How can loofah be high-yield? How to increase loofah yield

When we plant loofah, how can we get high yield of loofah? This is also the issue we are most concerned about:

1. Variety selection:

For greenhouse loofahs, it is advisable to choose varieties that have vigorous plant growth, are cold-resistant and have strong adaptability, such as cylindrical loofahs.

2. Land preparation and fertilization:

Before sowing, combine plowing with application of more than 5,000 kg of high-quality manure per mu. After leveling and harrowing, dig furrows along the planting rows and apply 50 kg of superphosphate, 25 kg of potassium sulfate, or 100 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer per mu. Then seal the furrows and make ridges in preparation for planting.

3. Sowing time and cultivation method:

Greenhouse loofah can be sown directly in mid-October, or it can be transplanted. The cultivation method generally adopts ridge planting, with a large row spacing of 70 cm, a small row spacing of 60 cm, a plant spacing of 30 cm, and 3,400 plants per mu.

4. Sowing and raising seedlings:

Soak the seeds in 50-60℃ warm water for 10 minutes before sowing, soak them for 24 hours after cooling, take them out, wrap them in mixed cloth and place them at 28-32℃ for germination, rinse them with clean water once a day, and sow them when most of the seeds sprout. Water the bottom of the seeds first when sowing, cover them with 1.5 cm of soil after sowing, and dig trenches on both sides of the ridge for direct sowing. The seedlings will emerge in 3-4 days. When the seedlings grow to 1-2 true leaves, thinning can be carried out in the direct sowing field, and transplanting can be carried out in the field for planting, leaving only one strong seedling in each hole.

5. Shed Management:

1. Adjust the temperature and light: Loofah requires a relatively high temperature throughout the growth period. The optimum temperature for growth is 20-24℃, and the optimum temperature for fruit development is 24-28℃; it grows slowly at around 15℃, and growth is inhibited below 10℃. During management, the temperature in the greenhouse is maintained at 25-30℃ during the day and around 18℃ at night. Before the loofah vines grow, the sunshine time can be properly controlled by using straw thatch to promote stem and leaf growth and female flower differentiation. During the flowering and fruiting period, the straw thatch should be opened in time to make full use of the sun to increase the temperature.

2. Timely watering and topdressing: The water requirement of loofah seedlings is not large. You can water it 1-2 times according to the soil moisture. When the vines grow to about 5 cm, combine it with soil cultivation again, apply 30 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu, and water it once. After flowering and fruiting, water it once every 7-8 days, and apply 5 kg of urea per mu.

3. Build a frame and tie up the vines, and adjust the plants: The stems and vines of loofah can be up to 7 to 8 meters long. When the vines grow to about 25 centimeters, it is necessary to build a frame. In order to reduce the space occupied by the frame poles and provide shade, iron wire or nylon ropes are generally used to tie them directly to the greenhouse support to form a single-row vertical frame without crossing the top, and the vines are led vertically upward according to the original planting row spacing and density. After the vines are on the frame, they are tied once every 4 to 5 leaves, and the "S" shaped tying method can be used.

4. Flower and fruit preservation: Applying 2,4-D to flowers can reduce flower drop and significantly increase fruit setting. The concentration is 20×10-6 when the temperature is high and 30×10-6 when the temperature is low. You can apply the liquid medicine to the stigma and corolla base of the female flower with a brush, or you can directly dip the flower in the liquid medicine. The application time should be around 8 am.

5. Disease and pest control: The main diseases of loofah are anthracnose, blight, and gray mold, which can be controlled with pesticides such as carbendazim, chlorothalonil, and carbendazim. The main insect pests are melon aphids and whiteflies, which can be controlled with fish vine essence and sao shi ling.