How to grow loofah from seed: tips agronomists

What is lyuffa, few know, and even more so about its benefits and applications. But for those who want to plots of exotic, this amazing plant from the pumpkin family is simply necessary.

His secret is not so much in decoration as in the uniqueness of the fruit. Of them prepare delicious dishes and natural washcloths. And you can do all this at home. Let's try to figure out how to grow loofah from seeds, what it is in the care and what is the use of it.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Botanists classify Luffa (Luffa) to the genus of grassy vines. In the native tropics of Asia, it develops to five meters in height, and in temperate climatic latitudes, plant growth is more restrained. However, it is characterized by a long growing season.

Consequently, agronomists advise in the cultivation of exotic crops to give preference to the seedling method. Thus, early, generous harvests become reality.

Optimum time for sowing

For early fruits, given the thick, hard skin on the seeds, the germination of the loofah must begin in the middle of winter. Already in the first week of February, you can prepare the seeds for sowing, and as soon as small sprouts hatch from them, you should immediately plant.

On average, this period lasts no more than two weeks. But some owners of the "growing washcloth" share their experience with sowing seeds in April. True, in this embodiment, the harvest will be much later. In any case, plan all work with reference to the lunar calendar.

Tanks and soil for planting

The Asian thermophilic guest stands out from the pumpkin soil and planting requirements family.It turns out that culture does not like transplants very much; it prefers only fertile and loose earth.

Experts advise to germinate a capricious plant in plastic cups. But when choosing them, one should take into account the volumes of future seedlings, it is advisable to use containers with a diameter of up to 7 cm.

The soil for seedlings is prepared from an equal amount of leafy ground, river sand and upper layers of peat. But many hostesses consider this method slightly outdated and advise a more convenient technology.

It consists in the use of purchased peat tablets or pots. For luffa, such an agrotechnical cultivation will provide the necessary nutrition until the transplantation of the seedlings to a permanent place, besides, the sprouts and roots are not injured in the process of work.

Seed preparation

In order for a sponge to grow from the loofah, the seeds must be carefully prepared for sowing. After all, having appeared in the adverse environment, they can not give at all shoots. The first thing the agronomists advise is to soak the seed for several days.

To do this, use a weak solution of potassium permanganate, aloe juice or plain warm water with a growth stimulator. Emistim, Kornevin, Ecosil and other drugs are suitable as the last ingredient.

For soaking, the seeds are placed in gauze or cotton fabric and tied in a knot. Then it is dipped in a prepared warm liquid and left near a battery or other heating device. After 7-14 days the seeds will spill.

Sowing seeds

When planting luffa seedlings, determine the period of spitting seeds. Once they are ready, you can begin planting. If you have acquired peat tablets for these purposes, they will need to be thoroughly moistened before full swelling.

Then sow the seeds to a depth of 2 cm. Top cup with a tablet covered with identical packaging to create a greenhouse effect.

If you plan to fill the tank with a self-prepared soil mixture, planting is done in the same way as in the previous version. Upon completion of work, be sure to cover the pot with a film or a plastic transparent lid.

Sprouting conditions

It is advisable to place the “greenhouse” on the southern windowsill, where there is always heat and a lot of light. Do not allow near drafts and open vents. Under favorable conditions, seedlings should appear in 3-4 days.

Care of seedlings

Luffa in planting and care has similarities with cucumbers. Pumpkin exotic for further development also needs moisture. But the main thing is not to overdo it.

Young seedlings need to be watered only when the top layer of the substrate dries in the cup. In no case do not bring it to the state of the swamp fluid.

The temperature in the room where loofah grows should be at least 20 degrees. Liana quickly goes to growth and in room conditions is cultivated until about May.

Hardening seedlings

Grown up shoots must be hardened, otherwise in more severe conditions they can die.It is desirable to carry out the first hardening on a sunny warm day after 4 pm. During this period, the outside air will warm up sufficiently, and the plant will not receive stress.

