LAND PREPARATION

1. Field

• Plough and loosen the soil at 15 - 22 cm deep.
• Prepare the beds at 1.2 cm width and 22 - 30 cm height. The lenght of beds is depends on the area condition.
• Between the beds - 45 cm.
• Mixed 50 kg chicken dung for 50 meter sq area.

2. Pot planting

• Use mixed soil (3:1:1 - soil:organic:sand)
• Put in a pot at 5 cm from the surface

SEEDLING PREPARATION

• Prepare a nursery box of 45 cm lenght, 22 cm width and 10 cm height
• Use mixed soils (3:1:1 / soil : organic : sand)
• Plant 3 seeds in the nursery box and cover with a thin layer of sand
• Spacing between row is 5 cm and 2 cm between the plant
• Watering is done twice a day
• Avoid the plant from direct sun and over-raining.
• Transplanting is done 3-4 weeks after planting
• The plant has to be exposed to direct sun 3-4 days before transplanting

PLANTING

1. Field

• Plant can be transplanted to the field 3-4 weeks after planting
• Wet the nursery box before pull out the plant
• Plant the seedlings directly on the beds
• Spacing is 90 cm x 60 cm

2. Pot Planting

• Plant 3-4 seeds in a pot at 2 - 5 cm deep
• Leave 1 plant per pot 2 weeks after planting

MAINTENANCE

Watering

Twice a day if it is not raining.

Manuring

1. Field

• Apply NPK Blue Special (12:12:17:2) around the plant at 1 tea spoon or 10 g per plant once in two weeks

2. Pot Planting

• Apply 1 tea spoon or 5 g NPK Blue Special (12:12:17:2) around the plant each pot once in every week

Mulching

1. Field

Use dried grass or coconut frond

2. Pot Planting

Use dried grass

Support Preparation

1. Field

• Place the stack of 1½ meter near each plant. Tie the plant with rafia string

2. Pot Planting

• Same as planting in the field but use a stick of 1.2 m lenght

PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL

• Spray with carbaryl (Sevin) 10 g with 1 gal of water to control leaf-roller worm, fruit borer.
• Use Maneb (eg. Megamaneb at 1 spoon or 10 g per gal of water) to control bacteria wilt and benomyl such as Benlate at 1 tea spoon or 3 g per gal of water to control leaf spot.

HARVESTING

1. Field

• It can be harvested 6 weeks after transplanting to the field in every 4 days
• Average yield from 50 m square area is 75 - 125 kg @ 60 sen per kg, gross income is RM45 to RM75.

2. Pot Planting

• Pick the fruits 10 weeks after planting. Average yield is 1 kg per pot.

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