Classification of luffa varieties:

1. Flower luffa: an annual climbing vine; the stems and branches are rough, ridged and slightly pubescent. Tendrils slightly stout, pubescent, usually 2-4 branched. The petiole is rough, 10-12 cm long, with inconspicuous grooves, and nearly hairless; the leaves are triangular or nearly round, about 10-20 cm long and wide, usually palmately 5-7-lobed, with triangular lobes, the middle one is longer. , 8-12 cm long, sharp or acuminate at the top, serrated edges, deep heart-shaped base, 2-3 cm deep, 2-2.5 cm wide, dark green, rough, warty above, light green below , pubescent, palmate veins, with white pubescence.

2. Luffa: an annual climbing vine; the stems and branches are rough, furrowed, and slightly pubescent. Tendrils slightly stout, pubescent, usually 2-4 branched. The petiole is rough, 10-12 cm long, with inconspicuous grooves, and nearly hairless; the leaves are triangular or nearly round, about 10-20 cm long and wide, usually palmately 5-7-lobed, with triangular lobes, the middle one is longer. , 8-12 cm long, sharp or acuminate at the top, serrated edges, deep heart-shaped base, 2-3 cm deep, 2-2.5 cm wide, dark green, rough, warty above, light green below , pubescent, palmate veins, with white pubescence.

3. Bangsi gourd: Bangsi gourd is a local variety in Beijing. The plant is spreading and vigorous, with palmately lobed leaves. The flowers are solitary, club-shaped, with a slightly thicker tail, 33 to 37 cm long and 3 to 3.6 cm in transverse diameter. The outer skin is green, with 10 green linear protrusions and many villi. The meat is 0.5-0.6 cm thick, white, soft and of medium quality. A single melon weighs about 150 grams. The yield per hectare is 22,500 to 30,000 kilograms. This variety has strong heat resistance, is not cold-tolerant, and is relatively moisture-tolerant. It can be used for autumn and winter stubble cultivation in solar greenhouses.

4. Snake-shaped luffa: This variety of melon has slender strips, thick flesh, less fiber, heat resistance, disease resistance, high yield and high quality. It is a rare variety that can "fill in the gaps". The plant has strong growth momentum. The first female flower appears at the 7th to 8th node of the main vine, and female flowers appear continuously thereafter. The melon is rod-shaped, 130 to 170 cm long and 3 to 5 cm in transverse diameter, resembling a snake melon. The skin is green, the meat is tender, less fiber, and of high quality. Can be used as experimental seeds for solar greenhouse cultivation.

Growth distribution of luffa:

1. Luffa is a short-day crop that likes strong sunlight and is more tolerant of low light. In the seedling stage, treatment with short days and large temperature differences is beneficial to the differentiation of female flower buds, leading to early fruiting and high yields. During the entire growth period, shorter days and higher temperatures are conducive to the growth and development of stems and leaves, and can maintain healthy vegetative growth. It is beneficial to flowering and fruit setting, development of young melons and increase in yield.

Luffa

2. Luffa is a temperature-loving and heat-tolerant crop. The suitable temperature for growth and development of luffa is 20-30℃, and the suitable temperature for germination of luffa seeds is 28-30℃. , germinate rapidly at 30-35℃.

3. Luffa likes moisture and is afraid of drought. It grows well when the soil humidity is high and the moisture content is above 70. It grows slowly when it is below 50. The air humidity should not be less than 60. When the soil humidity is 75-85, the growth rate is It grows quickly and has many melons. When the air humidity reaches saturation in a short period of time, it can still grow and develop normally.

4. Luffa is a vegetable crop with strong adaptability and not strict soil requirements. It can be cultivated in all types of soil. However, in order to obtain high yields, loam and sandy loam soils with thick soil layers, high organic matter content, good air permeability, and strong water and fertilizer retention capabilities should be selected. They are commonly cultivated in southern and northern China, and are also widely cultivated in temperate and tropical regions of the world. , grows wild in southern Yunnan, but the fruit is shorter and smaller.

How to propagate loofah:

1. Summer temperatures are high and seedlings emerge quickly. Generally, direct seeding is sufficient. Soak the seeds for 3-4 hours before sowing or germinate for 24 hours after soaking before sowing. Two plants in a single row, 30-40 cm apart between holes, put 3-4 seeds in each hole, cover with 1.5 cm of soil, cover with gauze, and pour water.

2. After the seedlings emerge, leave 2 seedlings in each hole.