It is advisable to take the plant outside every day. If you plan to plant luffa at a dacha, and grow seedlings in a city apartment, place pots on an open balcony or window. In the open air, seedlings with time can be left for 5-6 hours. Only this should be done gradually.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Thermophilic moydodyr garden is very sensitive to changes in soil, climate and care. Let us analyze the main mistakes of summer residents and figure out how to plant the loofah correctly.

Optimum terms for landing

When the fifth leaf develops on the liana, it is time to transplant the seedlings to open ground. It is important to take into account the daytime temperature outside, because the tropical culture is completely not adapted to the cold.

It is desirable that the thermometer rises above 15 ° C, and stable warm weather is established in the yard.In total, plan to transplant no earlier than May.

Choosing a place to grow

The site for planting loofah should look in advance, even when the seedlings are satisfied with the heat on your windowsill. And all because there will be a complex of preparatory work before transplanting.

Only a well-lit and protected from the northern winds and drafts zone can please a tropical liana. It is desirable that there were no trees near, because, climbing on them, the vine will injure the fruit, as a result, they rot directly on the trunk.

The soil is needed with neutral acidity, enriched with nutrients, ideally, loose black soil or sandy cakes. If there is none, you will have to correct the selected area.

When choosing a place for transplanting seedlings, it is also worth considering the predecessors and growing crops nearby. Luffa is not recommended to root after melons and pumpkins - they have the same need for food and the same sensitivity to pathogenic microorganisms.

Site preparation before planting

All the preparatory work at the selected site consists of thoroughly digging the soil, fertilizing it, and, if necessary, adjusting it, as well as building a support for the vine. First you need to dig up the site and check the pH reaction.

To do this, you can use table vinegar, sprinkling it on a clod of earth from a 20-centimeter depth. Hiss and foam indicate an alkaline environment.

Too oxidized substrates are adjusted with dolomite flour, cement dust or common lime. From 150 to 300 g of substance are applied per square meter.

Regardless of the soil features, the prepared zone is fertilized with a nutrient mixture of 1 bucket of humus (can be replaced with compost), 2.5 tablespoons of superphosphate and taken 1 tablespoon of urea and potassium sulfate. If the ground is sandy, you need to add more humus. On heavy soils, river sand, hardwood and compost will be needed. When with the ground all the work is finished, you can begin to install a trellis or other support.This is important to do now, because immediately after transplantation the culture will need to be tied up.

Planting seedlings: the scheme and depth

You already know that luffa is a liana and grows in favorable conditions. In our climate, its stems can reach 7 meters in height.

Therefore, when planting, it is important to observe the distance between neighboring plants. Agronomists advise retreat up to 1 m.

Landing is carried out in the wells, the depth and width of which is equal to the spade bayonet. At the bottom pour a mixture of equal parts of humus or compost and rooted seedlings. At the same time, you need to carefully cut the glass and push them out of it with an earthen ball with a germ.

Much easier to do this in the case of peat tablets. It is recommended to bury the sprout to cotyledon leaves.

How to care for loofah

A garden sponge, like cucumbers, needs moderate moisture, a lot of heat, regular feeding, reliable support and bush adjustment. We will understand everything in order.

Watering

Luffa loves moist air and soil.Therefore, it is desirable to irrigate it from a garden hose or from rain installations. The number of waterings for plants depends on the characteristics of the soil and weather conditions. It is important that the top layer of soil was slightly damp, but not soaked. Immediately after transplantation, seedlings can be watered once a week, and when the vine blooms, water treatments increase.

In the future, focus on the status of pristvolny wells. Experienced vegetable growers recommend watering bushes up to three times every week from June through the second decade of September. Then watering is minimized to reduce growing season. According to experts, this trick contributes to the soon ripening of fruits.

Do not pour a lot of water. The root system of the exotic is located on the surface, like squash, so it will be enough to soak 15-20 cm.

