Precautions for high-yield cultivation of loofah

Luffa is widely grown in my country. Although it is not demanding on the growing environment, several key factors still need to be paid attention to in order to achieve high yields and ensure economic benefits. Let’s learn and understand the precautions for high-yield cultivation of loofah.

1. Timing of sowing

Given the climate differences between north and south of my country, the sowing time of loofah also varies accordingly. The southern region is suitable for sowing in spring (February to April), summer (April to June) and autumn (July to September), while the northern region has a colder climate and usually sows only once a year, and in summer (April to June). Luffa likes a warm and humid environment, and the most suitable growth temperature is 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.

2. Apply fertilizer at the right time

After the loofah enters the flowering and fruiting period, in order to promote the expansion of the fruit, it is necessary to ensure sufficient nutrient supply . Therefore, once the loofah begins to bear fruit, top dressing should be carried out in time, with an average of no less than 25 kilograms of triple compound fertilizer per mu, and appropriate adjustments should be made according to local soil fertility conditions.

3. Pollination management

Luffa is a unisexual plant. The female flowers cannot bear fruit on their own and need to be pollinated to complete the fruiting process. After the female flowers are fertilized, the seeds inside the fruit begin to develop and hormones are released to promote fruit growth. The more complete the pollination, the faster the fruit develops and the more regular its shape. Although bees and other insects can assist with pollination in nature, artificial pollination is usually more effective. Key points for artificial pollination include: making sure there are enough male flowers on the plant. The best time for pollination is from 6 to 9 in the morning. Check the male flowers for pollen before pollination. Maintain an appropriate male-female pollination ratio, usually 1:1 or higher, to ensure that each female flower receives adequate pollination.

4. Reasonable fruit retention

Currently, the fruit set of loofahs is often excessive, and it is recommended to retain 700 to 1,000 per acre. Depending on the planting density per acre, select 1 to 2 well-shaped young fruits from each plant to retain. Try to keep the fruit nodes above 18 to 20 nodes, and avoid retaining young fruits below 15 nodes.

5. Pest and disease control

Luffa is susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases, such as downy mildew, aphids, anthracnose and powdery mildew. Drug control should be carried out according to the characteristics of the pests and diseases, and pesticides should be used strictly according to the instructions to avoid increasing the dosage at will to avoid causing pesticide damage. By rotating crops and avoiding continuous planting of the same crop, the occurrence of diseases and pests can be effectively reduced.

The above is an introduction to the key points of high-yield cultivation of loofah. It is necessary to pay attention to all aspects of loofah cultivation in order to achieve high yields.