Specialty vegetable crops

Germination takes about 3 to 5 days. The seedlings can be transplanted to the field when coming into 2 to 3 true leaves (about 15 to 20 days). For direct sowing, put 2 to 3 seeds into each hole.

Plant and row spacing should be about 2 feet and 4 feet respectively.

Apply basal dressing before planting. Apply organic fertilizer (N:P:K:Mg=4:3:3:1), peanut cake and bone meal (75 kg of each) to each d.c. Ten days after planting, apply organic fertilizer and peanut cake meal (20 gm of each) to each plant as top dressing. After that, apply fertilizer once every two weeks. Do it three times. Spray liquid fertilizer to the leaves during the growth period to help produce more and better fruits.

Conduct intertilled weeding and remove unhealthy leaves or fruits before applying top dressing.

Excessive nitrogenous fertilizer or too much moisture in the soil can easily lead to dropping of flowers and fruits as well as elongation.

(1 d.c.= 674 square metres or 7,260 square feet)

The fruits are ready for harvesting when they become ripe and plump with a dark green colour (about 90~100 days). Harvested fruits can be stored for 1~2 months in a dry and cool place so that supply can be adjusted according to market demand.