Bitter melon planting technology and management method

Bitter melon is a common vegetable in life and is rich in various nutrients. It can not only clear away heat and relieve summer heat, but also has the function of reducing fire. Therefore, eating more bitter melon in daily life is very beneficial to the body.

Bitter melon planting technology

1. Planting time

Bitter melon is usually planted in July-August or November-December each year. Bitter melon can be planted in these two periods because the temperature, moisture and climate in these two periods are more suitable for the germination of bitter melon seeds than other times.

2. Variety selection

Choosing suitable seeds is the first step to high yield. First, you need to select seeds with relatively obvious surface warts, white skin, and long cones for sowing. They must also be heat-resistant, fertilizer-resistant, high-yield, and of good variety.

3. Seed treatment

Because the skin of bitter melon seeds is relatively hard, they need to be germinated before planting. Soak the seeds in hot water at about 55 degrees Celsius and stir constantly. When the water temperature drops to room temperature, continue to soak the seeds for about 12 hours, then wrap the seeds in a wet cloth and place them in an incubator at about 30 degrees Celsius for germination.

4. Planting method

After the bitter gourd sprouts, you can start planting when the seedlings grow to about 3 leaves. Insert them into the prepared soil. It is best to keep the distance between the plants at about 50 cm. After planting, water them and wait for them to slowly adapt to the environment.

Bitter melon management methods

1. Build a scaffold

Bitter melon should be grown under a trellis. The trellis should have good stability and load-bearing capacity so that the plant can grow healthily. The trellis can be built in a flat top style, a fence style, or a "human" shape. Wire mesh is often used as the building material.

2. Moisture management

Bitter melon has a certain degree of drought resistance, but in order to ensure the yield and quality of the product, the annual rainfall in the planting area cannot be less than 1200mm. If the rainfall is less and the weather is relatively dry, timely irrigation is needed, and drainage measures need to be taken in the rainy season to prevent water accumulation from damaging the bitter melon roots.

3. Fertilization management

When the bitter gourd sprouts, it needs to be fertilized in time. During the seedling stage, it needs to be applied with thin layers of water and fertilizer frequently to ensure the rapid growth of the bitter gourd. After harvesting, it needs to be fertilized. Generally, 400-700 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 3-4 kg of urea are required per mu.

4. Harvest

If you want a high yield of bitter melon, you must harvest it in time. You can judge whether it is ripe by observing the surface of the bitter melon. If the stripes and tumors on the surface of the melon are obviously raised and enlarged, it means that the bitter melon is ripe. Harvesting too early or too late will affect the yield of bitter melon, so the harvesting time must be accurately grasped.