How to propagate the eight-month melon? Detailed introduction to propagation methods
The eight-month melon is an evergreen vine widely distributed in China, where its wild distribution range is very broad. The eight-month melon has very high economic value and is rich in nutrients; it is not only a nectar plant, but its fruit can be eaten fresh and can also be used for brewing wine, making fruit pulp, and more. Its roots also have certain medicinal value. So when planting the eight-month melon, how should it be propagated? Below, the editor brings you the propagation methods for the eight-month melon. Let's take a look!
1. Seed propagation
Every year in September, the seeds of the eight-month melon mature. At this time, carry out seed extraction work and store them until the following spring for sowing. Before sowing, wash the seeds with alkaline water, then rinse them with clean water. Then use sandy soil as the main soil for the seedbed, dig shallow furrows on the seedbed with a row spacing of about 20cm and a furrow depth of about 4 cm. Then sow the seeds into the furrows. After sowing, apply an appropriate amount of farmyard manure, cover with an appropriate amount of plant ash, and finally cover with about 2 cm of fine soil.
After sowing, under normal conditions, they will sprout and break through the soil around Qingming Festival. After the seedlings emerge, take good shade measures, pay attention to watering, and keep the soil moist. After the seedlings are uniform, carry out weeding together with topdressing. When the seedlings grow to about 4 cm, thin them out to provide sufficient growing space for the seedlings. Then insert some small bamboo strips between the seedlings to satisfy the climbing growth habit of the eight-month melon. During the entire growth period of the seedlings, do a good job of weeding, water promptly during drought, and pay attention to drainage during excessive moisture and the rainy season to prevent waterlogging and root rot.
2. Layering propagation
The vine stems of the eight-month melon have very strong sprouting ability, so the eight-month melon can also be propagated by layering. The time for layering propagation should be chosen in summer and autumn. Before layering, we must first select the vines and ensure the vines are robust and free of pests and diseases. After selecting the vines, the branches can be girdled to the xylem, or they can be directly pressed into the soil without girdling. After strengthening management for a period of time, they will take root. After rooting, separate them from the old plant and then plant them separately. The layering propagation method is very simple, but it is not suitable for large-scale seedling propagation.
3. Cutting propagation
In the rainy season or in winter, we should choose semi-lignified or fully lignified vine stems as cuttings. Keep the length at about 20cm, retain about 3 nodes, then remove the tip of the vine and retain the leaves on the upper part of the vine stem to ensure photosynthesis and improve the rooting rate of the vine stem. Keep the cutting depth at about 4 cm, and pay attention to controlling the plant and row spacing. Then pay attention to the cutting time, mainly in the morning and evening, and follow the principle of inserting cuttings as soon as they are collected. After cutting, spray water appropriately, keep the soil moist, and do a good job of shading. Under normal management, they can take root about 3 months after cutting.
The above is a brief introduction to the propagation methods of the eight-month melon. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!