Gourd, for the cucurbit family cucurbit genus annual trailing herb. Gourd young fruit flavor is light, tender quality, suitable for cooking. In some areas around Hebei, "gourd" refers exclusively to zucchini, "gourd" is used to refer exclusively to gourd. In ancient China, it was used as a container for its ripe and dried husk, and also for medicinal purposes.
The gourd can be steamed or braised.
It has been recorded in the Book of Songs. Gourd is a medicinal gourd that can eliminate swelling and knots and moisturize the skin. China has been cultivated since ancient times, young fruits are edible, old after inedible, is the folk summer commonly eaten delicacies. Relative to other fruits and vegetables, the nutritional value is low. It is not a good idea to have a good time, but it is a good idea to have a good time. Gourd quality tender and soft, slightly sweet flavor, peeled all edible. It can be fried or simmered in soup. Gourd is cultivated all over China in the north and south, the southern cultivation is common, in recent years the north also began to introduce cultivation.
Cultivation environment
The seed coat is thicker, slower germination. In order to make the main vine early lateral trails, more female flowers, when the main vine out of 4 to 6 sections, you can remove the top bud of the main vine. You can also use phytohormone treatment to promote the main vine early female flowers, early results. Gourd has high requirements for fertilizer and water, to apply sufficient base fertilizer, and many times to apply fast-acting nitrogen fertilizer. Not tolerate flooding, drought, in rainy areas should pay attention to drainage, drought should be timely irrigation. Cultivation season gourd is usually sown in the spring and harvested in the summer. Cultivated in the protected area, can be appropriate early or delayed. [6]
Planting Methods
Gourd can be direct seeded in the open ground before the final frost, or planted in protected areas after seedlings. Before sowing, the seeds need to be treated. It needs to be soaked for 24-48 hours and then sown, using 250 grams of seed per acre. The management of gourd seedling period is the same as spring cucumber. Can refer to cucumber seedling technology.
Sowing seedlings
Sow seedlings in hotbeds. sow seeds from the end of February to early March, using 3.75kg of seeds per hm2 (0.25kg for 667m2). Before sowing, use 55 ℃ warm water to soak the seeds for 15min, and then put into the 25 ~ 30 ℃ constant temperature germination, to be sown in the nutrient bowl after the buds come out. Seedlings should be insulated against cold, ventilation and light, keep the soil dry and wet properly. Seedling age of about 30 ~ 35d. planting before about 10d low temperature refining.
Gourd growth potential is weaker than other melons, the growth period is short, the results are concentrated, in addition to the base fertilizer, but also fertilizer irrigation. The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have a good understanding of what you are doing and how you are doing it.
After planting and centering, the fruit expansion period, respectively, 1 time fertilizer. After the start of harvesting staged fertilizer 1 to 2 times, prompting the growth of ripe melon. Gourd needs more water, should be watered in time, the result of the period of drought can be 1 ~ 2 days watering 1 time, but if the rain is more, it should be drained in time to prevent flooding.
Fertilizer based on ground strength, combined with watering, generally 6 days after transplantation per 667 square meters of soybean bran dip 15 kg, bio-phosphorus 1.5 kg, bio-potassium 1.5 kg, mixed with manure drenching, drenching every 7 to 10 days, 1
after planting.