How to fertilize winter melon? Master the correct fertilization method

Winter melon is an annual plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, grown throughout China, and in some areas wild winter melon also exists. Winter melon is a common vegetable on our dining tables, and it can also be processed into candy, namely the traditional Chinese delicacy winter melon candy. In addition, the seeds and peel of winter melon can both be used as medicine, with effects of reducing swelling and promoting urination. So how should winter melon be fertilized during cultivation? Let us learn its fertilization methods together below.

1. Fertilizer requirements of winter melon

The root system of winter melon is relatively well developed and its growth is relatively vigorous, but its nutrient requirements differ at each growth stage, so we need to fertilize according to the fertilizer requirements of winter melon. The yield of winter melon is generally relatively high, and its fertilizer requirement is also relatively large. The nutrient demand of winter melon is mainly potassium fertilizer, followed by nitrogen fertilizer, and then phosphorus fertilizer. Of course, we also need to implement specific fertilization techniques according to the local planting climate, soil conditions and other aspects.

2. Principles of fertilization

The principles of fertilizing winter melon are actually quite simple, similar to those for general crops. Usually, the basis is heavy application of base fertilizer, with the principle of frequent application of thin fertilizer, and then according to the different growth stages of winter melon such as the seedling stage, growth stage, flowering stage and fruit-swelling stage, fertilization is carried out reasonably, including comprehensive evaluation of the choice of fertilizer type, nutrient concentration, fertilization amount and other aspects, and then the best fertilization plan is made.

3. Fertilization techniques

The fertilization techniques for winter melon mainly include two aspects, namely base fertilizer and topdressing. Base fertilizer is generally applied when planting winter melon, and according to the fertilizer requirements of winter melon, base fertilizer is applied heavily, mainly decomposed barnyard manure, combined with the use of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. The later topdressing needs to be divided into topdressing at the growth stage, topdressing at the flowering stage, topdressing at the fruit-swelling stage and topdressing at the later stage. During the growth stage, nitrogen fertilizer is still mainly used; at the flowering stage and fruit-swelling stage, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are mainly used, and at the fruit-swelling stage foliar fertilizer also needs to be used in combination; at the later growth stage, in order to prevent the winter melon vines from aging, nitrogen fertilizer needs to be reasonably topdressed to supplement the nutrients needed by the vines, so as to increase the yield of winter melon.

4. Precautions for fertilization

Fertilizing winter melon is actually relatively simple, but when fertilizing, we still need to pay attention to these two points. The first point is not to apply nitrogen fertilizer alone, so as to avoid excessive growth of branches and leaves, which will not only increase planting costs, but also cause a series of pests and diseases, and at the same time reduce the yield of winter melon. The second point is that fertilization should be carried out according to weather conditions, generally best chosen on sunny or cloudy days, and never carried out on rainy days or before and after rain.

The above is the method of fertilizing winter melon compiled and summarized by the editor, hoping to help everyone grow winter melon better. If you want to learn more information, you can follow us, and there are more and more wonderful agricultural planting encyclopedias waiting for you.