Planting methods and management techniques of bitter melon

In the hot summer, bitter melon has become a favorite on many people's tables for its heat-clearing and summer-heat-relieving properties. However, farmers who grow bitter melon often face a problem: why is the yield and quality of the bitter melon they grow not as good as others? In fact, growing bitter melon is a technical job. If you want to obtain high-yield and high-quality bitter melon, you need to have an in-depth understanding of its growth characteristics and master the corresponding planting and management techniques. Let’s learn about the planting methods and management techniques of bitter melon.

1. Seedling cultivation techniques

The bitter melon seedling cultivation process is not complicated, the key lies in the pretreatment of the seeds. The seedling cultivation of bitter melon usually starts in late March, and the seedling period is about 40 to 50 days. The difficulty in germination is mainly because the seed coat of bitter melon seeds is thick and difficult to absorb water. The germination rate can be increased by seed soaking.

The specific method is to soak the seeds in warm water at 50°C first, stirring constantly for disinfection, and then continue to soak for 24 hours after the water temperature drops to 25°C, and change the water twice during this period. After soaking the seeds, let them dry slightly before sowing. When growing at home , you can use disposable cups as seedling containers, put 1-2 seeds in each cup, cover with 1-1.5 cm thick soil, and keep it moist. Seedlings will emerge in about 5-7 days, and can be transplanted after they have grown 4-5 true leaves.

2. Land preparation and transplanting

Bitter melon grows vigorously and has a high demand for soil nutrients, so it should be planted in deep, fertile clay loam. Before transplanting, apply sufficient base fertilizer, 4000kg of decomposed manure, 50kg of compound fertilizer and 100kg of superphosphate per mu. When transplanting, keep the row spacing at 1 meter and the plant spacing at 60 cm, and water thoroughly after transplanting. The stems of bitter melon seedlings are relatively thin, so they should not be buried too deep when transplanting to prevent root rot. After transplanting, the seedlings should be squatted and the soil should be loosened and cultivated in time to promote root development.

3. Watering and fertilizing

Water and fertilizer should be controlled during the seedling period. If the seedlings grow poorly, apply decomposed manure during the vine extension period. If the seedlings grow well, the first top dressing should be done when the male flowers bloom, and the second top dressing should be done after fruiting. For top dressing, use special fertilizer for bitter melon or ammonium nitrate, 20-30 kg per mu, and apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers alternately to promote flowering and fruiting. After fertilizing, cover the soil and water thoroughly. After bitter melon enters the peak fruit-bearing period, the soil needs to be kept moist, watered once a week, and fertilized once every two weeks.

4. Pruning and branch cutting

Bitter melon is a climbing plant, so a net trellis or hedge trellis is needed to guide the vine growth. When the bitter melon grows to 30cm, the vines can be led to the racks and the tendrils can be removed to reduce nutrient consumption. When pruning, focus on retaining the main vine and remove other side vines. When planting in the field , some strong side vines can be retained to increase the amount of fruits. Bitter melon grown in the open field usually does not require artificial pollination and can rely on natural pollination.

5. Picking

Bitter melon should be harvested in time after it matures to avoid over-ripening. The fruit can be harvested 12-15 days after flowering when the stripes and tumor-like protrusions on the fruit swell and the top of the fruit becomes smooth. Bitter melon has fewer diseases and pests. For greenhouse cultivation, insecticides or fungicides can be sprayed once a week for prevention. For open-field home cultivation, the frequency of spraying can be reduced and prevention and control can be carried out according to actual conditions.

In general, through the above scientific planting and management methods, bitter melon can thrive under suitable conditions and ultimately achieve the goal of high yield and high quality. When bitter melon is ripe, harvest it in time.