The best fertilizer for luffa
1. Why is cow dung fertilizer considered the best fertilizer for bitter gourd?
High-potassium expanding melons, with straight and undamaged fruit stems
During the flowering and fruiting period of bitter gourd, potassium is the nutrient most in short supply. Lack of potassium can cause the fruits to bend, have small heads, age prematurely, and undergo fibrosis. The potassium content of wood ash is 5% to 10%, which can be easily absorbed by the root system. It can transport nutrients from the leaves to the young fruits, making the bitter gourds grow long, plump, with shiny and tender skin.
2. Calcium-containing anti-cracking melons, reducing flower and fruit drop
Burnt plant ash is rich in calcium, magnesium and boron, which are essential minerals. If there is a calcium deficiency, the bitter gourd is prone to cracking and rotting. By supplementing calcium, the fruiting process becomes more stable, and the loss of flowers and small fruits is significantly reduced.
3. Antibacterial and insect-repellent properties, reducing the occurrence of diseases
Burnt plant ash is slightly alkaline and can improve compacted acidic soil, inhibit root rot and powdery mildew fungi. When spread around the roots of the vines, it can also repel aphids and small black flies, reducing the need for pesticide use.
4. Regulate the soil and promote robust root systems
Over a long period of vegetable cultivation, the soil becomes acidic and compacted. However, the application of cow manure loosens the soil structure. The root system of the morning glory plants penetrates deep into the soil, doubling their ability to absorb water and nutrients. The vine growth is vigorous.
II. Two Correct Methods for Using Burned Plant Ash
Method 1: Apply dry fertilizer to the roots (preferred during the fruiting period)
After the first young gourd of the morning glory plant has settled down, sprinkle a thin layer of lime ash around 10 centimeters away from the rootstock, and then water thoroughly.
Apply once every 10 days throughout the season, continuously supplementing potassium to promote fruit enlargement.
Prohibition: It cannot be mixed with urea, chicken manure, or decomposed manure. The acid-base neutralization effect will be lost if used together. Use them separately for 3 days.
Method 2: Apply the leachate from the ash of plants to the soil surface and foliage.
Mix 1 kilogram of plant ash with 10 kilograms of water, let it stand and soak for 24 hours, then collect the clear liquid on the top layer.
2. Dilute the concentrate by a factor of 1:1 with water and apply it to the roots to replenish potassium.
3. Filter out the fine debris. Spray the upper and lower sides of the leaves in the evening. The leaves will remain lush and green without premature yellowing.
Three, by combining these two elements, the yield of watermelons will double.
Seedling stage: Composted rice water / fruit peel fertilizer water
During the stage when the seedlings grow vines, a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer is needed. Usually, the fruit peels and the water from rinsing rice are sealed and fermented for 15 days, then diluted with water and used for irrigation. This will result in strong and not slender vines.
2. Harvesting period: Burnt ash + decomposed compost fertilizer water
Bamboo leaves enrich with water and nitrogen and phosphorus, grass and wood ash replenish potassium and calcium. One gentle and one strong, the nutrients are balanced, and the harvest continues without end.
Four. The other two types of natural vegetable waste used as fertilizer:
Eggshell
Crush and apply to the root area to slowly release calcium, preventing cracked fruits and stem rot, and preventing soil from becoming compacted; soak eggshells in white vinegar, filter and mix with water for spraying on the leaves to provide calcium supplementation more quickly.
2. Old cucumber rinds and decomposed cucumber waste as fertilizer water
Use the leftover bitter gourd rinds and the parts that elders cannot eat. Chop them up, add water and seal them for 10 days of fermentation. Dilute with 20 times the amount of water and apply to the roots. It contains amino acids, nourishes the roots and promotes the growth of the gourds. The waste is recycled.
V. Key Reminders for Fertilization
Luffa dislikes excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer. It will only grow vines but not flower. Once it enters the flowering stage, urea should be stopped and potassium fertilizer from wood ash should be used instead. Only then will there be more fruits and vegetables. Wood ash should be stored in a dry place to prevent its nutrient content from being lost when exposed to water. Kitchen ash should be collected promptly and stored in a sealed container.
