The loofah belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is a vegetable with a high water content. It has a long flowering and fruiting period, usually about 4 months after planting. In order to ensure yield, proper management is necessary.
How long does it take for a loofah to flower and bear fruit?
The loofah usually flowers and bears fruit 4 months after planting. The flowering period is in summer. The flowers are yellow, with a radiate corolla. When the corolla is open, the flower diameter is 5-9 cm. The lobes are oblong and have long, yellowish-white hairs on the inner base.
When planting loofah, choose loose, well-drained and fertile soil. During its growth period, ensure a moist soil environment with a soil moisture content of over 70%. Avoid waterlogging, but also avoid drought, with a moisture content not lower than 50%.
Key points of loofah cultivation and management
1. Select a site and plow deeply.
To grow loofah well, choose sandy soil. It has a suitable pH level and excellent drainage, which is very beneficial for loofah growth. If the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, you can sprinkle lime powder to adjust it. Afterwards, the soil needs to be deeply tilled to disinfect and sterilize the bottom layer.
2. Fertilizer application rate
Spread a layer of fermented farmyard manure on the soil, then mix urea and calcium phosphate and sprinkle it in. The amount of fertilizer depends on the planting space. Then plant the seeds 5 cm below the soil surface, keeping a certain row spacing between the seeds, 30 cm is more suitable.
3. Erecting the scaffolding
Loofah cultivation requires the construction of trellises. Since loofah branches grow in a vine-like manner, sturdy bamboo or wooden strips can be used to build the trellises, with a height of about 2 meters. The trunks should be arranged in a triangular shape to achieve a stable effect and support the weight of the loofah fruit.
4. Fertilizer and water management
The growth of loofah requires us to provide sufficient fertilizer . Therefore, more farmyard manure should be applied during the growth stage, and some nitrogen fertilizer should be added during the fruiting period. This can prevent the loofah from withering too early after fruiting. After that, it needs to be watered about 3 times to keep the soil moist.
