Tips for high yield of loofah

The loofah originated in tropical regions and prefers warmth, plenty of sunlight and higher temperatures. Seeds germinate best in the range of 25 to 35 degrees Celsius, while plant growth and development are ideal at temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. When the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius, the germination rate of seeds will slow down; if the temperature drops further to below 10 degrees Celsius, seed germination becomes relatively difficult. Learn a few tips for high yield of loofah below.

1. Choose strong seedlings and plant them sparsely

Luffa has strong adaptability to the environment. Although it does not have high requirements for soil, it grows best and has higher yields in deep, loose soil rich in organic matter and with strong water and fertilizer retention capabilities. Luffa likes moisture but is not resistant to waterlogging. When planting, low-lying waterlogged areas should be avoided. High-ridge cultivation is recommended.

Luffa can be grown by seedling transplanting or direct seeding, with direct seeding being the main method. When sowing, place 3 to 4 seeds in each hole. Soak the seeds for 3 hours before sowing to accelerate germination. After sowing, cover the soil with 2 to 3 centimeters. After germination, keep 1 to 2 strong seedlings to improve stress resistance and yield.

Luffa plants are tall and cover a large area when mature. When planting, the spacing should be maintained at 1 meter to avoid overcrowding that will cause field congestion, reduce pests and diseases, and increase yield. Luffa and bitter gourd should not be mixed to avoid affecting the taste of the luffa.

2. Reasonable irrigation

Loofah can be watered less before it forms fruits, but more watering is needed after it forms fruits to promote high yield. When sowing, if the soil is moist, no watering is required; if it is dry, watering is required. The seedling stage requires less water. Excessive watering can easily lead to vigorous growth, which is not conducive to root growth. After the fruits are set, the soil moisture needs to be kept at no less than 70%, and water frequently with small amounts of water.

3. Reasonable fertilization

Luffa likes fertilizer, and base fertilizer should be applied in holes. Put well-rotted farmyard manure and a small amount of triple compound fertilizer in each hole. During the seedling stage, you can irrigate the plants with decomposed dilute manure or apply urea. As the plants grow, the concentration of manure can be gradually increased. During the flowering and podding period, heavy topdressing is required, with 30 kg of triple compound fertilizer per mu, and 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer sprayed 2 to 3 times every 10 days to prevent premature aging and increase yield. Apply decomposed manure after each harvest.

4. Pruning and guiding vines

During the growth process of loofah, side vines will be produced. Keep 2 to 3 strong side vines and cut off the excess side vines to save nutrients and promote more flowering and more melons. At the same time, cut off the old, diseased and yellow leaves at the bottom to enhance ventilation and light transmission and reduce diseases and pests. Vigorously growing plants can be topped and pinched to promote reproductive growth. Luffa has strong climbing ability. When the vine grows to 30 cm high, insert bamboo to guide the vine and build a frame counterclockwise with a height of no less than 2 meters. If the loofah is bent, you can use a small packing rope to tie small stones to make it grow straight. Pick the fruits promptly after they are ripe to prevent fibrosis and affect quality.

In short, as a vegetable with high market demand, there are still many friends who grow loofah, but if you want to achieve high yield of loofah, you need to pay attention to many aspects.