High-efficiency cultivation technology of golden loofah

Have you heard of golden sponge gourd? It is a kind of sponge gourd. So let me tell you how to cultivate golden sponge gourd.

1. Planting

Can be sown directly or transplanted from seedlings.

1. Direct seeding: When the temperature reaches above 12℃, sow the germinated seeds directly in the field, 2-3 seeds per hole, and cover the soil with a thickness of about 3 cm. After the seedlings emerge, remove the excess seedlings according to the spacing between plants and rows, and fill in the missing seedlings. It is advisable to cover the ground with film, and cut the film after the seedlings emerge.

2. Seedling raising and transplanting: Seedling raising time should be in late February. Place the germinated seeds flat on the nutrient pots, 1 seed per pot, cover with soil 0.5 stone cm to 1 cm thick, and then cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist. Before germination, the temperature of the seedbed is 25-28℃ during the day; after germination, the plastic film can be removed to slightly lower the temperature, 22-25℃ during the day and 15-17℃ at night. The temperature should not be too high. After about 25 days, the seedlings will be transplanted when they have 2 true leaves, or they can be transplanted in the cotyledon stage. Harden the seedlings 5 ​​days before transplanting (about 10℃). Prevent and control diseases and insect pests in time.

2. Planting

1. Preparation of planting site: Sandy loam with good air permeability is preferred. After ploughing and harrowing, make planting ridges with a width of about 40 cm and a height of 15 cm according to the row spacing of 1.5 meters, and dig a ditch in the middle to apply base fertilizer. Generally, 3,500 kg of high-quality decomposed manure, 25 kg of superphosphate, and 15 kg of potassium sulfate are used per mu. After mixing, apply them to the planting ditch, fill a thin layer of topsoil, and then plant.

2. Planting: If there is no protective facility for early spring open field planting, it should be carried out after the last frost. Double film covering can be planted in late March. The planting spacing is 40 cm to 50 cm, and the row spacing is 1.5 meters. When planting, it should be planted with soil and watered thoroughly after planting.

3. Field Management

1. Fertilizer and water management: water once after planting, control watering after seedlings have grown, timely inter-cultivation and weeding to promote root growth, and properly squat seedlings to facilitate flower bud differentiation. Apply 7 kg of urea per mu during the budding period and watering, and apply 1,000 kg of human feces and urine after the first fruit is harvested. If there is drought during the fruiting period, irrigate to prevent drought, and no irrigation is needed when there is a lot of rain.

2. Pinch off the vines: The main vine of the golden loofah is the main vine for fruit production. Leave 1-2 side vines at the base and cut off the other side buds in time. Leave 2-3 fruits on each plant and remove the vine tips when the stems and leaves fill the bed. In areas with conditions, you can build a trellis when the seedlings grow to 30 cm to make them grow upwards, which can increase the number of fruits.

3. Artificial pollination: If it rains during the flowering period, artificial assisted pollination can be carried out in the morning to increase the fruit set rate.

4. Disease and Pest Control

The main insect pests are aphids, which must be controlled early.

The main diseases are viral diseases and powdery mildew. If mosaic disease plants are found, they should be removed in time to prevent aphids from spreading. If a few powdery mildew plants are found, 50% thiophanate wettable powder 500-700 times liquid, or 50% carbendazim 600-800 times liquid can be used for spraying, spraying once every 7 to 10 days, and spraying 3 to 4 times in a row.

5. Harvest

The main harvest of golden sponge gourds is old melons. When the melon skin turns from white to yellow and hardens, it is ripe. It can be harvested in batches according to needs, or harvested all at once after the early frost. However, in order to improve efficiency, the first melon can also be picked when it grows to 250 grams and sold as young melons, and the next melon can be left to grow to maturity for harvest.