Bitter melon planting method and time

Bitter melon planting time

Bitter melon can be planted in spring from January to March, and the seedlings can be grown in sunny beds or greenhouses. In early to mid-March, a small plastic shed can be used, or in mid-to-late April, high beds can be covered with plastic film for cultivation in the open field.

Bitter melon can be sown in April and May for summer cultivation and can be planted outdoors in summer. The summer climate is warm and the rainfall is abundant. The annual precipitation is more than 1,000 mm, so there is no need to water it too much to avoid root rot of bitter melon.

If bitter melon is planted in autumn, it can be sown in July and August. The planting temperature is very important. Bitter melon likes a warm environment and is more heat-resistant but not cold-resistant. The suitable germination temperature for seeds is 30-35 degrees. When the temperature is below 20 degrees, germination is slow and germination is difficult below 13 degrees.

It is best to sow bitter melon in winter in late early or mid-December. When sowing in winter, first grow seedlings in a greenhouse or shed. Pay attention to the temperature in the greenhouse or shed. When the temperature is below 5 degrees, the plants will be harmed by low temperature.

Bitter melon planting method

1. Site selection

Before planting bitter melon, you need to choose suitable soil. It is best to plant it in soil with deep soil layer, fertile soil, good drainage or sandy soil. It is best to plant it in land where melons and fruits have not been planted, so as to reduce the occurrence of diseases.

2. Planting

Bitter melon seeds must be disinfected before sowing. You can use 100 times diluted 10% copper sulfate for disinfection. Bitter melon seeds are relatively hard and need to be treated for germination. Before germination, the seeds must be soaked for 8-12 hours and then placed in an environment of 30-35 degrees for germination. When the seeds are about 60% white, they can be sown.

3. Planting

Bitter melon can be transplanted when it grows 4-5 leaves. The seedlings can be hardened one to two days before transplantation to improve their cold resistance. Some old soil needs to be brought along when transplanting. Before planting, the soil can be fertilized with sufficient base fertilizer and leveled and raked.

4. Field management during cultivation

During the maintenance of bitter melon, it is necessary to weed in time to reduce the loss of nutrients, loosen the soil, increase the permeability of the soil, and enable it to grow vigorously. When it grows side vines, it is necessary to build a frame for the bitter melon. The frame methods include horizontal trellis, bamboo frame and herringbone frame.