Gourd planting method and time

Gourd planting time and month

When to plant gourds in spring

Gourds can be planted in spring around the Qingming Festival. Different regions can adjust the time according to the local temperature. The most important thing for planting is temperature requirement. The temperature in the south is relatively high, so sowing can be done in mid-March each year, and seedlings can be grown in April in the Huanghuai region.

When to plant gourds in summer

In summer, early June is generally the most suitable time for planting. Choose a sunny morning or afternoon for planting. Although there will be a certain degree of wilting when planting on a sunny day, the ground temperature is relatively high, which is suitable for seed planting.

When to plant gourds in autumn

In autumn, gourds are usually planted in August every year. Because autumn sowing is in the hot and rainy season, the seedlings grow and develop faster, so the row spacing of plants should be larger than that of spring sowing.

When to plant gourds in winter

The recommended time for winter planting is the end of October, which can generally be adjusted according to the temperature conditions. When planting, choose a planting site that has good drainage and irrigation and sufficient fertility. Do not plant on hillsides or potholes.

Gourd planting methods and steps

Seed treatment: When planting gourds, in order to ensure the germination rate, you must choose full seeds of the year, and blanch the seeds in 70℃ water and stir quickly. After the water temperature drops to 30℃, continue to soak the seeds for half a day and then take them out for germination treatment. When 80% of the seeds turn white, they can be sown.

Timely transplanting : When the gourd seedlings are 30-40 days old and have 3-4 true leaves, they can be transplanted. It is usually done in the morning or afternoon on a sunny day. Although there will be a certain degree of wilting when transplanting on a sunny day, the ground temperature is relatively high, and the seedlings will grow quickly after transplanting.

Build a trellis at the right time: Gourd is a vine plant, so a trellis is needed when the plant height reaches about 25 cm to facilitate the vines to wrap around. The vines should be tied in the morning after the dew has dried or in the afternoon, avoiding rainy weather to prevent the stems from breaking due to high water content.

Artificial pollination: The fruit setting rate of gourds can be increased through artificial pollination. Generally, after the female and male flowers have bloomed, use a brush to dip the pollen from the male flowers and then touch the stamens of the female flowers on a sunny morning.

Water and fertilizer management: In addition to timely trellising, pinching and pollination, water and fertilizer management is very important for high gourd yield. Less water and fertilizer is needed in the early stage, but more water and fertilizer is needed after fruit setting. Therefore, water and fertilizer should be supplied in time according to the growth conditions before flowering, and watering should be stopped during the flowering period.