When is the right time to plant gourds?

Gourds are generally eaten as vegetables , but there are also some ornamental gourds, and you can see a variety of them in antique markets. If you want to plant gourds, when is the best time to plant them? Let’s learn more about it below.

When is the right time to plant gourds?

Gourds can usually be planted in spring and autumn. Spring planting is generally carried out according to the temperature. In the southern region, sowing is carried out in late February, and in the northern region, sowing generally starts in late March to early April. It can be sown directly or seedlings can be transplanted. Autumn cultivation is generally carried out by direct seeding in the open field in August.

How to plant gourd

1. Site selection

Choose a plot of land near the water or pond, with convenient irrigation and drainage, thick soil, fertile and breathable soil, and it should be sandy soil or loam. It is best if there are no fields that have been used to grow melons or vine crops.

2. Land preparation

Fine land preparation should be carried out 5 days before sowing. Before land preparation, 1 ton of decomposed farmyard manure should be applied per mu. The fertilizer should be fully spread on the soil. The fertilizer and soil should be turned over and harrowed to make convex ridges with a width of 50 cm and a ditch depth of 30 cm.

3. Seed treatment

Choose full seeds of the year, blanch the seeds in 70℃ water, and continue to soak the seeds for half a day after the water temperature drops to 30℃. You can take them out to germinate, and you can sow them when 80% of the seeds turn white. Dig a hole every 40 cm, sow at a depth of about 5 cm, sow 2 to 3 seeds in each hole, and then cover with soil. If the soil is dry, you can water it. The seedlings will emerge about 10 to 15 days after sowing. When the gourd seedlings grow to 5 cm high, they need to be thinned out and transplanted.

4. Transplanting and planting

When the gourd seedlings are 30 to 40 days old and have grown 3 to 4 true leaves, they can be transplanted. Choose a sunny morning or afternoon for transplanting. Water thoroughly before transplanting to prevent damage to the roots during transplanting. It is best to transplant with soil.

5. Field management

Gourd is a vine plant. When the plant height reaches 25 cm, a trellis should be built. The main vine should be pinched when it is about 3 meters long, and the top should be removed to promote the growth of side vines. Leave 3 strong vines on each gourd and cut off the extra side branches. The gourd needs to be pollinated during the flowering process. When both the female and male flowers are in bloom, artificial pollination is used. On a sunny morning, use a brush to collect pollen from the male flowers, and then apply it to the stamens of the female flowers.

The gourd needs water and fertilizer after it bears fruit. Watering can be done every few days. As long as the soil moisture is 70%, there is no need to water. No watering is required during flowering. Watering or topdressing can be done during the fruit setting period. Apply 15 kg of urea and 10 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu.

That’s it