High-yield cultivation technology of loofah planted in the open air

Luffa , also known as sponge melon or water melon, is widely grown in temperate and tropical regions of China. As a climbing annual plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, loofah is loved by people for its wide adaptability, high yield and rich nutritional value, especially its bright green and tender young fruit, which is highly favored by consumers. To grow high-quality and high-yield loofah, learning the high-yield cultivation techniques of open-air loofah is the key.

1. Choose the appropriate sowing period

Loofah can be cultivated in four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Determining the appropriate sowing time period will help seize market opportunities and improve planting efficiency. Spring loofah is generally sown during the period from the Beginning of Spring to Qingming Festival, summer loofah is sown during the period from Grain Rain to Lesser Heat, autumn loofah and delayed cultivation are sown during the period from the Beginning of Autumn to End of Heat or White Dew, and winter loofah is sown around the Beginning of Winter.

2. Choose a planting site

Luffa has a well-developed root system and is suitable for planting in loose, fertile fields with convenient drainage and irrigation. In particular, sandy soil with strong water and fertilizer retention capabilities is more conducive to the growth of loofah than clay with poor air permeability.

3. Choose good varieties

Luffa is a short-day crop and is tolerant to weak light. Choosing excellent varieties suitable for local cultivation, such as Qingshou White Jade Loofah, Taiwan Loofah, White Jade Xianglan Loofah, etc., can improve disease resistance and yield.

4. Build scaffolds and guide vines in time

The loofah vines are relatively large, and timely erection of frames can improve ventilation and light transmission, which is beneficial to increasing yield. When the loofah vines grow to 35-40 cm, they should be placed on racks and tied to the racks in time.

5. Fertilizer and water management during melon bearing period

The loofah fruit-bearing period is a critical period for yield formation. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, top dressing is required once a week during the peak melon season, and combined with watering to prevent drought. Watering of loofah should be done in small amounts and multiple times to avoid excessive watering at one time which will affect the root system.

6. Timely prevention and control of pests and diseases

Common diseases and pests of loofah include downy mildew, whiteflies, and caterpillars. Commonly used control agents include chlorobenzamide, acetamiprid, alum, ridomil, and amitraz.

The above are the key technical points of loofah cultivation . Through these methods, the yield and quality of loofah can be effectively improved and the goal of high quality and high yield can be achieved. Hopefully this information will help you achieve success with loofah cultivation.