Bitter melon planting time and method

Growth habits of bitter melon

1. Temperature: Bitter melon likes a warm environment. The suitable temperature for seed germination is 30-35℃. It germinates slowly below 20℃. The suitable temperature for growth is 25℃. The suitable temperature for flowering and fruiting is 20-30℃, preferably around 25℃. It is a short-day plant that likes light and is not shade-tolerant.

2. Water: Bitter melon prefers a humid environment and is not tolerant to waterlogging. During the growth period, it requires 75% to 80% relative air humidity and soil relative humidity, but it should not be waterlogged, otherwise the roots will rot, affecting the results and even causing the death of the plant.

3. Soil: Bitter melon has a wide adaptability to soil, so it can be planted in all parts of southern and northern China. However, fertile, loose, well-drained and fertilizer-retaining soil is conducive to the healthy growth of plants, increasing yield and product quality.

4. Fertilization: Bitter melon is a fertilizer-loving plant and has high requirements for fertility. If there is sufficient organic fertilizer, the plant will grow vigorously, bloom and bear fruit abundantly, the fruit will be large and the quality will be good.

Bitter melon planting time

Bitter melon can be planted all year round. In the north, it is sown and seedlings are raised in greenhouses or sheds in March and April, in the Yangtze River Basin in March, in South China in January-March, in summer cultivation in April and May, in autumn in July-August, and it can also be planted in winter if there are warming measures.

Bitter melon planting methods and key points

1. Land preparation

Bitter melon has a wide adaptability to soil, but clay that is fertile, moist, has a deep soil layer, and is easily irrigated and drained is preferred. It should be planted in land that has not been used to grow melons for more than two years and has good drainage, and the land should be prepared and ridges should be made.

2. Planting

Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water, clean the surface material, wrap them with clean gauze, and then soak them for 12 hours. After taking them out, wrap them with gauze or wet paper, and wrap them with film to keep warm and germinate. Provide a temperature of 28-30 degrees and keep them moist for germination. They will germinate in about 3-4 days, and they can be sown when the sprouts are 1 cm long.

3. Seedling cultivation

To grow bitter melon seedlings in nutrient cups, you need to apply a mixture of decomposed farmyard manure, superphosphate, potassium chloride, garden mud, etc. into the nutrient soil. It will take about 20 days to ferment, then sow the germinated seeds in the nutrient cups and cover them with about 3 cm of soil. When the seedlings grow 5-6 leaves, they can be transplanted into the field.

4. Field management

Bitter melon has a greater demand for water and fertilizer during the seedling stage and the flowering and fruiting stage. It needs to be watered and fertilized in time. Drainage should be done well in the rainy season to prevent root rot. Base fertilizer should be applied when planting bitter melon, and top dressing is also needed in time during the growth period. When pulling out silk, it is necessary to set up a rack to guide the vines onto the rack.

5. Pest and disease control

Common diseases of bitter melon include damping-off disease in the seedling stage, sudden wilt disease, anthracnose in the middle and late stages, powdery mildew, and wilt. Agricultural streptomycin, thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, mancozeb, thiophanate-methyl, remdesivir, anthracnose, triadimefon, dichlorvos, and succinate-methyl can be used with certain prevention and control effects.

6. Harvest after maturity

After bitter melons mature, the young melons need to be harvested in time. This can effectively ensure the quality and increase the later results. When the fruit grows to a certain length, the surface is shiny, and the color turns green, it should be harvested in time.