How and when to plant small gourd seeds?

Suitable time to plant gourd seeds

Small gourd seeds are suitable for planting in spring. The planting time varies slightly in different regions. The southern region is usually planted after the Qingming Festival. The temperature in the northern region is relatively low, and it is usually planted in May.

Methods and key points for planting small gourd seeds

1. Seed treatment: Choose fresh, disease-free seeds, soak them in potassium permanganate for disinfection. After disinfection, soak them in 45°C warm water for 8 hours. The gourd seeds will be easier to germinate after absorbing sufficient water. Wrap the seeds with gauze and place them in a place with suitable temperature for maintenance.

2. Soil selection: Small gourd seeds are suitable for planting in soil with thick texture, good air permeability and good water and fertilizer retention effect. It is generally recommended to mix garden soil, leaf mold and coarse sand in a ratio of 6:3:1. You can apply some farmyard manure as base fertilizer to increase the fertility of the soil.

3. Start sowing: Make sure the soil is moist when sowing, place the roots of the seeds into the soil, and then cover them with a thin layer of soil. Make sure the temperature is around 18°C. Note that you should start watering on the fourth day after sowing, and reduce the number of waterings appropriately after germination.

Points for attention in daily management of small gourd seeds

1. Generally, after the small gourd grows two pairs of leaves, vines will gradually grow. If it is planted in the ground, a support should be set up in advance. Gourds generally need to be hung to grow for better quality. Pot cultivation also requires a support, which can be built with the help of branches or bamboo poles, and the height should not exceed about 1 meter.

2. The sowing time of small gourds is different, so the maturity time is also different, with a difference of about 30 to 60 days between the north and south regions. In addition, unripe gourds should not be touched, otherwise it will easily affect their growth or even death. If pests are found, they should be controlled in time.