Growing wax gourd is quite simple because this type of squash is hardier than other gourds. Below is the easiest way to grow wax gourd in foam boxes on the rooftop. Find out details with My Garden.
When to plant wax gourd?
- In the North and Central regions
(North Central Coast), you can plant from February to September. You can
plant later or earlier, but the results may not be as good, with
potentially fewer and smaller fruits than expected.
- In the South, you can plant wax
gourd year-round, avoiding the rainy season for better results with young
plants.
Regarding soil,
for planting wax gourd, the ideal choice is sandy loam soil. Note that for any
plant, including wax gourd, planting directly in the ground is naturally best
for growth.
If you choose
to plant wax gourd in foam boxes or pots, ensure there is enough space for
growth. The larger the box, the better (minimum diameter of 40cm, depth over
30cm). Additionally, for foam boxes, you should make 5-7 holes around 5-7 cm
from the bottom. Line the bottom of the box with straw, sugarcane bagasse, or
perforated water bottle caps. This is similar to how you would plant other
gourds like bottle gourd!
The soil mix for the foam box includes: finely chopped sandy loam soil (or soil taken from the garden) 50%, decomposed manure 30%, and the rest is a mixture of lightening agents: husk, coconut fiber, eggshells, sand...
Simple methods to grow wax gourd at home
With the method
of growing wax gourd in foam boxes as described above, proceed as follows to
sow wax gourd seeds:
- Seedling: Purchase seeds or soak
seeds in warm water, let it cool for 2-3 hours.
- Sow in trays, nursery pots, or sow
directly into foam boxes, ensuring sufficient moisture for the plants.
- When the plant has 2-3 true leaves
and is 7-10 cm tall, transplant the seedlings into the foam boxes.
How to plant wax
gourd:
- Mix the soil for planting into the
pre-prepared foam box, leaving a distance of 5-7 cm from the box mouth.
- Usually plant 2 plants/foam box.
Place the plants on opposite sides of the box, 15-20 cm apart.
- Gently place the plants, with the
sprouts facing upwards. Then add more mixed soil to cover the roots and
lightly press to secure the plants.
- You can cover the top of the foam box with a layer of sugarcane bagasse or straw to retain moisture for the plants and soil.
How to care for wax gourd correctly
For wax gourd
grown on a trellis, the time to create the trellis for green wax gourd plants
is when the plant has 5-7 true leaves, the plant is 20-25 cm tall. To tie the
plant to the trellis according to the plan, it saves space. You can also create
trellis like loofah by making props such as trellises made from split bamboo,
professional nets, fences ...
In addition, in
the technique of growing wax gourd, you do not forget the care as follows:
- Watering: Water once a day, twice
if it rains to drain water quickly to avoid root rot. If the weather is
dry, increase the number of times you water to ensure soil moisture.
- Fertilizer: After planting from
5-7 days, when the plant's roots have turned green, water the plants with
additional fertilizer to help the plants develop branches.
- Supplemental fertilization for the
next stage from 15-20 days/time.
- In the stage of flowering plants, fruit cultivation requires an increase in the amount of food, about 10 days a week, plus fertilizer like final soaking solution or kitchen wood ash mixed with water.
How to harvest wax gourd after planting
With the method
of planting wax gourd as above, after planting for 35-40 days, the plants begin
to bloom. After fruiting for 30-35 days, you can harvest.
When
harvesting, use a specialized knife to cut the fruit to avoid disrupting the
trellis, dropping leaves, shaking the roots to make the plant recover. During
the fruiting period, the plant needs to trim the old leaves to create
ventilation for the plant to reduce the risk of pest damage. You should also
add more fertilizer after the crop to prepare for the new crop.
Above is the entire method of planting wax gourd that you can apply right now. Note that if you have a garden, it is better to plant wax gourd outside the garden instead of planting them in foam boxes."
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