How to Grow Loofah in a Greenhouse? The Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial

Loofah is an annual climbing vine of the genus Luffa in the Cucurbitaceae family, widely cultivated in temperate and tropical regions of the world. It is commonly cultivated throughout both northern and southern parts of China. The fruit is one of the common vegetables, and when mature, the reticulated fibers inside can replace sponges for scrubbing stoves and furniture. Medicinally, it has the effects of cooling, promoting diuresis, invigorating blood circulation, promoting menstruation, and detoxifying. Now let us take a look at greenhouse loofah cultivation techniques!

Loofah Seedling Raising Methods

1. Variety selection: For greenhouse loofah, it is advisable to choose varieties that are tolerant to low temperature and weak light, fond of fertilizer and water, of high quality, early maturing, high yielding, good in marketability, and suitable for the market, such as Jiangshu No. 1, Jiangshu Fleshy Loofah, Taizhou Fragrant Loofah, etc.

2. Seed soaking and disinfection: Before soaking loofah seeds, sun-dry them for 2 to 3 days. For disinfection, soak seeds in 10% trisodium phosphate for 20 minutes, then soak in warm water at 60 to 70°C for 10 to 15 minutes with constant stirring. When the water temperature drops to 30°C, continue soaking for 4 to 6 hours.

3. Germination method: After soaking and disinfecting loofah seeds, remove them and place them under conditions of 28 to 30°C for germination. Rinse with clean water 1 to 2 times daily, including the clean gauze used to wrap the seeds. After about 3 to 4 days, the seeds can be sown once they show white sprouts.

4. Sowing method: Loofah has a relatively low survival rate when transplanted, so direct seeding is generally adopted. Sow 2 to 3 seeds per hole at a depth of 1 to 2 cm, with seeds placed flat. The ideal field water-holding capacity of the soil is 75%. If too dry, water lightly. After sowing, cover with dry grass to keep warm and moist.

5. Seedling stage management: Loofah generally emerges completely in 4 to 6 days. After seedlings emerge, lower the temperature appropriately. If moisture is insufficient during the seedling stage, water appropriately or spray water. Also pay attention to pest and disease control. When seedlings grow 2 to 3 true leaves, they can be transplanted.

Loofah Cultivation Methods

1. Site selection and land preparation: For loofah production, choose sandy loam with deep soil layers, fertile soil, convenient drainage and irrigation, and a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Avoid barren soil. During land preparation, generally broadcast 50 to 100 kg of lime per mu to adjust soil acidity and alkalinity,

2. Timely transplanting: Choose sunny days for loofah transplanting. Before transplanting, apply sufficient base fertilizer. Generally use 5000 kg of high-quality farmyard manure, 80 to 120 kg of superphosphate, and 25 to 30 kg of urea per mu. Then deep plow 20 cm, rake level, and build beds. Plant about 2800 seedlings per mu.

3. Temperature control: Within 2 weeks after transplanting loofah, maintain the greenhouse temperature at 30 to 33°C to help seedling recovery. After recovery, lower the greenhouse temperature and maintain daytime temperatures at 25 to 30°C. When it exceeds 32°C, open ventilation openings to reduce temperature. Maintain 20 to 25°C at night.

4. Trellis construction: Loofah cultivation must have a trellis. Use bamboo, wood, or cement poles as stakes, with a trellis height of about 2 m. Tie small nylon ropes in a crisscross pattern on top to form squares. It must withstand the weight of fresh gourds and strong winds and rainstorms.

5. Fertilizer and water management: Loofah has a high fertilizer demand. Apply the first heavy fertilizer combined with hilling during vine growth. Apply the second heavy fertilizer during peak fruiting. Apply supplementary fertilizer 3 to 4 times in the late fruiting stage. Apply 10 kg of ternary compound fertilizer or 20 kg of cake fertilizer per mu.

6. Plant adjustment: During the peak growth period, loofah plants close the rows and the field becomes crowded. Timely remove side vines, tendrils, male flowers, old leaves, and diseased leaves. Adjust the position of the main vine in an “S” shape to facilitate ventilation and light penetration, concentrate nutrients, and increase yield.

7. Artificial pollination: Loofah is generally artificially pollinated between 7:00 and 9:00. Use a brush to dip pollen and apply it to the stigma of female flowers. After flowering, apply 2,4-D at a concentration of 20 to 30 mg/L to the top of the fruit. Use low concentration when temperature is high, and vice versa when temperature is low.

8. Timely harvest: Loofah has strong continuous fruiting ability, and fruits grow quickly during peak fruiting. If planted properly, it can be harvested every 2 to 3 days. Harvest in the morning, cutting from the fruit stalk with a tool. Do not pull by hand to avoid breaking vines.

Loofah Pest and Disease Control

1. Loofah cottony leak

[Damage] Loofah cottony leak occurs during the seedling stage and fruiting stage, causing fruit rot after infection.

[Control] Focus on agricultural control, pay attention to the three-ditch system, reduce field humidity, balance fertilization, and prevent excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer. For chemical control, spray 1:2:200 Bordeaux mixture. During the fruiting period, when there is much cloudy and rainy weather and high humidity, prevent early and frequently.

2. Loofah downy mildew

[Damage] When the disease occurs, a large number of leaves wither and die, directly affecting the yield and quality of loofah fiber.

[Control] For agricultural control, appropriately increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. When the disease first appears, promptly remove diseased leaves. For chemical control, use 500x metalaxyl for early root irrigation. At the initial stage of disease, spray 2000x Ridomil. Apply once every 7 days, for 1 to 2 consecutive treatments.

3. Loofah virus disease

[Damage] Loofah virus disease can be transmitted through aphids, agricultural operations, and sap contact.

[Control] Select disease-tolerant varieties, cultivate disease-free strong seedlings, transplant appropriately early, and timely control aphids. At the early stage of disease, spray 20% Virus A wettable powder at 500x dilution or 5% JunDuQing liquid at 500x dilution.

4. Loofah phytophthora blight

[Damage] The pathogen comes from seeds or soil and spreads through wind, rain, and irrigation water.

[Control] Select disease-resistant varieties, practice crop rotation, and choose fields with moderate elevation and convenient drainage and irrigation. At the initial stage of disease, spray 40% phosethyl-Al at 200x dilution or 75% chlorothalonil at 500x dilution, once every 7 days, for 2 to 3 treatments.

5. Loofah powdery mildew

[Damage] The pathogen overwinters on diseased plant residues. During the growing season, large numbers of conidia are produced on lesions and spread by wind and rain. July to August is the peak period of disease occurrence.

[Control] Spray 1:1:200 Bordeaux mixture once in late June for prevention. In early July, spray 25% triadimefon at 500x dilution once every 5 to 8 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive treatments.

6. American leafminer

[Damage] Larvae feed on leaf mesophyll inside leaves, forming curved white tunnels, affecting normal plant growth. In severe cases, it can cause massive leaf drop, flower drop, and premature plant aging.

[Control] Clean the field. When scattered damaged leaves occur in the field, remove them promptly. Control agents include 0.25% ShengBang at 1500x dilution or 1.0% Abamectin at 1500x dilution. Note to rotate and alternate their use.