In which month are gourds ripe for picking?

Gourd is an annual climbing herb with a long history of cultivation in China. It has a wide range of uses. It can be eaten and grown in the mountains. It is also disease- and drought-resistant, and its prospects are very promising. So when will the gourds be ripe for picking? Let’s learn more about it below.

In which month are gourds ripe for picking?

The gourd's ripening season is mainly from late summer to autumn, and it is usually picked around August to October. Signs of maturity include the color changing from green to white, the fluff falling off all over the body, the center of the bottom navel obviously shrinking, the weight of the gourd becoming significantly lighter, etc. However, the specific time of maturity and picking depends on factors such as planting time, distribution area and growth environment.

What kind of management should be done during the gourd maturity period?

1. Water management

The gourd's demand for water decreases during the mature stage, but the soil still needs to be kept moist to avoid being too dry or too wet. When watering, avoid water accumulation to prevent root rot. During the rainy season, attention should be paid to drainage and waterlogging prevention to ensure a suitable environment for gourd growth.

2. Control fertilization

Stop fertilizing two weeks before the gourds are ripe and ready for picking to facilitate the maturation of the gourds and avoid wasting fertilizer .

3. Build a trellis to guide vines

When the gourd vine grows to a certain length, a support needs to be set up to guide the growth of the vine. The support must be strong enough to bear the weight of the fruit. When guiding the vines, distribute them evenly on the support to avoid cross-entanglement.

4. Pruning and pinching

Pruning mainly involves removing diseased and weak branches, overcrowded branches and useless branches to allow the plant to be ventilated and light-permeable. Pinching is to remove the top growth point of the main vine when it grows to a certain length to promote the growth of side vines and fruit development.

5. Pollination and fruit thinning

During the flowering period of the gourd, pay attention to the pollination situation and perform artificial pollination when necessary. At the same time, after the gourds bear fruit, they should be thinned out in time, and the fruits that are underdeveloped, deformed, or seriously diseased and insect-infested should be removed to ensure the yield and quality of the gourds.

6. Pest and disease control

Pay special attention to pests and diseases such as powdery mildew, anthracnose, aphids, and red spiders, which can be prevented by strengthening field management, clearing weeds and dead leaves, and using biological control methods. If the disease is serious, appropriate pesticides can be used for prevention and control.

In general, the time for gourds to mature and be picked is not fixed and depends on the actual planting conditions, but it is generally around August to October. In addition, pay attention to management work during the mature picking period to ensure the yield and quality of the gourds.