Seeds are soaked in tap water overnight and kept in moist cloth up to 4 days. Seeds should be washed everyday to prevent fungal growth on moist seeds. Seeds are ready for planting in 4 days.
The field should be well prepared. The soil should be well pulverized and leveled. If the soil pH is lower than 5.8, apply lime one month before sowing at the rate of 1,000 to 3,000 kg. per hectare, depending on soil acidity.
Use plastic mulch to cover the beds. Planting holes are bored into the plastic sheet based on the planting distance. The plastic mulch offers a number of advantages: It can control growth of weeds, it prevent seepage of too much water into the plants during rainy season which result in their death. It preserves soil moisture especially during dry season. It reflects light serving as repellant to insects which hide under the leaves. It prevents soil erosion.
To use plastic mulch, stretch it over the planting with the edges held down by thin bamboo slats, stapled well into the soil every 20 cm. Punch 10-cm diameter holes at 50 cm between plants in the row and 3 meters between rows.
In punching holes on plastic mulch with the use of tin can do the following: Remove top cover of tin can then punch a few small holes at the bottom end of the can. Create handle by tying a wire around the can. Place burning charcoal inside it. Then punch holes on plastic mulch by placing the bottoms of can to the area where the holes should be bored. These holes will serve as the planting holes where the seeds or seedling will grow.
Sow the pre-germinated seeds 2 cm deep at the spacing of 50 cm between plants and 3 meters between rows at one seed per hill. To ensure a full stand of the crop some seeds can be sown in plastic bags simultaneously with the crop in the field. Seedlings grown in the bags can be transplanted into missing hills at the first true leaf stage. Grow the seedlings in bags in full sun with adequate protection from heavy rains. Reduce irrigation 3 days before transplanting. Transplant the seedlings with minimal disturbance of the roots for optimal recovery.
For transplanting, sow pre-germinated seeds in plastic bags which are 4 inches in height and 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Put soil mixture (1:1 garden soil and sand). After 15 days, the seedlings are ready for transplanting.
Ampalaya responds well to the use of organic fertilizer. If possible, apply old manure or compost to the fields at the rate of up to 10 tons per hectare. Apply the organic fertilizer in the hills or along the planting rows and mix it well with the soil.
Five to 10 days after emergence, apply 10 bags of 14-14-14 per hectare or about 20 grams per hill. Place the fertilizer at about 10 cm from the base of the plant and cover it with soil. Sidedress three weeks after basal fertilization using two bags of urea (46-0-0) per hectare or about 20 grams per hill. Repeat sidedressing every three weeks.
Start putting up the trellis when the plants are about 15 cm high. Do not postpone trellising because vines climb very fast. A kakawate or ipil-ipil are dug into the soil for around 1.5 to 2 feet. The post are interconnected with GI wire and the side support is used to prevent collapse. Side trellis using fish nets as well as overhead trellis/fishnet or grids of blue strings are put up before vines become too long.
Avoid water logging as well as lack of water. It is recommended to grow ampalaya on raised beds to allow for furrow irrigation during dry season. This will also allow drainage of excess water during the wet season. Irrigate every 5 days.
Harvesting starts 45 to 50 days after seeding. Harvesting can be done twice a week. Harvest early in the morning and protect harvested fruits against the rain, sun and mechanical damage.
The fruitfly lays its eggs on the young fruits. The eggs later hatch into small worms that start eating inside the fruits. Symptoms are deformed fruits, fruits with holes that turn orange or yellow prematurely. To control fruitflies, remove first, all damaged fruits from the field and bury them. Spray only after the removal of the damaged fruits with an insecticide. Wrapping young fruits with newspaper or plastic bags prevent the fruitflies from laying their eggs on the fruits. Wrapping reduces the use of chemical pesticides.
These are very small crawling insects on the lower side of the leaves. Consult your dealer what chemical to use. Spraying at night early 8:00 PM is recommended. This was found to be the most effective time to spray. The insects hide during the daytime and cannot be killed by contact insecticides during the day. If the attack is severe, spray three consecutive nights each time with different chemicals. Neighboring ampalaya plantation should be sprayed at the same time.
These are worms eating shoot tips and leaves. Consult your dealer on what chemical to spray. Several kinds of diseases can attack the plants and cause reduced yields. One of the most common is Downy mildew. Its symptoms are usually small and bigger spots on green and yellowing leaves. Most often, the old leaves are affected. Spraying with fungicide is a preventive measure. Consult your local dealer on what fungicide to use and how often to spray.
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