In the planting of fruiting vegetables (eggplant, pepper, tomato, loofah, pumpkin, beans, etc.), the management before fruit setting plays a decisive role in the yield and quality of the vegetables. Doing a good job in the two key measures of root and leaf protection and timely and appropriate fertilization are the core points to ensure the smooth fruit hanging of vegetables and achieve high yield and high quality.

1. Raise roots and protect leaves

(1) More cultivating and squatting seedlings

Cultivating is an ancient and effective agricultural practice, which is of great significance to the growth and development of the root system of fruiting vegetables. In the early stage of vegetable growth, through multiple tillage, the soil can be loosened, the soil compaction layer formed by watering or rainfall can be broken, and the soil can maintain good air permeability. Generally, tillage is carried out every 8-0 days, and the depth is controlled at 0-0 cm to avoid damage to the root system too deeply.

Squatting seedlings artificially control the supply of water and nutrients to promote the growth of vegetable roots in the direction of depth and enhance the absorption capacity of the roots. Taking tomato as an example, after the tomato seedlings are planted and slowed down, the seedlings should be squatted. By reducing the frequency of watering, let the soil be moderately dry, and then apply a small amount of water when the leaves of the plants appear to wilt slightly. In this way, in order to obtain sufficient water and nutrients, the tomato root continuously downward, taking deeper and firmer roots, forming a strong root network. Generally, the squatting time of tomato seedlings can last 10-0 days, and the squatting time of pepper seedlings is about 0-0 days.

(2) Less water to promote lower control and upper control

Before fruit-bearing vegetables hang fruit, the amount of watering should be strictly controlled. Excessive watering will lead to excessive soil moisture, lack of oxygen in the root system, and stunted growth, and at the same time, it is easy to cause stem and leaf growth, affecting reproductive growth. Follow the principle of "don't dry and don't water, watering is watering thoroughly", and water reasonably according to different vegetable varieties and soil moisture. For example, cucumbers are watered before they hang their fruits, when the soil is not clumped at 5 cm below the soil surface; Eggplants are watered when the soil is slightly dry. By controlling the watering, the root system is guided to grow downward, and the excessive growth of the stems and leaves in the aboveground part is inhibited, so as to achieve the purpose of "promoting the downward and controlling the up", and reserve energy for the subsequent fruit hanging.

(3) Spray leaf fertilizer

Foliar fertilization is an efficient way to supplement nutrients and plays an important role in fruit-bearing vegetables before they bear fruit. Choose foliar fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate and amino acid foliar fertilizers. Generally, in the vigorous growth period of vegetables, spray once every 6-0 days, choose 0-0 o'clock in the morning or 0-0 o'clock in the afternoon on a windless and sunny day, and evenly spray foliar fertilizer on both sides of the leaves, so that the leaves are moist but not dripping.

For example, spraying 3.0%-0.0% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution before pepper fruit setting can enhance leaf photosynthesis, improve plant stress resistance, and accumulate nutrients for flower bud differentiation and fruit hanging. At the same time, trace elements such as boron and zinc in foliar fertilizer are essential for the reproductive growth of vegetables, which can promote pollen germination and pollen tube elongation, and improve fruit setting rate.

(4) Flush functional fertilizers

Functional fertilizers have many functions such as improving soil environment, promoting root growth, and enhancing plant stress resistance. Before fruiting vegetables bear fruit, functional fertilizers are applied to create a good growth environment for the root system. Common functional fertilizers include humic acid fertilizer, biological fertilizer and so on.

Humic acid fertilizer can improve soil structure, increase soil organic matter content, improve soil water and fertilizer retention capacity, stimulate root growth, and enhance root vitality. Generally, 3 - 0 kg of humic acid fertilizer is applied per mu, and it is applied every 0 - 0 days. Biological fertilizer contains a large number of beneficial microorganisms, such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, etc., which can reproduce and grow in the soil, inhibit the breeding of harmful bacteria, improve the soil microecological environment, and promote the absorption of nutrients by the root system. 0 - 0 kg of biological fertilizer per mu can be applied once a month.

Second, apply phosphate and calcium fertilizer in a timely and appropriate amount

Phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is an indispensable nutrient in the growth and development of fruiting vegetables, and plays a key role in fruit growth. Before the vegetables are hung with fruit, the appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can meet the nutrient demand of fruit growth and improve fruit quality and yield.

(1) Application of phosphate fertilizer

Phosphate fertilizer can promote root development, flower bud differentiation and fruit development of vegetables. Before fruiting vegetables, 2 - 0 kg of superphosphate or 0 - 0 kg of diammonium phosphate per mu are generally applied. Phosphate fertilizer is best mixed with organic fertilizer and applied after composting, which can improve the effectiveness of phosphate fertilizer. For example, before eggplant sets fruit, superphosphate is mixed with well-rotted farmyard manure at a 0:0 ratio for 0-0 weeks, then furrowed near the roots of the plant, then covered with soil and watered.

(2) Application of galvanium fertilizer

Potassium fertilizer can enhance the stress resistance of vegetable plants, promote fruit expansion, improve fruit sugar content and taste. Before fruiting vegetables, 20 - 0 kg of potassium sulfate or 0 - 0 kg of potassium chloride per mu were applied. Potassium fertilizer can be applied in a portion of the basal fertilizer and the remainder is topdressed before fruit set. For example, before the watermelon bears fruit, a ditch is made 0 - 0 cm away from the root of the plant, potassium sulfate is evenly applied into the ditch, and then covered with soil and watered to promote the absorption and utilization of potassium fertilizer.

The two measures of root and leaf protection and timely and appropriate fertilization of fruiting vegetables before hanging fruit complement each other and are indispensable. Through the scientific and reasonable implementation of these two measures, we can cultivate robust vegetable plants, lay a solid foundation for the growth and development of fruit-bearing period, so as to achieve high yield, high quality and efficient planting of fruiting vegetables, meet market demand, and bring good economic benefits to vegetable farmers.