How and when to plant potted gourds Planting techniques for potted gourds (key points)

Suitable planting time for potted gourds

Potted gourds can be sown in spring and autumn, but it is best to sow them around the Grain Rain in spring, which can increase the germination rate. When the weather is cold, they can be planted indoors and moved outdoors when the temperature rises above 12 degrees.

Tips for planting potted gourds

1. Prepare the soil

  Potted gourds should be planted in pots that are more than 20 cm deep, and loose acidic soil should be selected. It can be prepared by mixing humus, peat soil, and sandy soil. After germination, select the two tallest seedlings, water them once a day, and expose them to as much sunlight as possible.

2. Seed selection and processing

  Select healthy seeds with full grains and no mold, and then carry out germination treatment. First, soak the seeds in warm water at about 30℃ for 12 hours, pour out the water, cover the seeds with moist gauze, put them in a warm place, spray some water every day, and they will germinate in about 7 days.

3. Sowing

  First, water the soil thoroughly, dig a small hole of three or four centimeters on the surface, and plant the germinated seeds. When sowing, the seeds should be placed with the buds facing down, with the top slightly lower than the soil in the pot. Cover with a thin layer of fine soil and a transparent film, and place in a sunny place.

Key points for managing potted gourds

1. Lighting management

  Gourds like warm places, so they must be placed on the balcony for maintenance. If there is insufficient light, it is difficult to produce gourds. If planted outdoors, around 38 degrees is best. If planted indoors, they must be ventilated frequently, otherwise diseases and pests will occur.

2. Topping and pinching

  When the seedlings grow to about 5-10 cm, we need to top and pinch the seeds to make more branches grow. When the branches grow to about 5 cm, we will top them two or three times. Because the gourd has a strong climbing ability, it is best to make a support.

3. Pollination management

Because it is grown indoors, there are no insects to pollinate after flowering, so you need to pinch off the male flowers and connect them with the female flowers yourself. Pay attention to distinguish between female and male flowers. You can vaguely see a small gourd under the female flower where it connects to the branches, and there is only a slender flower stalk under the male flower.