Bittergourd LIPA

A. LAND PREPARATION Land preparation should be done three to four weeks before planting. This involves plowing, turning, or hoeing the soil. The purpose of land preparation is to improve soil structure, enhance soil aeration, decompose weeds, and facilitate bed formation. After plowing, form beds with a width of 110-120 cm, a height of 30-50 cm, and a spacing of 40-60 cm between the beds. Apply 1 kg of organic fertilizer per planting hole. Agricultural lime should be applied if the soil pH is less than 6, at a rate of 2 tons per hectare. Apply the basal fertilizer 7 days after land preparation, which includes Urea = 20 g/plant, SP-36 = 20 g/plant, and KCl = 10 g/plant.

B. SEEDLING Prepare the planting media by mixing soil and compost in a ratio of 2:1 and filling it into polybags. Pay attention to the following during seeding: Trim the side/edge of the bitter gourd seeds. Soak them in water for 24 hours. Keep them wrapped in newspaper or a soft cloth for stratification. Once germinated, plant them in the provided polybag, burying them two-thirds deep, or plant them directly in the field. Cover the seedlings with paper or burlap sack until they sprout above the surface, or cover them if planted directly in the field. Water the seedlings every morning and evening. Seedlings are ready for transplanting at 12-15 days old.

C. PLANTING There are two planting systems for bitter gourd:

1. Direct sowing without seedling directly plants the germinated seeds in the field without seedling preparation. Plant the seedling two-thirds deep and cover it with a banana leaf sheath until it sprouts.
2. Seedling transplanting Transplant the seeds that have been stratified in polybags for 15 days when they have 2-4 leaves. Transplant them according to the predetermined spacing.

D. MAINTENANCE

1. Thinning Replace any dead plants as soon as possible to ensure uniform growth. It should be done no later than one week after planting.
2. Irrigation Irrigate regularly, especially during the dry season, every 3-5 days or as per the plant's condition.
3. Fertilization Apply fertilizer one week after planting, using Urea 5 g/plant, KCl 4 g/plant, and SP-36 4 g/plant. Subsequently, apply the same type and dosage every two weeks. Foliar fertilizer can be applied once a week.
4. Trellising Provide support or a trellis for the plants to climb. Delaying the installation of trellises can affect production. The trellising systems are as follows: a. Single system: Install stakes in each row parallel to the sides and connect them with wire, reinforcing them with bamboo at the ends. b. Double system: Combine two rows of plants from the right and left sides. This system requires a relatively larger amount of bamboo. c. Parapet system: This system is quite effective and provides satisfactory yields compared to the previous two systems but requires a significant amount of bamboo.

E. PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL

1. Leaf caterpillars They leave bite marks on the leaves. Control them by spraying insecticides such as Confidor, Tokuthion, Decis, Pegasus, Curacron, etc.
2. Fruit flies The fruit fly larvae attack young fruits and cause them to rot. Control them by spraying the plants with insecticides similar to those used

1. Leaf caterpillars

Visible bite marks can be found on the leaves. Control measures can be implemented by spraying insecticides such as Confidor, Tokuthion, Decis, Pegasus, Curacron, and others.

2. Fruit flies

The larvae of fruit flies attack young fruits, causing them to be gnawed and eventually rot. Control measures involve spraying the plants with insecticides similar to those used for leaf caterpillars.

3. Stem rot

Caused by the fungus Fusarium, stem rot is characterized by decay in the stems, leading to wilting and eventual death of the plants. Control methods include ensuring good drainage and utilizing fungicides such as Preficur N, Dithane, and others.