Wax gourd likes temperature and heat resistance, is sensitive to low temperature, and is not resistant to low temperature storage. If it is lower than10 C, chilling injury will occur. The suitable storage temperature is10-15 C, and the relative moderate temperature is 70%-75%, which requires good ventilation.
Wax gourd has a high water content, so tender melons and over-mature melons are not suitable for storage. The stored black-skinned wax gourd should be nine-ripe, with thick skin, thick meat, dense texture, good quality, green and bright surface and full of wax.
If the storage temperature is too high, the respiratory rate will be accelerated, the tissue will be soft quickly, the pathogenic bacteria will multiply rapidly and the storage period will not be long.
Preparation of wax gourd before storage
7- 10 days before picking, irrigation should be stopped in the growing field. It should be picked in the morning when the temperature is low and the melon is cool. In order to prevent injury and avoid invasion by germs, it is advisable to cut vines with scissors, leaving pedicels about 3 cm long. It is forbidden to harvest in rainy days, and prevent rain before storage. Because the water content of melon is too high after rain, it is not suitable to pick it after rain.
In handling, loading and unloading, we must adhere to the principle of light handling, light loading, light transportation and light unloading, and do not roll and collide, otherwise it will easily cause inverted pulp damage and be unfavorable for storage.