Greenhouse bitter melon planting technology and management method

Bitter melon seeds are shield-shaped, flat, and have a thick seed coat. They are short-day crops that prefer light and are not shade-tolerant. Bitter melon likes moisture but is afraid of rain and waterlogging. During the growing period, it requires 70-80% relative air humidity and soil relative humidity. At present, greenhouse cultivation and open field cultivation are the main methods. Let’s learn about greenhouse bitter melon cultivation technology and management methods.

1. Cultivate strong seedlings

From mid-February to early March, seedlings are grown in the greenhouse using an electric hotbed. Compared with direct seeding, seedling transplanting can be put on the market 7 to 10 days earlier and has a higher yield. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water at 55-60℃ for 15 minutes, stirring while soaking. After the water temperature drops, continue to soak the seeds at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours, then pinch the seed mouth or do not damage the tip, but the germination speed will be slower. Next, germinate the seeds in an environment of 30-35℃, and sow them after germination, or directly sow them in plastic nutrient pots with a diameter of 8-10 cm. Keep the ground temperature at 25℃ during the seedling stage and lower the temperature after emergence. The sunshine is controlled at about 8 hours during the entire seedling period, with the daytime temperature at 15-25℃ and the nighttime temperature at 10-15℃. The seedlings are 34 to 45 days old and can be transplanted after they have grown 5 to 6 true leaves. They should gradually adapt to the external environment 10 days before transplantation, maintaining the temperature at 15 to 25 degrees Celsius for the first 5 days and then dropping to 10 to 12 degrees Celsius for the next 5 days.

2. Transplanting at the right time

Transplanting can be carried out when the soil temperature in the greenhouse or shed reaches above 10℃ and the temperature in the shed is not lower than 0℃. When preparing the land, apply 96 to 8 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer , 100 grams of superphosphate, and 30 grams of potassium sulfate per square meter, then plow the soil, make high ridges, and cover the ground with film. A drip irrigation tape can be laid under the film to meet the plant's water needs and reduce the humidity in the greenhouse. Double rows are planted on the ridges, with a row spacing of 60 to 130 cm and a plant spacing of 45 to 65 cm. 1,000 to 1,500 plants are planted per mu.

3. Field Management

After planting in uncovered fields, inter-cultivation and weeding should be carried out in time. When the plants enter the vigorous growth period, they need to be watered frequently to keep the soil moist. After the vines grow, build a herringbone melon rack in time and remove the side buds and branches below 50 cm from the ground to give full play to the fruiting advantages of the main vine. After the first melon is formed, remove the side branches at the base, and promptly thin out excess female melons and female flowers, leaving 2 to 3 empty nodes between melons. Tie the vines approximately every 5 nodes. After harvesting two fruits, check nodes 1 to 3 of the side branches to see if there are female flowers. If there are, keep them; if not, cut them off. Two more prunings are required during the peak fruit-bearing period.

4. Reasonable fertilization

Bitter melon has a long growing period, produces many fruits, and requires a lot of fertilizer and water. After planting, combine irrigation and apply compound fertilizer every 15 to 20 days, 10 kg per mu. During the flowering and fruiting period, spray a mixture of 0.2% urea and 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate every 7 to 10 days. Apply superphosphate twice after the peak fruit-bearing period to extend the harvest period.

5. Timely harvest

It is usually harvested 12 to 15 days after flowering, with the best time being in the morning. The yield per acre is generally 1,000 to 3,000 kilograms. If conditions permit, you can bag the melons after they set. After bagging, the surface of the melons will turn pure white, with thin skin and tender flesh. The harvesting criteria are: the fruit is fully expanded, the skin is shiny, the tumor-like protrusions become thicker, the longitudinal grooves become shallow and shiny, and the tip becomes smooth.

The above are the key points of greenhouse bitter melon cultivation technology, which are for your reference only. If you also want to adopt the greenhouse cultivation model, you can refer to it based on the actual situation.