Sponge gourd sowing method and sowing time

Loofah is widely popular in the market for its rich nutritional value and delicate taste. The optimal germination temperature range for loofah seeds is 25-35℃. At this temperature, the seeds can germinate quickly and healthily. However, when the ambient temperature drops below 10°C, the germination process of loofah seeds will slow down significantly. Let's learn about the sowing method and time of loofah.

1. Sowing time

Luffa seedlings are very sensitive to frost and are easily damaged by low temperatures. Therefore, the agricultural proverb mentions that "the young loofah seedlings are afraid of frost, so it is not too late to sow them at the beginning of summer", which means that it is not too late to sow them even at the beginning of summer when the temperature is high. In addition, the agricultural proverbs "the snow stops in Qingming and the frost stops in Guyu" and "plant melons and beans around the time of Guyu" also indicate that the Guyu season, when the average daily temperature is stable at above 15℃, is the suitable period for sowing open-air loofah. Therefore, it is not advisable to sow loofah early blindly.

2. Choose strong seedlings and plant them at a reasonable density

Luffa has a strong adaptability to the environment. Although it does not have high requirements for soil, it grows most vigorously and has a higher yield in soil that is deep, loose, rich in organic matter, and has strong water and fertilizer retention capabilities. Luffa likes a humid environment, but is not resistant to waterlogging. Therefore, it should be avoided to be planted in low-lying areas prone to waterlogging. It is recommended to use high ridge cultivation.

Luffa can be planted by seedling transplanting or direct seeding, with direct seeding usually being the preferred method. When sowing, place 3 to 4 seeds in each hole and soak them for 3 hours before sowing to speed up germination. After sowing, cover the soil with 2 to 3 cm. After the seedlings emerge from the soil, keep 1 to 2 strong seedlings. These strong seedlings have strong resistance to stress and are conducive to high yield.

The loofah plant is tall and covers a wide area, so the planting holes should be dug at intervals of 1 meter when planting. Too dense sowing will lead to field congestion, increase the occurrence of pests and diseases, and cause flowers to fall off, which will seriously affect yield.

3. Scientific management of watering

Before the loofah bears fruit, you can water it less or not at all. After it bears fruit, you need to increase the amount of watering to promote high yield. When sowing, if the soil is moist, no watering is required, but if it is dry, watering is necessary. The seedling stage requires less water. Excessive watering will cause the plant to grow vigorously, which is not conducive to root growth. Therefore, watering should be less and flooding should be avoided. After the fruit is set, the loofah's demand for water increases, and the soil moisture should be kept above 70%. You can water frequently with small amounts of water to keep the soil moist to promote more fruits and rapid growth.

4. Scientific fertilization

Luffa is a fertilizer-loving crop. It is best to apply base fertilizer in the planting hole, adding an appropriate amount of decomposed farmyard manure and a small amount of triple compound fertilizer . During the seedling stage, you can sprinkle 2 to 3 times with decomposed dilute manure water or apply a small amount of urea. As the seedlings grow, the concentration of manure water can be gradually increased.

During the flowering and pod-setting period, the loofah's demand for nutrients increases. During the initial flowering period, heavy topdressing should be applied, with 30 kg of triple compound fertilizer per mu, and 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer should be sprayed once every 10 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive times, to prevent premature aging of the plant and significantly increase yield. After each harvest, it is best to apply decomposed manure water once to ensure top dressing.

5. Pruning and vine guiding

During the growth process of loofah, many side vines will be produced. Only 2 to 3 strong side vines need to be retained, and the rest should be cut off to save nutrients and promote more flowering and fruiting. When pruning, also cut off the old, diseased and yellow leaves at the bottom of the plant to enhance ventilation and light transmission in the field and reduce diseases and pests.

For plants with vigorous growth, "topping and pinching" can be carried out to inhibit vegetative growth, promote reproductive growth, and help increase yields.

Luffa is a climbing plant. When the vine grows to 30 cm high, you can insert bamboo to guide the vine. The vine should be guided counterclockwise, and the height of the frame should not be less than 2 meters.

In short, loofah is a popular vegetable . When planting it, you only need to sow at the right time, plant in a reasonable sparseness, cultivate strong seedlings, water scientifically, fertilize reasonably, and prune and guide vines, then you can easily grow high-yield, high-quality loofah.