How to grow loofah to get high yield?

Luffa is a melon vegetable that is common in rural areas and is grown by many people. Luffa is deeply loved by farmers and consumers because of its delicate taste, high nutritional value, and multiple functions. In order to help everyone grow high-yield and high-quality loofah, let’s learn how to grow loofah to achieve high yield.

1. Plot selection

Luffa prefers fertile, deep, organic-rich, well-drained sunny soil, and the soil pH should be close to neutral. The soil in the south is acidic, while the soil in the north is alkaline. The soil pH needs to be adjusted before planting. Lime can be applied to acidic soil, gypsum can be applied to alkaline soil, and well-rotted organic fertilizer can be applied at the same time.

2. Sowing time

Luffa can be planted in all seasons, but due to the influence of regional climate, it is planted earlier in the south and later in the north. Spring is February to April, summer is May to July, autumn is August to September, and winter is November. In early spring and winter, it is mostly planted in greenhouses, while in summer and autumn, it is mostly planted in the open field.

3. Seedling cultivation method

Before raising seedlings, dry the seeds in the sun for 2-3 days, then soak them in 30-50 degree warm water for 6-12 hours, and then germinate them. Before germination, keep the temperature of the seedbed at 20-30 degrees, keep the soil moist, pay attention to ventilation and seedling hardening, and spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate one week before transplanting.

4. Planting method

When the seedlings grow to 2-3 true leaves, choose a sunny day to plant them with soil. The base fertilizer is mainly decomposed farmyard manure, combined with cake fertilizer and compound fertilizer . The planting density is adjusted according to the variety and season, and early-maturing varieties can be planted appropriately densely.

5. Field management

Build a trellis and guide the vines: Loofah is a climbing crop, so it is necessary to build a trellis in time to guide the vines and thin out the side vines at the base.

Plant arrangement: According to the season and growth trend, remove the side vines and select strong side vines to bear fruits.

Control of excessive growth: Greenhouse loofahs tend to grow too tall, so paclobutrazol can be used to control excessive growth and increase the number of fruits.

Pinching and detasseling: After putting the plants on the shelves, pinch and detassel the side vines, and remove excess male flowers and side vines.

Water and fertilizer management: Loofah requires a large amount of fertilizer, especially after fruit setting, it is necessary to apply water and fertilizer heavily to keep the soil moist.

Harvest at the right time: Loofah has a strong ability to produce fruit, so it should be harvested in time to avoid affecting the later fruit production.

Pest and disease control: Reduce pests and diseases through scientific management and spray appropriate drugs when necessary.

The above are some key technologies and problem-solving solutions for loofah cultivation . I hope they can provide a reference for everyone. If you have any other detailed questions, please leave a message.