Pumpkin, also known as golden sponge gourd and stir melon, is a top-quality winter vegetable and is known as a natural canned vegetable. The golden luffa stored in winter can be supplied to the market at any time, which is of great significance for regulating the winter vegetable market in the north.

(1) Sowing and raising seedlings. Golden luffa can be grown as seedlings and transplanted, or it can be broadcast live in the field. Proper early sowing is the key to high yields. The seedling sowing period is generally in mid-to-late March, and seedlings can be raised in nutrient bowls. The nutrient soil is composed of 5 parts of vegetable garden soil, 3 parts of river sand, 2 parts of decomposed organic fertilizer and an appropriate amount of ammonium bicarbonate. It is best to soak the seeds for germination. Stir the melon buds in warm water at 55°C for 20 minutes, then soak them in cold water for 6 hours, remove and rinse, and place them at a constant temperature of 25-30°C for 36 hours to germinate. After they turn white, put them into a nutrient bowl. , 1 grain per bowl, and cover with 1 cm of fine soil. In cold northern regions, it is best to raise seedlings in a greenhouse or sunny border. The seedling period is about 25-30 days. When the seedlings grow to five leaves and one center, they can be planted. 7 days before planting, the seedlings must be peeled off and hardened.

(2) Select land preparation and fertilization. Golden luffa is best grown on loam with deep, loose, fertile soil and good drainage. The first crop should be grain crops, followed by vegetables, and melons should be avoided most to avoid contagious diseases. Plow deeply before planting, and apply 3,000 kilograms of high-quality decomposed manure and 50 kilograms of superphosphate per mu.

(3) Field management.

①Water. Golden luffa has strong drought resistance, but it needs to be watered in time when drought occurs. Watering should not be flooded, nor should it be watered at high temperatures at noon, but in the morning and evening. The melon needs less water before setting. After setting, the melon needs the most water when it is in the expansion stage. If you do not water in time during this period, it will easily cause the melons to crack when rain occurs in the future.

②Top dressing. Topdressing is required 4 times throughout the growth period: after emergence or after transplantation, use 2.5 kilograms of urea per acre to lift the seedlings with water, and spray 500 times of production-increasing bacteria solution with watering; after the plants grow for about 15 days, use nitrogen and phosphorus per acre. 6 kg of potassium and potassium compound fertilizers are poured with water, and 500 times of the production-increasing bacteria solution is sprayed once to ensure strong growth; when the first female flower appears, large fertilizer should be applied once, and 1500 kg of dilute manure and compound fertilizer should be used per acre. Apply 30 kilograms of fertilizer in the holes between the melon vines; after picking melons for the first time, apply 500 kilograms of dilute manure and 10 kilograms of compound fertilizer once per acre to prevent premature aging and ensure high yields.

③ Frame and pruning. When the plant has 10-12 leaves, the bamboo pole is set up. Both the main vine and side vines of golden luffa can produce melons, but the side vines are small, so pruning should be done to leave the main vine and remove the sub-vines and grandson vines. Pruning can be done 4-5 times throughout the growth period. There are 4-5 melons left per plant, and a single melon generally weighs more than 1 kilogram.

④Artificial assisted pollination. Luffa is a cross-pollinated crop that relies on insects for pollination. If high temperatures and rainy weather affect pollination, artificial assisted pollination should be carried out. Peel off the corolla of the male flower and lightly rub the stamens on the stigma of the female flower a few times. Artificial assisted pollination can increase the melon setting rate by 30%-50%.

⑤Pest and disease control. The main diseases and insect pests of golden luffa are powdery mildew and aphids. Powdery mildew can be sprayed with 70% thiophanate methyl 1000 times or 50% carbendazim 500 times. Spray once every 7 days for 3 consecutive times. Aphids can be killed with 40% dimethoate EC 1000 times or 70%. Spray aphid pine with 1000 times liquid for control.

(4) Harvest. Golden luffa is cultivated for the purpose of harvesting mature melons for consumption. The harvesting standard is that the peel is golden yellow and hard (leaving no trace when scratched with a fingernail). As a golden luffa for storage, choose very mature and unscarred vine-wrapped melons.