Key points of high-yield planting and management technology of loofah

Luffa plants have a high demand for fertilizer , a long growth cycle, and the characteristics of continuous flowering and fruiting, so they are vegetables with high nutrient requirements. In terms of fertilization, the general principle of loofah is to apply small amounts of fertilizer frequently, control the supply of water and fertilizer before flowering, increase the amount of fertilizer during the fruiting period, and especially add phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Let’s learn the key points of high-yield loofah cultivation and management techniques.

1. Application of base fertilizer

Basal fertilizer should be applied in the basal fertilizer ditch using the strip application method. Apply compost first and then mix in chemical fertilizers on top. Then carry out small-scale ridge cultivation and cover with silver-black plastic sheeting. Top dressing should be applied once every 3 weeks. Before applying top dressing, water the furrows first, and then apply it on both sides and bottom of the furrows after the water has penetrated.

2. Land preparation and ridge cultivation

High ridges should be made, and base fertilizer furrows should be plowed according to the row spacing when the soil is semi-dry. After applying base fertilizer, small ridges should be cultivated and then covered with silver-black plastic sheeting. If mechanical operation is used, small-bed cultivation and plastic sheet covering can be completed at one time, ensuring that both sides of the plastic sheet are buried under the edge of the bed to prevent it from being blown away by the wind. As the loofah grows, add soil again to form wide and high beds. Make holes on the plastic sheet according to the spacing between plants, plant one plant in each hole, and water after planting. Planting should be sparse during high temperature periods and dense during low temperature periods.

3. Timing of sowing

Loofah can be sown throughout the year, but it is most suitable to sow from December to August. The seeds are sown after September in various places. Although the female flowers appear earlier, the seeds enter a low temperature period in the late growth period, the growth is weakened, the fungal disease is aggravated, and aging is easy.

4. Sowing and raising seedlings

The shell of loofah seeds is hard, especially the angular loofah, which should be germinated before sowing. After soaking the seeds in water for 2 hours, take them out, press open the navel, and place them in the dark at 25-30℃ for germination. After the young sprouts emerge, sow them in a hole tray filled with medium. The seeds should be placed flat with the sprout tip facing downward, and the sowing depth should be about 1.5 cm. When three leaves have unfolded, plant them in the field. The high temperature during the seedling period is about 11-14 days, and the low temperature is about 15-18 days. Short-day varieties should be raised during the long-day period, and after the cotyledons unfold, they should be shaded and treated with short-day treatment to promote the occurrence of female flowers.

5. Horizontal trellis cultivation

The trellis is about 1.5 meters above the ground, the bed width is 5-6 meters, and a high bed is made. Two rows are planted in one bed. Loofahs are planted on both sides of the bed ditch, with a plant spacing of 0.4-0.5 meters. Grape trellises can also be used for cultivation. When first planted, other short-term crops can be intercropped on the ridges. Horizontal trellis cultivation is prone to fall over during hurricanes, so it is best to do so in autumn and winter. In spring and summer, it is not suitable for dense planting, but should be sparsely planted, and some stems and leaves should be appropriately removed to reduce wind resistance.

6. Fertilizer and fertilization

The types, dosage and fertilization methods of loofah fertilizers can refer to those of bitter gourd or cattail. Luffa has a strong ability to absorb fertilizer, a long growth and fruiting period, growth and fruiting occur simultaneously, and it has a strong fruiting ability, so fertilization is still needed after fruiting to maintain stem and leaf growth, continue fruiting, and increase yield. After continuous rainfall, soil nutrients are lost and topdressing should be applied.

7. Irrigation and drainage

The stems and leaves of loofah are large and the water evaporates quickly, so you need to pay attention to irrigation and keep it moist. Use furrow irrigation. Pay attention to drainage when it rains to avoid waterlogging of the roots, especially for angular loofahs, as roots soaking in water are prone to rot.

8. Vine trimming

Luffa has strong branching properties, and if the stems and leaves are too dense, it will tend to grow too tall and be difficult to bear fruit. When cultivating on a trellis during the hurricane season, the trellis is prone to fall over, so the vines should be thinned out, single vine pruning should be carried out, and side vines should be cut off in time. When cultivating on the ground, make the main vine at right angles to the furrow. When cultivating on a trellis, if the stems and vines are hanging down, they should be led to the trellis so that the vines are evenly distributed.

9. Covering the bed

Luffa likes high temperature, has a long growing period and wide row spacing, so covering the planting rows with silver-black plastic sheets is economical and effective. If covered with straw, the effect will not be as good as silver-black plastic sheeting. When short-fruit varieties are cultivated on the ground, the entire surface of the bed should be covered with grass to prevent the fruits from rotting due to contact with the ground.

10. Fruit bagging and fruit picking

To prevent melon flies from laying eggs, loofahs are often bagged. After the flowers have faded, the young fruits should be bagged to prevent the leaves from scratching the peel and turning it black, making the peel lighter and preventing pesticide pollution. You can use old newspaper bags or thick paper bags.

The above is an introduction to the high-yield cultivation technology of loofah. In fact, as long as you master the above-mentioned steps and formulate the most appropriate planting plan based on the actual situation, it is very easy to achieve high yields.