, put the seeds into the seedling bed while sowing and water promptly to keep the seedling bed soil and the nutrient soil in the nutrient pots moist. The seedling bed is covered with greenhouse nylon film to keep warm, and transplanting is generally done in late May to early June.
Growing methods for Trichosanthes kirilowii
1. Land preparation and fertilization: For Trichosanthes kirilowii, choose a plot with sufficient sunlight, loose and deep soil and a low groundwater level. In autumn and winter, plow the plot deeply, harrow it fine and level it. Combined with plowing and land preparation, apply 150 kg of organic fertilizer per mu.
2. Building the trellis: It is best to build the trellis before planting Trichosanthes kirilowii. Dig holes 50 cm deep at a horizontal spacing of 1.8 m and a straight spacing of 2 m. When digging the holes, leave 1.5-2 m of open space at both ends so that there is enough room for bamboo stakes when fixing the trellis.
3. Guiding vines onto the trellis: When the vines of Trichosanthes kirilowii are 30-50 cm long, keep only 1-2 vines per plant (remove the small ones and keep the large ones). Insert bamboo strips or willow twigs beside each seedling to guide the stems and vines onto the trellis. After the trellis is closed, promptly thin out some slender and overlapping branches to improve ventilation and light penetration.
4. Reasonable fertilization: After clearing the garden in winter, apply 150 kg of organic fertilizer per mu to Trichosanthes kirilowii. After emergence, when the vines are 30-50 cm long, use 150-250 kg of fermented organic fertilizer or 50 kg of rapeseed cake per mu, open a furrow 10-20 cm away from the plants and bury it, and afterward apply supplementary fertilizer according to seedling condition.
5. Timely harvest: Trichosanthes kirilowii matures in early October. It can be harvested when the fruit skin has a white powder and turns light yellow. Take the seeds out of the harvested fruits, wash off the pulp and dry the seeds in the sun.
6. Pest and disease control
① Pests: For Aulacophora femoralis and Aulacophora indica, spray with 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate at 500 times dilution. For aphids, spray with 40% dimethoate at 800-1500 times dilution. For Diaphania indica, spray with 5% Ruijunte at 2500 times dilution or 40% dimethoate emulsion at 1000 times dilution.
② Gummy stem blight: In the early stage of the disease, spray the whole field with 40% DuPont Fuxing emulsifiable concentrate at 800 times dilution, and control it once more after 3-4 days, then according to the disease condition.
③ Anthracnose: In the early stage of the disease, spray with a mixture of 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 800 times dilution plus 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 800 times dilution, once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive treatments.