Among the Cucurbitaceae plants, there is a plant that can be used for cooking or as a fruit to be eaten raw. It is chayote, which is often grown in the Jiangnan area. Today I will explain in detail the planting time and methods of chayote. After reading this, you won’t be afraid that you don’t know how to grow it! Friends who don’t believe it, please read below.
1. Overview of chayote
1. Distribution of chayote
Chayote is a perennial herbaceous vine, also known as golden melon, Hayato melon, An pumpkin, longevity melon, harvest melon, foreign melon, hand melon, holding melon, Turkish melon, peng melon, tiger melon, etc. are "exotic species" introduced to my country at the beginning of the last century. It is native to Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. At present, the provinces with the most populations in my country include Yunnan, Guizhou, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Taiwan.
2. The value of chayote
Chayote is rich in nutrients and tender in texture. It contains water, protein, vitamins, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, etc. Chayote is often eaten in To a certain extent, chayote can enhance the body's ability to resist disease, and eating chayote has diuretic and natriuretic effects, dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, and improves intelligence. It is useful for indigestion, chest tightness, bloating, vomiting, liver and stomach gas pain, and bronchitis and cough. The treatment of phlegm has a certain auxiliary effect.
2. Chayote planting time and methods
If you want to grow high-quality, high-yielding chayote, you must be clear about its planting time and methods. , if you master the following methods, you won’t be afraid that you don’t know how to grow chayote.
(1) Chayote planting time
1. Chayote is a plant that likes warm temperatures and is not tolerant of severe cold, so it can only be cultivated in greenhouses in areas with low temperatures. If you use a greenhouse for chayote cultivation, you can start it in early or mid-March. If you want to cultivate it in the open field, you can start it in mid-April every year.
2. In Shandong Province, seeds are sown in solar greenhouses from late December to early January of the following year. Generally, seeds are sown in ceramic flower pots or plastic nutrient bowls with a diameter of 15 to 20 cm.
(2) Chayote planting methods and steps
1. There are many varieties of chayote, and different varieties can be selected according to different environmental conditions. In the south, you can choose green-skinned varieties and For white-skinned varieties, you can choose Guling Gassho melon and white-skinned chayote in Fujian.
2. Choose melons that are fat, free of scars and damaged, and fully mature as seed melons. When the melons sprout buds, they can be grown. The nutrient soil for seedlings should be sandy with good ventilation. Mix half and half soil with vegetable garden soil. Plant the melons with the sprouting end facing up and the stem facing down. Remove any weak or numerous buds in time.
3. Chayote can be planted after frost breaks. A certain amount of base fertilizer should be applied to the soil for planting. The planting density should be determined according to the actual situation. After planting, water the seedlings to slow them down. Because chayote has strong climbing ability, use bamboo poles, wooden sticks, ropes, etc. to help it climb.
4. During the period of rapid growth of chayote, more cultivating and loosening of soil and watering should be carried out to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. When it enters the period of blooming and fruiting, in addition to maintaining moisture, you can also Spray nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on the leaves 2 to 3 times, or apply decomposed human and animal manure.
5. During the growth period of chayote, it is necessary to prevent and control downy mildew, powdery mildew, whitefly, spider mite and other pests and diseases. Different pesticides should be used according to different situations. It should be noted that the application must be safe and environmentally friendly and allowed by the state. Potion.