How to plant loofah?

Luffa is a vegetable with strong adaptability and is grown in both the north and south of China. Farmers need to manage it carefully and operate it scientifically to obtain high-yield and high-quality luffa. Below, the editor will introduce the whole process of how to grow loofah, let’s take a look.

1. Planting time

Luffa is suitable for planting in spring or summer. Spring luffa is suitable for sowing around the Qingming Festival in northern regions, while in southern regions it can be sown as early as the end of March. Autumn loofah is usually planted around the Beginning of Autumn and before the White Dew, using direct seeding.

2. Seed preparation

About 2,000 loofah seeds are needed per acre of land, and the amount of seeds can be doubled when direct sowing. Air the seeds for two days to increase germination rates. Put the seeds into warm water at 50-55℃ and stir for disinfection. If potassium permanganate is available, add 1 gram. Wash after 30 minutes. Soak the sterilized seeds in warm water at about 30°C for 6-12 hours, changing the water 1-2 times during this period.

3. Sowing and seedling raising

First prepare the land and dig holes for sowing, sow 2 seeds in each hole, and keep the strong seedlings after they emerge. Choose a sunny and ventilated plot of land, apply well-rotted farmyard manure, quicklime powder and wood ash, turn the soil and level it before sowing. After sowing, water lightly, build an arch shed with bamboo sticks, and cover it with film to keep warm and moist. When the temperature in early spring is below 15℃, press the film tightly. When the temperature is higher than 25℃, ventilation is needed. The water demand is small during the seedling stage. Water lightly when the soil is dry. The seedlings are about 30 days old. When the young sprouts emerge from the seed shell, they can be sown in a hole tray filled with medium. The seeds should be placed flat with the sprout tip facing downward. The sowing depth should be about 1.5 cm. When three leaves are unfolded, they can be transplanted into the field.

4. Transplantation

When the loofah seedlings grow to 15-20 cm, they can be transplanted to the field. When planting in spring, the temperature should be kept at 18℃. Plant the seedlings at a certain distance on the plot of land. When digging up the seedlings, they need to be carried with soil and handled with care to avoid damaging the root system. After planting, water the plants to promote root growth.

5. Build a scaffold

When the melon seedlings grow to 50 cm, start building trellises to guide the vines, preferably after 5 pm. The height and shape of the shed can be selected according to actual conditions, such as horizontal shed, tunnel-type semicircular shed, etc.

6. Fertilizer and water management

Loofah requires sufficient water and nutrients during its growth period. During the dry season, water in time to keep the soil moist. During the rainy season, pay attention to drainage to prevent water accumulation. At the same time, top dressing should be carried out according to the growth of the plants, such as seedling-enhancing fertilizer and fruit-bearing fertilizer.

7. Pruning

Cut off side branches below 80 cm, pinch and top the branches when they grow to 3 meters, and promote the growth of side vines and grand vines. During the later period of vigorous growth, cut off the vines that only bloom but do not bear fruit, and remove old, diseased and yellow leaves to facilitate light and ventilation.

8. Pest and disease prevention

Luffa has strong disease resistance, and the occurrence of diseases can be reduced through careful management. If necessary, pesticides such as chlorothalonil, carbendazim, chlorpyrifos WP , anke mancozeb WP, triadimefon WP, triadimefon emulsifiable concentrate, thiophanate-methyl WP, imidacloprid WP, ​​cypermethrin WP, high-efficiency chlorpyrifos WP, and cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate can be used for prevention and treatment.

The above is the whole process of how to grow loofah. Generally, it can be harvested about 10-12 days after the flowers fade, when the fruit length reaches 30-50 cm and the fruit surface is smooth and shiny. When harvesting, use scissors to cut the fruit from the stalk to avoid damaging the plant.