Cultivation methods and precautions of Trichosanthes kirilowii

1. Maintenance methods

1. Soil: Trichosanthes kirilowii does not have high requirements for the soil, as long as the soil is fertile and has good drainage. Before planting, you need to mix base fertilizer into the soil, because the newly planted plants have a relatively large demand for nutrients, and the nutrients in the soil alone are not enough.

2. Watering: Plants planted in the open field generally do not need watering as long as the climate is normal. However, if the drought lasts for more than one month, the plants need to be watered, otherwise the growth of the plants will be affected. The best watering frequency is once a week.

3. Fertilization: In addition to the fertilizer applied before planting, top dressing is also required during the growth period. You can use fertilizers with milder effects, or you can use compound fertilizers, because compound fertilizers have more comprehensive nutrients and can meet the various needs of plants. After fertilizing, you need to water it to allow the fertilizer to fully dissolve into the soil and facilitate plant absorption.

4. Light: The growth of plants cannot be separated from sunlight. Insufficient light will affect the yield of plants. If conditions permit, it can receive full-day sunlight. If not, the minimum daily sunlight time should reach five hours.

2. Breeding techniques

1. Reproduction: Trichosanthes can be propagated by sowing. Generally, we choose fruits that mature in September and October and store them. In March and April of the following year, we soak the seeds in warm water for a day and a night, and then use wet sand to germinate them. The sowing method is hole planting, with each hole two meters apart. After sowing, we cover them with soil, and seedlings will generally emerge in half a month.

2. Loosen the soil: About half a month after planting, you need to dig up the soil pile to check. If the middle roots have sprouted and the soil is moist, you can flatten the soil pile to facilitate the emergence of the seedlings.

3. Problem Diagnosis

1. Pests: It is susceptible to melon borer, whose larvae will eat the melon leaf pulp and spread diseases. To treat melon borer, you can use Greengard solution spray.

2. Diseases: It is susceptible to anthracnose, which usually occurs in the seedling stage and can harm the seedlings of the plant. In severe cases, it can affect the yield. Anthracnose can be treated by spraying wettable powder of carbendazim.