Detailed Explanation of Key Field Management Techniques for Loofah Cultivation
As spring arrives, summer is not far behind, and loofah is gradually entering its peak season. Right now is also the sowing season for loofah, and farmers are gradually beginning their loofah sowing work. During the growth process of loofah, if we want to ensure high yield and good quality, we need to do a good job of field management. So today, the editor brings you the key field management points for loofah. Let's take a look below!
1. Planting and Establishment Management
After loofah is planted and established, attention should be paid to building a small arched shed to prevent excessive ventilation, raise the temperature inside the shed, and shorten the time for loofah seedlings to recover from transplanting. After the loofah seedlings have successfully recovered, ethephon should be sprayed appropriately to prevent the seedlings from excessive vegetative growth and increase the number of female flowers. Also, water once in time to promote root establishment. When the loofah seedlings have grown to about 28 cm tall, supports should be set up and the vines reasonably guided onto the trellis. Pay attention to removing side vines to promote fruit set on the main vine. When entering the vine growth period, water and fertilizer management should be done well.
2. Fertilizer and Water Management
The growth period of loofah is relatively short, generally setting fruit about one month after planting and establishment. In summer, fertilizer should be applied about 3 times, with a heavy application once at the early flowering stage. The fertilizer should mainly be compound fertilizer, and because loofah can set fruit continuously, a topdressing is needed after every 2 harvests. The main fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. After loofah enters the vine-extension stage, its water demand is relatively high, so on sunny days it should be watered twice a day. In addition to timely watering during the harvest period, a water layer of about 15 cm should be kept in the planting furrow, but the water should not be excessive. When there is a lot of rain and watering has been excessive, attention should also be paid to drainage work.
3. Vine Training and Leaf Pruning
When the main vine of loofah grows to 30 cm, support stakes should be inserted in time. After inserting the stakes, do not guide the vine immediately; instead, do a good job of coiling and pressing the main vine, and guide the vine at the proper time after female flowers appear. When guiding the vine, pay attention to distributing the vines evenly on the trellis. In this way, about 3 fruit-bearing loofahs can be retained on the main vine. If the loofah becomes curved, hanging work should also be done in time. First tie the lower part of the fruit stalk with a small rope, then tie a small stone to the other end of the rope and pull it straight. This is usually done about 3 days after harvest. Finally, pay attention to removing old leaves and weak leaves to prevent excessive nutrient consumption.
4. Intertillage and Weeding
If the harvest period is relatively early and no trellis has been set up, then during planting, one intertillage and weeding operation must be done between the rows. Weeds should be removed in time to prevent them from competing for the nutrients needed for loofah growth, then loosen the soil and carefully level and harrow it finely, so as to facilitate loofah growth and later management. After the trellis is set up, reasonable intertillage should be carried out according to the specific growth of weeds, but attention should be paid to the intensity to prevent damaging the loofah roots. Also, after each intertillage, soil should be hilled up once to prevent the roots from being exposed to the air and affecting root growth.
The above is a brief introduction to the key field management points for loofah. Loofah management work has a great relationship with loofah growth, yield, and quality. Therefore, it also directly affects the economic benefits of cultivation, so everyone must do the basic work well when planting to avoid losses. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone.