What month is the best time to sow loofah?

Luffa needs sufficient sunlight during its growth process. If there is insufficient sunlight, it may cause the plant to grow slowly, affect flowering and fruiting, and cause the luffa to only grow vines but not bloom. In terms of soil conditions, loofah has a strong adaptability to soil. Generally speaking, loofah can be planted in well-drained, loose and organic-rich soil. Let’s learn below what month is the best time to sow loofah?

1. Seedling raising time

The best time for raising loofah seedlings in spring is usually from April to May each year. The temperature during this period can generally be maintained above 10°C. At the same time, the light and humidity conditions are also relatively suitable, which is conducive to the germination of loofah seeds .

Spring loofah: In the north, loofah is generally planted around the Qingming Festival, while in the south, due to the higher temperature, February is suitable for planting loofah.

Summer loofah: The planting time of summer loofah lasts from late April to early July, and it is on the market from June to October. The specific time can be adjusted according to local climatic conditions.

Autumn loofah: The best time to plant loofah in autumn is from August to September. Varieties suitable for autumn planting include ridged loofahs such as Chunfeng loofah, Xiaxuan loofah, and Yalu No. 1 loofah, as well as ordinary loofahs such as long water melon and green skin loofah.

Winter loofah: The suitable planting time for loofah in a greenhouse is around November, and it can be harvested from February to March of the following year, but it is necessary to ensure that the lighting and heat preservation conditions of the greenhouse are good to meet the growth needs of winter loofah.

2. Seed treatment

Before planting loofah, you should choose seeds with full grains and no diseases. Soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours to ensure that the seeds absorb enough water. After that, soak the seeds in potassium permanganate solution for 10 to 15 minutes to eliminate the bacteria on the surface of the seeds and promote seed germination.

3. Seedling cultivation method

When raising loofah seedlings, a cultivation medium prepared by mixing humus soil and peat soil should be used. Sow the loofah seeds in nutrient soil, place it in an environment of about 25°C, and water it regularly until the plant grows 3 to 4 true leaves, then transplant it into the soil.

4. Transplantation method

When transplanting loofah, first apply decomposed organic fertilizer and cake fertilizer to the soil to enhance soil fertility. During the loofah seedling stage, applying 2 to 3 times of diluted human manure water will help speed up the growth of the plant. During the initial flowering period of loofah, apply compound fertilizer to increase the yield of the plant.

5. Build the Shelf

Luffa is a vine plant and a stable support needs to be built before planting. Bamboo can be used as the support material. Evenly sow the loofah seeds under the rack and water the loofah once every morning, making sure that the soil is completely moistened each time.

The above is an introduction to the sowing time and key points of loofah. When sowing loofah, it is best to choose a sunny day to reduce the risk of poor plant growth.