Key points of high-yield cultivation technology of loofah

Luffa is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Luffa of the Cucurbitaceae family, with a full growing period of about 150 days. Luffa has strong adaptability and is resistant to high temperature, low temperature, drought, diseases and pests. It has a strong ability to absorb water and fertilizer and can grow in all types of soil. The young part of the loofah is edible. It is emerald green in color, tender in texture, and rich in nutrients. It contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, saponins, plant mucus, xylan gum and other ingredients, and is deeply loved by people. Let’s learn the key points of high-yield cultivation technology of loofah.

1. Seed selection and germination

1. Seed selection

When planting loofah in northern regions, the focus of management should be on the sowing and seedling stage because the seeds are not easy to germinate. Early seedling cultivation is the key to high yield of loofah. Early seedling cultivation means a long harvest period and high yield. When planting loofah in the north, greenhouse facilities should be used to raise seedlings and sow seeds early, around early March. Choose loofah varieties with strong resistance to viral diseases, high yield, good commercial quality and excellent quality. The varieties of loofah suitable for planting in the north include Beijing stick loofah, Jinan ridged loofah, etc. The lifespan of loofah seeds is generally two years. The germination rate of new seeds is high, generally above 95%, so new seeds should be used for sowing.

2. Germination

The seed coat of loofah seeds is thick, hard in texture, and germinates slowly. In order to speed up germination, the seeds should be soaked in warm water before sowing. The method is to put the seeds in a container, pour in warm water at 55℃-60℃, rub the loofah seeds repeatedly with your hands to clean the mucous membrane on the seeds, which is conducive to seed germination. Due to the high water temperature, the seeds should be immediately transferred to 30℃ warm water and soaked for 5-6 hours after scrubbing. Then take out the seeds, wrap them with wet gauze, and place them in a warm box at 30℃-35℃ for germination. After 1-2 days, when the seeds germinate, they can be sown.

2. Sowing

Depending on the facility conditions, the sowing methods of loofah are different, there are two main types: seedling tray cultivation and seedling bed cultivation.

1. Seedling cultivation and management

In places with better economic conditions, seedling trays can be used for seedling cultivation. The advantages are high germination rate, fewer diseases, and good growth. The disadvantage is higher cost. Luffa seedlings do not have high requirements for soil nutritional conditions, but soil with sufficient nutrients can make the luffa grow stronger. Therefore, nutrient soil should be prepared before sowing and seedling raising. When preparing nutrient soil, you should use sieved fine soil and avoid large soil clods that may affect seed germination. Fertilizers can be functional fertilizers that activate plant roots.

When making nutrient soil, mix it in a ratio of 2 parts soil to 1 part organic fertilizer , and pour the organic fertilizer into the soil. To prevent diseases, add 0.5% of the weight of chlorothalonil to the nutrient soil and stir evenly to fully mix the chlorothalonil, organic fertilizer and soil. Fill the seedling tray with nutrient soil, place it in the seedbed, water it to make it moist, and then sow the seeds after the water seeps in.

When sowing, sow one seed in each hole. The loofah seeds should be placed flat and not sown vertically. After sowing, cover with a layer of fine soil about 2cm-3cm thick. Too thick a layer will be detrimental to seed germination. After covering the soil, a layer of film should be placed on the seedling tray to conserve moisture and increase temperature, thereby improving the speed and germination rate of seeds. It will germinate 8-10 days after sowing. During this period, the growth of the loofah should be checked frequently. The greenhouse temperature should be maintained at 20℃-25℃ during the day and 15℃-20℃ at night. 5-7 days after germination, when the seedlings have 2 leaves and 1 heart, the film can be removed. Because the temperature inside the film is high, the seedlings may be burned to death if the film is lifted too late. The main pests in the loofah seedling stage are aphids, etc. Pest control should be based on prevention, and yellow boards should be used for pest control.

After removing the film, remove the weeds on the seedling tray to prevent the weeds from competing with the loofah seedlings for nutrients and hindering the growth of the loofah. Try not to touch the seedlings when weeding to avoid affecting their growth. After the seedlings emerge, the greenhouse temperature should be kept at around 25℃ during the day and 18℃-20℃ at night. When the temperature is high at noon, the greenhouse film should be lifted for ventilation and cooling. When it gets cooler in the afternoon, cover the soil with film in time to keep warm to prevent the seedlings from being frostbitten. Luffa needs better light to promote growth, and the most suitable light intensity is 26,000-30,000 lux. If the light intensity is too high, a shade net should be added to prevent the scorching sun from burning the seedlings, which may even cause their death in severe cases. During the loofah seedling stage, water management is very important. The decision on whether to water should be made based on the soil moisture conditions and the condition of the seedlings. The amount of watering should not be too much each time, just water when the soil is dry. In daily management, weak, diseased and dead seedlings should also be removed in time.

2. Seedbed cultivation and management

Farmers can also use the seedbed seedling cultivation method, which has the advantages of low cost and easy operation, but the disadvantages are that it is easy to be infected by diseases, insects and weeds, and the germination rate is relatively low.