Feedings

For the season, the plant needs about five fertilizers. They spend monthly with a frequency of two times. As a rule, they resort to the root method, watering the bushes with 1 kg of mullein and 250 g of wood ash dissolved in 10 liters of water.

Alternatively, you can use the infusion of green grass or chicken manure, prepared in a ratio of 10: 1. Also suitable nitrogen-containing solution of two teaspoons of urea and a bucket of water.

Pinching and shaping the bush

Luffa requires constant intervention in the process of its development. In order for the fruits to form evenly, it is recommended to remove the side processes and pinch the central shoot at 4 m.

And also starting from mid-June, you need to remove the excess ovary. Experts advise to leave 5-8 Zelentsov, so that others do not deplete the tops.

Garter to support

If the fruits are deformed and begin to deteriorate on the vine, pay attention to the conditions for their growth. First, the growing rods need to be tied regularly to the support. Secondly, it is important to straighten the vine so that the ovary freely hangs from the trellis. Only then will the vegetables be large and even.

Harvesting

Young vegetables for cooking are removed from the vines, without waiting for their maturity. Then the fibers in the fruit are soft and pleasant to the taste. If you skip the time of cleaning, do not try dishes from the loofah.Experienced housewives make frozen stockings for winter.

If you plan to make washcloths, remove only ripe vegetables. They have a coarse, very firm brown skin. Over time, it dries and peels off easily, leaving dried fibers. You can dip the vegetables in boiling water for 20 minutes to speed up the cutting of the bark. The inside is washed in very warm water and dried.

This washcloth will last you no more than 6 months. For harvesting seed, ripe vegetables are also needed. They are collected in October. A sign of ripened seeds is the peculiar ringing inside.

Types of loofah

Scientists distinguish only about fifty varieties of loofah, but from this variety only ostrorebishaya and cylindrical varieties are introduced into culture, since other species are too small.

Luffa sharp (Luffa acutangula) is a grassy liana with relatively small fruits up to 35 cm long. Vegetables are distinguished by a cone-shaped form with clear ribs and elastic skin. To tear it off is almost impossible. The species is cultivated mainly for culinary purposes, with only young greens getting to the kitchen.

The peculiarity of these vines is that they bloom only at night, respectively, and are pollinated by night moths. Agronomists note that the species is very unpretentious, easily adapts to any soil and is very resistant to pathogenic fungi.

Cylindrical luffa It is cultivated mainly for the preparation of washcloths. In everyday life, it is called "uterine". The variety has large fruits with a length of up to 70 cm with a tender, milky-colored flesh and thin skin that easily exfoliates.

Application and use

You can talk about the benefits of luffa for a very long time, because scientists today do not know anything about the harmful qualities of a plant.

But it has already been proven that natural washcloths made from ripe vegetable fibers stimulate blood circulation, do not cause allergic reactions and skin irritations, have a lymphatic drainage effect and contribute to solving problems of cellulite and stretch marks.

Chefs, designers and physicians speak positively about marvelous vegetables. For example, the first have learned to cook unsurpassed culinary masterpieces from the tender flesh, flowers and foliage.

The latter say that the potential of a plant in society is still underestimated. From the fibers of the fruit, you can make unique vases, ceiling lamps, flowerpots, screens, and even some pieces of furniture.

For people who know a lot about decor, luffa is a real creation of Mother Nature. She, like a vine, in the capable hands of masters can turn into a very unexpected, but unsurpassed object.

Doctors talk about the healing properties of the culture. Her juice can be used to treat conjunctivitis, problem skin, anemia, diseases of the nasopharynx and lungs. Also noted antipyretic, tonic and immunostimulating effects of loofah. Pharmacists also speak about the benefits of the plant. On sale you can find a lot of drugs based on the extract and the oils of this exotic.

Obviously, they will talk about luffa. In the meantime, let's not underestimate what nature has given us for beauty, spiritual and physical enjoyment. Observing all the above recommendations, you will get a decent harvest of exotic culture and make sure that it is unique.