Balsam pear planting cultivation and management technology

The germination of bitter melon seeds is best carried out at a temperature of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, while the growth of bitter melon seedlings is more suitable in an environment of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. As for the flowering and fruiting stages of bitter melon, the ideal temperature is also maintained at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is not within this suitable range, whether it is too high or too low, it may lead to uneven emergence of bitter melon seedlings, poor growth, and reduced fruit yield and quality. Let’s learn about bitter melon planting, cultivation and management techniques.

1. Land Selection and Preparation

Bitter melon has certain requirements for soil conditions and is best grown in sandy loam or loam with deep soil, good drainage, fertility and looseness. In order to avoid diseases, bitter melon should not be planted continuously. It is recommended to implement a 2 to 3 year crop rotation system and choose plots that have not been planted with bitter melon in recent years. Deep plowing should be carried out in the autumn of the previous year, and 4,000 to 5,000 kg/mu of farmyard manure should be applied before planting in spring.

2. Seed preparation

Choose high-quality seeds, such as Changbai Sweet Melon, Large White Bitter Melon, Yuefeng No. 1, Bilu No. 2, Emerald and other varieties. Before sowing, air the seeds for 1 to 2 days, then soak them in warm water at 50 to 60 degrees Celsius to promote germination. Once the seeds turn white, they can be sown.

3. Sowing and Seedling Raising

Bitter melon should be sown as early as possible in spring to prolong its vegetative growth period. When the local average daily temperature is stable above 10℃, you can start sowing. Before sowing, the land should be prepared, the width of the bed including the ditch should be 2 meters, two rows should be planted in each bed, the row spacing is 120 cm, and the hole spacing is 40 cm. Use nutrient cups or nutrient bags to grow seedlings, and set up the seedbed in a place sheltered from the wind, sunny, close to a water source, and easy to manage. After sowing, cover with a 1 cm thick layer of fine soil, and build a 40 to 50 cm high arched bamboo frame, covered with film to keep warm and moist, and cultivate strong seedlings. Start to gradually remove the film one week before transplanting to harden the seedlings.

4. Transplanting and Planting

When the seedlings have 3 to 4 true leaves, they can be transplanted. One week before transplanting, the ventilation time should be gradually increased and the temperature of the seedbed should be lowered to help the seedlings adapt to the external environment. When transplanting, apply 1,500 kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 25 kg of phosphate fertilizer and 10 kg of potassium fertilizer per mu, mix them evenly and apply them into the holes, then cover them with a thin layer of soil. Generally, it is appropriate to plant 1,100 to 1,400 plants per acre.

5. Field Management

（）1 Scaffolding and vine guiding

When the seedlings begin to sprout, use a herringbone bamboo frame. When the vines start to climb, they are tied up manually and guided onto the racks. After putting it on the shelf, remove the side vines that grow below 40 cm from the stem, and appropriately remove the dense old leaves and the thin side vines on the upper part to ensure ventilation and light transmission.

(2) Water and fertilizer management

Bitter melon requires more water and fertilizer during the entire growth process. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, top dressing should be applied in time during the fruiting period. Generally, 15 kg of urea or ammonium nitrate is used per mu mixed with water for irrigation. In the early stage of fruiting, you can use potassium dihydrogen phosphate for foliar spraying, 100 grams of it mixed with 50 kilograms of water for spraying; in the peak fruiting period, apply compound fertilizer 3 to 4 times, each time applying 20 to 25 kilograms per mu.

(3) Pest and disease control

The main diseases and pests of bitter melon include wilt, powdery mildew, downy mildew, aphids and red spiders. Prevention and control methods include selecting disease-resistant varieties, implementing crop rotation, strengthening field management, promptly removing diseased and damaged plants, applying fertilizers rationally, and using biological pesticides .

6. Harvest

When the bitter melon fruit is full at the top and about 30 cm long, it can be harvested and put on the market. When harvesting, you should handle it with care to avoid damaging the fruit.

In general, the cultivation of bitter melon requires strict technical requirements. As long as the key technologies in each link are mastered, high-yield and high-quality bitter melon can be harvested.