Before sowing, deep plow the soil to a depth of more than 10 cm, then harrow it flat. The seedbed should be flat, without large clods of soil, and weeds should be removed. When watering the seedbed, the amount of water depends on the soil moisture conditions. Usually, a larger amount of water should be used to water the seedbed thoroughly to facilitate seed germination. 1-2 hours after watering, sow the seeds. The appropriate sowing amount is 0.5-0.7 kg per mu. Sow evenly to prevent the seeds from clumping. After sowing, cover with soil with a thickness of about 2cm-3cm. Too thick soil will be detrimental to seed germination.

After about 7 days, when the loofah grows 2 true leaves, it should be transplanted. Transplanting can make the seedlings grow healthier and have stronger root systems. When digging out the seedlings, be careful not to damage the roots. Newly built seedbeds should be watered once and thoroughly. After all the water has seeped down, divide the soil into blocks 8cm long and 8cm wide. Use tools to drill a hole with a diameter of 4cm and a depth of 5cm above the soil block, place the healthy seedlings into the hole, and cover them with soil.

The temperature of the loofah seedlings should be kept at 20℃-25℃ during the day and 15℃-20℃ at night. Watering should be appropriate according to the soil moisture conditions during the seedling stage. If the loofah seedlings do not grow well, foliar fertilizer should be applied to promote the root system of the loofah to grow deep and enhance the root system's ability to absorb nutrients, such as 800~1000 times liquid of Jiamei Bonus. Spraying should be carried out in the afternoon on a sunny day or on a cloudy day, and 1 to 2 times is sufficient.

3. Field Management

In mid-to-early April, when the loofah grows to more than 10 cm, it should be transplanted. Loofah can be cultivated in the open field or in a greenhouse. Growers can choose the cultivation method according to their own conditions. When planting loofah, you should choose a plot of land that has not been planted with cotton within 3 years. Open-field cultivation of loofah requires small investment, has moderate yield and good economic benefits.

Farmers in the north cultivate loofahs in the open fields in front of and behind their houses, and they can also be used for ornamental purposes and as shade. After the loofah bears fruit, it can be used for viewing, eating and generating income. The advantages of using greenhouse to cultivate loofah are that the loofah grows well, bears fruit early, has a long harvest period, high yield, and relatively few diseases and pests. Because the temperature in the greenhouse is high and the growth is fast, the loofah can mature early. Therefore, greenhouse-grown loofah can bear fruit and be put on the market about 15 days earlier than ordinary open-field-grown loofah, thus seizing the market opportunity, highlighting the "early" benefit, and increasing growers' income.

Whether growing loofah in the open field or in a greenhouse, it is very important to apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting, and it is best to apply organic fertilizer. Apply 5000kg of organic fertilizer per mu, and the amount of base fertilizer applied accounts for about 2/3 of the total amount used during the loofah production period. After fertilizing, deep plowing the soil should be done to a depth of 10cm-15cm. Luffa is an annual herbaceous climbing plant with vigorous growth and strong lateral branching ability. It is usually planted in single rows with a plant spacing of 20cm-25cm. When transplanting, choose strong seedlings of uniform size. Weak, diseased and dead seedlings should not be transplanted.

The transplanting method is to place the seedlings into the transplanting pit and cover it with soil. Be careful not to dig the transplanting pit too deep. It should be "not deep enough to bury the heart, and not shallow enough to expose the roots" so as not to damage the leaves of the seedlings. Water immediately after planting, with plenty of water and sufficient water to facilitate the growth of loofah. Greenhouse construction costs are high and production inputs are high. If only loofah is produced, further increases in output and economic benefits will be limited. The stems of loofah are long and it is a climbing plant. The spacing between cultivation rows is large and it is mostly cultivated on supports, more than 1.5 meters above the ground. There are more spaces between rows. Taking advantage of the microclimate characteristics of different levels and seasons in the greenhouse, we produce corresponding vegetable varieties, arrange crop rotations, and intercrop with loofah in a reasonable manner. We implement a three-dimensional and efficient cultivation model to improve planting efficiency and increase land output and utilization.

4. Harvest

If planted properly, harvesting can generally begin from the end of June. The standards for harvesting loofah are: the fruit length reaches 20cm-30cm, the fruit shape is round, there is no damage on the surface, the fruit is soft, the fruit color is green, and the tender fruit surface is shiny. It should be noted here that if the loofah is not harvested in time, not only will the fiber of the loofah age and lose its edible value, but it will also affect the fruit setting in the later stage. Luffa has a strong ability to bear fruit continuously, and the fruit grows fast during the peak fruit-bearing period. If planted properly, it can be harvested every 2 to 3 days. The harvesting time should be carried out in the morning. Use tools to cut the loofah from the fruit stalk. Here, you should be careful not to pull it with your hands to avoid breaking the branches. Generally, 50 to 70 kilograms of fresh melons can be harvested per acre per day. Mid-August is the peak fruit-bearing period of loofah. In order to ensure that there are sufficient nutritional conditions for the healthy growth of loofah, topdressing should be started, and 10 to 15 kilograms of Jiamei Yinglilai should be applied per acre every two weeks. Apply fertilizer 2-3 times. Water after fertilizing to keep the soil moist. The water management during the loofah harvest period should ensure that the soil does not dry out, and watering should be done according to the specific soil moisture conditions. If managed properly, loofah can be harvested until October or even before frost.

The above is an introduction to the key points of loofah cultivation technology. As a common vegetable, loofah has a very good market prospect. If you want to obtain high returns, learning field management techniques is the key.