When is the best time to sow loofah?

The tender loofah in summer is bright green in color and tender in texture. It not only tastes delicate, but also contains rich nutrients such as vitamins, saponins and plant gums. These ingredients give loofah unique nutritional value. It tastes slightly bitter and is cool in nature, making it an ideal vegetable for relieving summer heat and promoting intestinal health. So when is the best time to sow loofah?

When is the best time to sow loofah?

Luffa has excellent adaptability and can be grown all year round under suitable temperatures. In China, due to the climate differences between the north and the south, the planting time of loofah is also different. Luffa is a short-day plant that prefers a warm and humid environment. The ideal growth temperature range is 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. In southern China, loofah is usually sown in spring (February to April, mostly in February in the south and around Qingming Festival in the north), summer (April to June) and autumn (July to September). In the colder areas north of the Yangtze River, only summer loofah is usually grown. Luffa is usually an annual crop that can be harvested continuously until the beginning of frost. When sowing, try to avoid the season transition period, especially spring sowing, because the climate changes greatly at this time and the temperature difference may affect the germination of seeds.

Key points for high-yield cultivation of loofah

Soil management: Luffa has strong adaptability to soil and can grow under a variety of soil conditions. To increase yield, it is recommended to use loose, breathable soil and apply organic fertilizer . Organic fertilizers help improve soil structure, enhance its ability to retain water and fertilizer, and prevent soil hardening. It rains a lot in summer, so ridges should be made and drainage ditches should be dug when preparing the land to prevent water accumulation.

Seedling management: Before seedling cultivation, loofah seeds should be disinfected and germinated. For disinfection, soak in 52°C warm water for 30 minutes and then cool to prevent soil-borne diseases. Germination treatment helps to increase the germination rate and ensure that the seedlings are uniform and strong.

Water management: Luffa prefers a humid environment, and soil moisture during the growth period is beneficial to its growth. However, the water content should be moderately controlled during the seedling stage to avoid excessive watering that affects root development. The plant requires a lot of water during the flowering period. In sunny and hot weather, it is recommended to water it once in the morning and evening, and pay attention to drainage to keep the soil moderately moist.

Fertilizer management: A large amount of topdressing should be carried out in the early stage of flowering of loofah, and about 50 kilograms of compound fertilizer can be applied per mu. Top dressing should also be applied in time after harvesting. Every 2 to 3 harvests, 15 kg of compound fertilizer, 10 kg of urea and 5 kg of potassium fertilizer can be applied. If there is a lack of trace elements, it can be quickly supplemented through foliar fertilization.

Plant management: When the loofah grows to about 30 centimeters, a support should be built to guide the vine growth.

Harvest in time: avoid fiber aging that affects edible quality. In the later stage, diseased and old leaves below 50 cm should be removed to improve ventilation conditions and reduce the occurrence of diseases.

The above is an introduction to the best sowing time for loofah. Loofah planting needs to choose an appropriate planting time according to the variety and regional climate. In order to achieve high yield, sowing time is important, and other aspects are the same.