When to plant loofah? A detailed guide to the best sowing time

I. Planting time

Loofah can be planted in all four seasons, and the planting time differs from season to season.

1. Spring: Temperatures rise differently in the north and south. In the south, temperatures rise quickly and the weather is warmer, so planting can begin as early as February. In the north, because the climate is relatively cold and temperatures rise slowly, planting can only begin around Qingming Festival, that is, around April.

2. Summer: The planting time in summer is not fixed and needs to be decided according to local weather conditions. During this period the climate is warm, so planting can be done from late April to early July. It matures in 2-3 months, and by June to October it can be harvested for eating.

3. Autumn: After summer, the autumn climate is relatively cool and very suitable for planting. The suitable time is August to September. Note that before sowing, the seeds need to be soaked to promote germination.

4. Winter: Because the winter climate is cold, it is difficult for loofah to grow in the open air, so it must be planted in a greenhouse. The time is around November, and by February to March of the following year it will mature and be ready to harvest.

II. Points to note

The varieties chosen differ depending on the season. For planting in autumn and winter, choose cold-tolerant varieties to prevent frost damage. In summer, not only should heat-tolerant varieties be chosen, but appropriate shading is also needed.